Costco Wholesale Corp EV/EBITDA
Data as of September 29, 2026
EV/EBITDA
27.66
Enterprise Value
$396.35B
EBITDA (TTM)
$14.33B
Sector
Retail
How It's Calculated
27.66 = $396.35B ÷ $14.33B
What This Means
Costco Wholesale Corp's EV/EBITDA of 27.7 is elevated, which can reflect growth expectations, scarce assets, or cyclical EBITDA.
About Costco Wholesale Corp
Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) operates in the Retail sector, specifically in Retail. With a market capitalization of about $409.38B, it ranks as a mega-cap stock — one of the largest publicly traded companies.
Shares recently traded near $922.92, within a 52-week range of $844.06 to $1096.50 (-15.8% from the high, +9.3% from the low). Beta of 0.86 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 Corp, the ratio should be read with growth, capex needs, and cycle position in Retail. 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 27.66x EV/EBITDA, Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) carries an elevated EV/EBITDA multiple that may embed growth expectations or scarcity within its peer set. Enterprise value of about $396.35B and EBITDA near $14.33B 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 Retail names on our S&P 100 coverage, Costco Wholesale Corp's EV/EBITDA of 27.66 can be compared with peers such as AMZN (16.32), WMT (19.02), LOW (11.19). Sector context helps interpretation, but each company's growth profile and balance sheet differ — use multiple metrics before drawing conclusions. View all Retail stocks.
Key Takeaways
- COST is grouped in the Retail sector for peer comparisons.
- Recent beta of 0.86 suggests lower-than-market 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.
Learn the full workflow
Compare PE with PB, PEG, EV/EBITDA, and market cap in one structured path.
Open the Stock Valuation hub →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 Corp's ratio is about 27.66 — common for comparing leveraged companies in Retail.
Is 27.66 high or low vs peers?
Among Retail peers (e.g. WMT (19.02), AMZN (16.32), LOW (11.19)), COST's 27.66 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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