Costco Wholesale Corporation EV/EBITDA
Data as of June 01, 2026
EV/EBITDA
30.63
Enterprise Value
$422.42B
EBITDA (TTM)
$13.79B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
How It's Calculated
30.63 = $422.42B ÷ $13.79B
What This Means
Costco Wholesale Corporation's EV/EBITDA of 30.6 is elevated, which can reflect growth expectations, scarce assets, or cyclical EBITDA.
About Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically in Discount Stores. With a market capitalization of about $424.27B, it ranks as a mega-cap stock — one of the largest publicly traded companies.
Shares recently traded near $956.32, within a 52-week range of $844.06 to $1096.50 (-12.8% from the high, +13.3% from the low). Beta of 0.91 is broadly in line with typical market sensitivity.
Trailing profit margin is about 3.0%, signaling modest profitability that investors should weigh against growth plans.
Understanding This Metric
EV/EBITDA is widely used when comparing companies with different debt loads because enterprise value includes net debt while EBITDA approximates operating cash earnings power. For Costco Wholesale Corporation, the ratio should be read with growth, capex needs, and cycle position in Consumer Defensive. Pair EV/EBITDA with free cash flow yield and net debt metrics before drawing conclusions — especially when EBITDA is depressed or boosted by one-time items.
Using This Number in Practice
Near 30.63x EV/EBITDA, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) carries an elevated EV/EBITDA multiple that may embed growth expectations or scarcity within its peer set. Enterprise value of about $422.42B and EBITDA near $13.79B form the ratio — adjust for one-time items before treating the headline multiple as comparable.
Credit and LBO workflows often sort names on EV/EBITDA before drilling into free cash flow and maintenance capex. Pair this view with the EV/EBITDA calculator and the COST metrics hub for related valuation pages.
Sector Comparison
Among Consumer Defensive names on our S&P 100 coverage, Costco Wholesale Corporation's EV/EBITDA of 30.63 can be compared with peers such as WMT (22.14), KO (22.31), PG (14.38). Sector context helps interpretation, but each company's growth profile and balance sheet differ — use multiple metrics before drawing conclusions. View all Consumer Defensive stocks.
Key Takeaways
- COST is grouped in the Consumer Defensive sector for peer comparisons.
- Recent beta of 0.91 suggests market-like price sensitivity.
- Trailing profit margin of 3.0% provides context for how much earnings support the headline multiple.
Related Tools & Guides
Explore calculators and guides connected to this metric, or view all metrics for COST.
Other COST Metrics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is COST's EV/EBITDA?
EV/EBITDA compares enterprise value to operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Costco Wholesale Corporation's ratio is about 30.63 — common for comparing leveraged companies in Consumer Defensive.
Is 30.63 high or low vs peers?
Among Consumer Defensive peers (e.g. KO (22.31), WMT (22.14), MDLZ (18.92)), COST's 30.63 should be read with growth, capex, and debt levels.
When is EV/EBITDA misleading?
EBITDA ignores capex, working capital, and stock-based comp; negative or tiny EBITDA makes the ratio meaningless. Cross-check with free cash flow and net debt.
Calculate the ev/ebitda for any stock with our free calculator.
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