Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) — Free Cash Flow Yield
Consumer Defensive
Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, lawn and garden, sporting goods, tires, toys and seasonal, automotive, stamps, tickets, apparel, furniture, domestics, housewares, special order kiosks, and jewelry; and fresh food, such as meat, produce, service deli, and bakery products. The company is also involved in warehouse ancillary operations, which include gasoline, pharmacies, optical, food courts, hearing-aid centers, and tire installation centers. In addition, it engages in e-commerce, business centers, travel, and other businesses. The company was formerly known as Costco Companies, Inc. and changed its name to Costco Wholesale Corporation in August 1999. Costco Wholesale Corporation was founded in 1976 and is based in Issaquah, Washington.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| FCF Yield | 1.8% |
| Consumer Defensive Sector Avg FCF Yield | 5.7% |
| Annual Free Cash Flow | $7.8B |
| Market Cap | $426.2B |
| P/E Ratio | 48.3x |
Costco Wholesale Corporation's FCF yield of 1.8% is below the Consumer Defensive sector average (5.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Costco Wholesale Corporation's (COST) free cash flow yield?
Costco Wholesale Corporation's (COST) free cash flow yield is 1.8%. That is below the Consumer Defensive sector average (5.7%).
Is COST's free cash flow yield good?
At 1.8%, COST's free cash flow yield is considered weak — yields above 10% are generally excellent, 7–10% good, 4–7% fair, and below 4% weak, though context varies by sector and growth stage.
How much free cash flow does Costco Wholesale Corporation generate?
Costco Wholesale Corporation generated $7.8B in free cash flow, against a market cap of $426.2B.
How is free cash flow yield calculated?
Free cash flow yield = (Free Cash Flow ÷ Market Capitalization) × 100%. Free cash flow equals operating cash flow minus capital expenditures.
Data from public filings. Not investment advice. Calculate your own FCF yield →