Costco Wholesale [COST] vs Dollar General [DG] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Costco Wholesale Corporation wins in 8 metrics, Dollar General Corporation wins in 13 metrics, with 0 ties. Dollar General Corporation appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Costco Wholesale Corporation | Dollar General Corporation | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 52.36 | 18.46 | Dollar General Corporation |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 26.98 | 3.27 | Dollar General Corporation |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 60.26 | 184.67 | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| PEG Ratio | 3.84 | 0.15 | Dollar General Corporation |
| EV/EBITDA | 33.01 | 12.83 | Dollar General Corporation |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.99% | 3.54% | Dollar General Corporation |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 3.67% | 6.08% | Dollar General Corporation |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 3.67% | 6.08% | Dollar General Corporation |
| Return on Equity | 29.65% | 18.99% | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 8.72% | 4.55% | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $7.84B | $2.39B | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Dividend Yield | 0.65% | 1.64% | Dollar General Corporation |
| 1-Year Return | -0.79% | 2.79% | Dollar General Corporation |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.56 | 0.65 | Dollar General Corporation |
| Enterprise Value | $444.30B | $42.43B | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 1.55 | 0.99 | Dollar General Corporation |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.76% | 30.45% | Dollar General Corporation |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $645 | $194 | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $19.21 | $6.85 | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.98 | 0.34 | Dollar General Corporation |
| Short % of Float | 1.42% | 4.61% | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Dollar General Corporation Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costco Wholesale Corporation | -0.30% | 0.48% | -6.63% | -2.23% | 13.82% | 14.62% |
| Dollar General Corporation | 1.39% | 8.96% | 13.68% | -13.69% | -12.44% | -14.93% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costco Wholesale Corporation | -0.79% | 87.60% | 157.92% | 530.16% | 1,133.64% | 1,727.63% |
| Dollar General Corporation | 2.79% | -30.14% | -46.03% | 27.48% | 238.74% | 405.06% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Dollar General Corporation
| Metric | COST | DG |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $450.25B | $26.88B |
| Market Cap Category | Mega cap | Large cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 1,939,447 | 3,065,470 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 1,715,149 | 3,569,483 |
| Last Close | $979.45 | $116.39 |
| 52 Week Range | $844.06 - $1,096.50 | $95.11 - $158.23 |
| % from 52W High | -10.67% | -26.44% |
| All-Time High | $1,096.50 (May 19, 2026) | $262.21 (Apr 18, 2022) |
| % from All-Time High | -10.67% | -55.61% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | 0.22% | 0.06% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | 0.46% | 1.23% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.30% | 0.19% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 60.26 | 184.67 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $37.28 | $38.65 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $25.16 | $5.17 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $15.01B | $3.63B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $6.69B | $2.16B |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 0.65% | 1.64% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $6.36 | $2.36 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Dollar General Corporation
| Metric | COST (Apr 24, 2026) | DG (Apr 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 52.36 | 18.46 |
| Forward P/E | 44.75 | 15.86 |
| PEG Ratio | 3.84 | 0.15 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 1.56 | 0.65 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 26.98 | 3.27 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $450.25B | $26.88B |
| Enterprise Value | $444.30B | $42.43B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 1.55 | 0.99 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 33.01 | 12.83 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.98 | 0.34 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $37.28 | $38.65 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Dollar General Corporation
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | COST (2025) | DG (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 275.24B | 42.72B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 239.89B | 29.62B |
| COGS % of Revenue | 87.2% | 69.3% |
| Gross Profit | 35.35B | 13.10B |
| Gross Margin | 12.8% | 30.7% |
| Research & Development | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 10.38B | 2.20B |
| Operating Margin | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| EBITDA | 13.31B | 3.24B |
| EBITDA Margin | 4.8% | 7.6% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 10.82B | 1.96B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 3.9% | 4.6% |
| Income Tax | 2.72B | 452.28M |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 8.10B | 1.51B |
| Profit Margin | 2.9% | 3.5% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | COST (2025) | DG (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 14.16B | 1.14B |
| Total Current Assets | 38.38B | 7.90B |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 13.9% | 18.5% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 37.11B | 6.96B |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 13.5% | 16.3% |
| Long-Term Debt | 8.17B | 14.17B |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 3.0% | 33.2% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 29.16B | 8.51B |
| Retained Earnings | 22.65B | 4.40B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 8.2% | 10.3% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 2.73B | 11.29B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | COST (2025) | DG (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 13.45B | 3.39B |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Capital Expenditures | -5.50B | -1.24B |
| Free Cash Flow | 7.84B | 2.39B |
| FCF Margin | 2.8% | 5.6% |
| Debt Repayment | -1.11B | -1.68B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | -903.00M | N/A |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | COST | DG |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 6.30M | 8.97M |
| Short Ratio | 3.78 | 2.43 |
| Short % of Float | 1.42% | 4.61% |
| Shares Outstanding | 443.65M | 220.22M |
| Float Shares | 440.92M | 218.61M |
| % Held by Insiders | 0.17% | 0.28% |
| % Held by Institutions | 72.54% | 101.35% |
| % Held by Public | 27.29% | -1.63% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Dollar General Corporation
| Metric | COST | DG |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $6.36 | $2.36 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 0.65% | 1.64% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $9.94 | $2.36 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.30% | 0.52% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $29.82 | $7.08 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Jan 30, 2026 | Jan 06, 2026 |