COST vs WMT vs TGT
161 measures in 16 categories, one definition each, computed from filings and market data.
COST63.3
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores
$989.11 +1.13%$438.3B mkt cap
Score DNA
TGT62.2
Target Corporation
Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores
$154.24 −1.51%$70.1B mkt cap
Score DNA
Price, rebased to 100 three years ago
COST WMT TGT · weekly adjusted closesSmart money 8Valuation 16Profitability (TTM) 12Returns on capital 11Growth 17Margin history & stability 7Liquidity (latest quarter) 7Leverage & solvency (latest quarter) 13Efficiency 11Cash flow & earnings quality 7Dividends & buybacks 9Scores & forensic checks 15Per share 7Size (TTM) 8Price performance 9Technicals 4
● marks the highest or lowest value where that direction is plainly stronger (margins, returns, coverage, leverage); multiples and yields are left unmarked. Bars show each stock's percentile within its own industry. n/a: the measure does not apply to lenders and insurers.
Smart money
8 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider open-market buys, 180d | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Insider $ bought, 180d | — | — | — |
| Congress purchases, 180d | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Last Congress purchase | 2026-09-25 | 2026-09-25 | — |
| 13F net change in holders | −6 | −35 | +47 |
| ETFs adding shares, 30d | 1,768 | 1,795 | 1,282 |
| ETFs trimming, 30d | 1,430 | 1,441 | 1,078 |
| Net ETF funds, 30d | +338 | +354 | +204 |
Valuation
16 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E (TTM) | 47.5x
100th
|
42.8x
86th
|
16.0x
14th
|
| PEG (P/E ÷ 3-yr EPS CAGR) | 3.49
100th
|
2.53
50th
|
1.65
33rd
|
| Price / sales | 1.4x
86th
|
1.3x
71st
|
0.7x
14th
|
| Price / book | 12.2x
100th
|
9.6x
86th
|
3.9x
43rd
|
| Price / tangible book | 11.7x
86th
|
12.7x
100th
|
3.7x
14th
|
| Price / free cash flow | 46.7x
71st
|
70.0x
86th
|
15.4x
29th
|
| Price / operating cash flow | 27.7x
100th
|
22.0x
86th
|
8.0x
29th
|
| Enterprise value | $425.6B
86th
|
$1.01T
100th
|
$83.4B
71st
|
| EV / sales | 1.4x
71st
|
1.4x
57th
|
0.8x
14th
|
| EV / EBITDA | 29.6x
100th
|
21.5x
86th
|
9.0x
0th
|
| EV / EBIT | 36.4x
100th
|
31.8x
86th
|
13.7x
14th
|
| EV / free cash flow | 45.3x
71st
|
74.6x
100th
|
18.3x
29th
|
| Earnings yield | 2.1%
0th
|
2.3%
14th
|
6.3%
86th
|
| FCF yield | 2.1%
29th
|
1.4%
14th
|
6.5%
71st
|
| Operating cash flow yield | 3.6%
0th
|
4.5%
14th
|
12.4%
71st
|
| Graham number (per share) | $194.01
100th
|
$27.69
0th
|
$91.96
86th
|
Profitability (TTM)
12 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 12.8%
0th
|
25.2%
43rd
|
29.3%
57th
|
| EBITDA margin | 4.7%
0th
|
6.4%
43rd
|
8.6%
71st
|
| Operating margin | 3.9%
0th
|
4.4%
29th
|
5.6%
71st
|
| EBIT margin | 3.9%
14th
|
4.3%
29th
|
5.7%
71st
|
| Net margin | 3.0%
43rd
|
3.0%
29th
|
4.1%
71st
|
| NOPAT margin | 2.9%
14th
|
3.4%
43rd
|
4.3%
71st
|
| FCF margin | 3.1%
43rd
|
1.8%
29th
|
4.2%
57th
|
| Operating cash flow margin | 5.2%
29th
|
5.8%
43rd
|
8.1%
57th
|
| R&D / revenue | 0.0%
0th
|
0.0%
0th
|
0.0%
0th
|
| SG&A / revenue | 9.0%
0th
|
20.8%
43rd
|
21.2%
57th
|
| Stock comp / revenue | 0.3%
71st
|
0.0%
0th
|
0.3%
57th
|
| Effective tax rate | 24.7%
71st
|
23.3%
14th
|
22.4%
0th
|
Returns on capital
11 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (on average equity) | 28.4%
86th
|
23.4%
43rd
|
26.4%
57th
|
| ROA | 11.1%
86th
|
7.8%
57th
|
7.4%
29th
|
| ROIC | 38.1%
100th
|
15.4%
71st
|
15.0%
57th
|
| ROCE | 25.9%
100th
|
17.8%
71st
|
15.2%
43rd
|
| Return on tangible assets | 14.1%
86th
|
11.2%
43rd
|
10.2%
14th
|
| Cash ROIC (OCF / invested capital) | 68.6%
100th
|
26.7%
57th
|
28.0%
71st
|
| Gross profitability (GP / assets) | 43.7%
43rd
|
63.2%
100th
|
51.5%
57th
|
| ROIC, 3-yr average | 40.2%
100th
|
11.9%
71st
|
13.2%
86th
|
| ROIC, 5-yr average | 51.0%
100th
|
12.7%
71st
|
16.6%
86th
|
| ROE, 5-yr average | 27.6%
71st
|
20.0%
43rd
|
29.8%
86th
|
| Incremental ROIC | 38.3%
33rd
|
49.8%
50th
|
140.9%
100th
|
Growth
17 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (TTM YoY) | 10.1%
71st
|
6.2%
43rd
|
2.0%
14th
|
| Revenue growth (QoQ) | 35.7%
100th
|
5.7%
57th
|
4.3%
29th
|
| Revenue CAGR, 3 yr | 7.8%
71st
|
5.3%
43rd
|
-0.1%
14th
|
| Revenue CAGR, 5 yr | 9.1%
71st
|
5.4%
43rd
|
1.4%
14th
|
| Gross profit CAGR, 3 yr | 9.4%
71st
|
6.7%
43rd
|
6.9%
57th
|
| Operating income CAGR, 3 yr | 12.9%
71st
|
14.0%
86th
|
8.2%
43rd
|
| Net income growth (TTM YoY) | 13.9%
67th
|
3.4%
17th
|
11.8%
50th
|
| Net income CAGR, 3 yr | 13.6%
71st
|
16.3%
86th
|
9.2%
29th
|
| EPS growth (TTM YoY) | 14.0%
67th
|
3.9%
0th
|
11.6%
50th
|
| EPS CAGR, 3 yr | 13.6%
57th
|
16.9%
86th
|
9.7%
29th
|
| EPS CAGR, 5 yr | 13.0%
86th
|
18.4%
100th
|
-5.4%
14th
|
| FCF growth (TTM YoY) | 19.8%
43rd
|
-1.8%
29th
|
54.6%
86th
|
| FCF CAGR, 3 yr | 11.7%
29th
|
-11.1%
14th
|
40.7%
71st
|
| Operating cash flow CAGR, 3 yr | 12.7%
43rd
|
4.3%
14th
|
5.3%
29th
|
| Book value CAGR, 3 yr | 12.6%
57th
|
7.9%
14th
|
14.7%
86th
|
| Dividend CAGR, 3 yr | 4.0%
100th
|
3.3%
50th
|
0.8%
25th
|
| Sustainable growth rate | 20.8%
71st
|
15.3%
57th
|
14.0%
29th
|
Margin history & stability
7 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin, 3-yr average | 12.8%
0th
|
24.9%
43rd
|
27.1%
57th
|
| Operating margin, 3-yr average | 3.8%
0th
|
4.3%
29th
|
5.3%
86th
|
| Net margin, 3-yr average | 3.0%
57th
|
2.8%
43rd
|
4.0%
86th
|
| FCF margin, 3-yr average | 2.9%
43rd
|
1.9%
29th
|
4.0%
57th
|
| Revenue stability (0-1) | 0.99
71st
|
1.00
86th
|
0.53
14th
|
| Earnings stability (0-1) | 0.99
100th
|
0.92
57th
|
0.25
14th
|
| Margin stability (0-1) | 0.98
71st
|
0.98
100th
|
0.92
29th
|
Liquidity (latest quarter)
7 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash & short-term investments | $21.3B
100th
|
$11.5B
86th
|
$5.4B
71st
|
| Net cash (− = net debt) | $12.7B
100th
|
−$62.2B
0th
|
−$13.3B
29th
|
| Working capital | $2.6B
100th
|
−$26.9B
0th
|
−$252.0M
29th
|
| Current ratio | 1.06
43rd
|
0.77
14th
|
0.99
29th
|
| Quick ratio | 0.62
100th
|
0.23
14th
|
0.36
43rd
|
| Cash ratio (cash + ST investments / current liabilities) | 0.48
100th
|
0.10
14th
|
0.26
43rd
|
| Defensive interval (days) | 339 days
100th
|
54 days
14th
|
77 days
57th
|
Leverage & solvency (latest quarter)
13 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $8.6B
57th
|
$73.8B
100th
|
$18.7B
86th
|
| Debt / equity | 0.24
14th
|
0.75
43rd
|
1.05
57th
|
| Net debt / equity | −0.36
0th
|
0.63
43rd
|
0.74
57th
|
| Debt / assets | 9.6%
0th
|
25.1%
43rd
|
30.5%
57th
|
| Debt / capital | 19.3%
14th
|
42.9%
43rd
|
51.2%
57th
|
| Debt / EBITDA | 0.60
0th
|
1.58
29th
|
2.02
57th
|
| Net debt / EBITDA | −0.89
0th
|
1.33
43rd
|
1.44
57th
|
| Interest coverage (EBIT / interest) | 80.6x
100th
|
13.4x
17th
|
14.2x
33rd
|
| Cash interest coverage | 109.1x
100th
|
18.2x
17th
|
20.3x
33rd
|
| Debt payback (years of OCF) | 0.5 yrs
0th
|
1.7 yrs
29th
|
2.1 yrs
57th
|
| Liabilities / assets | 59.8%
29th
|
64.4%
43rd
|
70.9%
57th
|
| IS credit model rating | AAA | A- | BBB+ |
| Implied credit spread (bps) | 50
0th
|
175
57th
|
225
86th
|
Efficiency
11 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset turnover | 3.65
100th
|
2.61
71st
|
1.81
43rd
|
| Fixed asset turnover | 7.91
100th
|
4.48
57th
|
2.81
43rd
|
| Inventory turnover | 14.1
100th
|
9.2
71st
|
5.8
43rd
|
| Receivables turnover | 84.7
40th
|
68.2
0th
|
— |
| Days sales outstanding | 4 days
71st
|
5 days
100th
|
0 days
0th
|
| Days inventory outstanding | 26 days
0th
|
40 days
29th
|
63 days
57th
|
| Days payables outstanding | 29 days
14th
|
41 days
57th
|
61 days
100th
|
| Cash conversion cycle (days) | 1 days
0th
|
4 days
29th
|
2 days
14th
|
| Capex / revenue | 2.1%
0th
|
4.0%
71st
|
3.9%
57th
|
| Capex / depreciation | 2.41
86th
|
1.95
43rd
|
1.31
0th
|
| Operating expense ratio | 8.8%
0th
|
21.2%
43rd
|
24.0%
57th
|
Cash flow & earnings quality
7 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.72
14th
|
1.94
71st
|
1.99
86th
|
| FCF / net income | 1.02
57th
|
0.61
14th
|
1.04
71st
|
| FCF / operating cash flow | 59.3%
57th
|
31.5%
14th
|
52.2%
43rd
|
| Capex / operating cash flow | 40.7%
43rd
|
68.5%
86th
|
47.8%
57th
|
| Accruals ratio | -7.9%
29th
|
-7.4%
43rd
|
-7.3%
57th
|
| Sloan accruals ratio | -1.6%
100th
|
-7.3%
14th
|
-5.4%
29th
|
| Earnings quality score (0-1) | 0.75
0th
|
0.75
0th
|
0.75
0th
|
Scores & forensic checks
15 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS score | 63
86th
|
53
14th
|
62
71st
|
| IS profitability | 40
43rd
|
40
57th
|
49
71st
|
| IS growth | 59
71st
|
48
0th
|
51
29th
|
| IS value | 30
0th
|
34
14th
|
67
100th
|
| IS momentum | 84
71st
|
76
0th
|
78
29th
|
| IS risk (safety) | 100
43rd
|
100
43rd
|
80
14th
|
| IS quality | 78
86th
|
70
57th
|
70
71st
|
| IS balance sheet | 85
100th
|
61
43rd
|
63
57th
|
| IS earnings quality | 83
14th
|
84
43rd
|
85
71st
|
| IS cash flow | 65
100th
|
43
14th
|
59
57th
|
| Piotroski F-score (0-9) | 8
86th
|
6
14th
|
6
14th
|
| Altman Z-score | 9.1
100th
|
6.1
86th
|
3.2
14th
|
| Beneish M-score | −2.62
86th
|
−2.81
43rd
|
−2.79
57th
|
| Ohlson O-score | −8.77
14th
|
−8.55
29th
|
−7.64
57th
|
| IS credit score | 97
100th
|
69
43rd
|
60
14th
|
Size (TTM)
8 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $438.3B
86th
|
$945.5B
100th
|
$70.1B
71st
|
| Revenue | $303.2B
86th
|
$735.8B
100th
|
$107.7B
71st
|
| EBITDA | $14.4B
86th
|
$46.8B
100th
|
$9.3B
71st
|
| Net income | $9.2B
86th
|
$22.1B
100th
|
$4.4B
71st
|
| Free cash flow | $9.4B
86th
|
$13.5B
100th
|
$4.6B
71st
|
| Total assets | $89.0B
86th
|
$293.9B
100th
|
$61.2B
71st
|
| Shareholders' equity | $35.8B
86th
|
$98.2B
100th
|
$17.8B
71st
|
| Employees | 355,000
71st
|
2,100,000
100th
|
415,000
86th
|
Price performance
9 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | +1.1% | +0.8% | −1.5% |
| 1 week | +4.5% | +6.7% | +0.4% |
| 1 month | +10.7% | +11.3% | −3.5% |
| 3 months | +5.9% | +5.9% | +11.3% |
| 6 months | −1.1% | −6.8% | +22.7% |
| Year to date | +15.9% | +5.4% | +57.7% |
| 1 year | +3.7% | +9.2% | +76.6% |
| 3 years, cumulative | +81.2% | +131.0% | +58.0% |
| 5 years, cumulative | +130.0% | +170.0% | −21.2% |
Technicals
4 measures| Measure | COST | WMT | TGT |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI 14 | 72.5 | 73.0 | 47.6 |
| From 52-week high | −9.8% | −12.1% | −9.7% |
| From 52-week low | +17.2% | +20.4% | +90.0% |
| Beta | 0.87 | 0.58 | 0.98 |
InsiderStreet reports findings from filings and market data. A comparison is not a recommendation to buy or sell either stock.Every figure is computed in code · data as of 2026-10-17