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COST vs KO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both COST and KO have delivered strong year-to-date gains around 15%, outperforming the S&P 500 amid market volatility.
- COST shows robust comparable sales growth of 7-9% in recent months, driven by membership fees and e-commerce surges over 30%.
- KO hit a 52-week high near $81 recently, supported by 5% organic revenue growth and its 64th consecutive dividend increase.
- COST trades at a premium valuation around 50x earnings, reflecting growth expectations ahead of Q2 earnings on March 5.
- KO offers defensive stability with consistent EPS beats and lower volatility, appealing in uncertain conditions.
- Tickeron's AI bots highlight both in trending strategies, with consumer staples bots showing win rates up to 70%.
Introduction
This stock comparison between Costco Wholesale (COST) and The Coca-Cola Company (KO) examines two consumer staples leaders amid shifting market dynamics. Costco operates membership warehouses with broad merchandise offerings, while Coca-Cola dominates non-alcoholic beverages globally. Traders seeking growth momentum may favor Costco's sales trends, while investors prioritizing dividend reliability and stability might lean toward Coca-Cola. Recent relative performance highlights both as resilient options in a volatile environment, providing insights into sector positioning and potential trade-offs for diversified portfolios.
COST Overview and Recent Performance
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) runs a network of over 900 membership-based warehouses worldwide, emphasizing bulk sales of groceries, electronics, and private-label goods. In recent market activity, shares have traded around $995, reflecting year-to-date gains of about 15% and outperforming the S&P 500. January net sales rose 9.3% year-over-year to $21.33 billion, with comparable sales up 7.1% excluding gas and FX impacts; e-commerce comps surged over 30%. Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings beat estimates with $4.34 EPS on $67.31 billion revenue, fueled by 14% membership fee growth. Positive analyst updates, including Citi's $1,000 target, underscore sentiment driven by warehouse expansions and resilient consumer traffic, though high valuations temper enthusiasm.
KO Overview and Recent Performance
The Coca-Cola Company (KO) produces and markets beverages including its flagship soda, waters, and juices across global markets. Shares recently touched a 52-week high near $81 before settling around $80.50, with year-to-date returns near 15% outpacing broader indices. Q4 2025 results showed adjusted EPS of $0.58 beating estimates, though revenue of $11.82 billion missed slightly; full-year organic revenues grew 5% via 4% price/mix gains. The company announced its 64th consecutive annual dividend hike to $0.53 quarterly. Strong multi-month gains of 10-11% reflect brand strength and volume stability, bolstered by emerging market demand despite valuation concerns post-rally.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron's Trending AI Robots page showcases over 25 top-performing AI trading bots, curated from hundreds available that trade thousands of tickers. Selection emphasizes bots suited to current volatility—low, medium, or high—based on real-time signals, promising sectors like semiconductors, industrials, and consumer staples. Stats shine: annualized returns from +15% to +254%, win rates 54-95%, profit factors up to 35x. Examples include a consumer staples bot trading COST, NFLX, HD, PG on 60-minute timeframes with +19% return and 70% win rate; semiconductor bots hit +98% returns at 70% wins. Diverse styles span day trading to swings across 1-8 tickers. Explore these for data-driven strategies matching today's market.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Costco's warehouse model drives growth through membership renewals (over 90%) and traffic, contrasting Coca-Cola's asset-light franchising focused on brand licensing and pricing power. Recent momentum favors COST with 7-9% comp sales versus KO's steadier 4-5% organic growth, but KO exhibits lower volatility (5% vs. COST's 6%). Risk factors differ: COST faces retail competition and expansion costs, while KO navigates health trends and FX exposure. Both in consumer staples, COST leans discretionary merchandise, KO essential beverages. Sentiment tilts positive for COST on sales beats, but KO's dividend aristocrat status (~2.6% yield) enhances appeal in downturns, balancing growth versus income trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently favors COST due to superior trend consistency in comparable sales, e-commerce acceleration, and membership catalysts positioning it strongly pre-earnings. KO's stability and dividends provide a solid base, but COST's relative momentum and sector bot inclusion suggest higher probabilistic outperformance in the near term amid consumer resilience.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is COST is a Hold and KO is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
COST’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileKO’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- COST’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- KO’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
COST’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KO’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- COST’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- KO’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
COST (@Discount Stores) experienced а +2.88% price change this week, while KO (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price change was +2.58% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was -2.23%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.18%, and the average quarterly price growth was +5.41%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was -2.37%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.14%, and the average quarterly price growth was +117461.88%.
Reported Earning Dates
COST is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
KO is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Discount Stores (-2.23% weekly)Companies in the discount stores industry specialize in offering substantial discounts on a vast array of retail products. Some companies in this industry also operate general merchandise warehouse clubs. Products sold at discount stores are typically similar to those of any department store, but the pricing of the goods is generally much lower (and hence the name “discount”). Think Dollar General Corporation, Dollar Tree, Inc. and Five Below, Inc. Many discount stores target low-income households and/or price-sensitive consumers as their potential market. Discount stores’ profitability could hinge on factors like competitive pricing, sufficient locations, healthy revenue per square foot, and effective advertisement. These store operators could have an edge over other retailers during financial crises or recessions, when many consumers could be looking for less expensive alternatives.
@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic (-2.37% weekly)Non-alcoholic drinks include traces of alcohol or low alcohol content or without alcohol or alcohol removed. Functional Beverages, Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs), Sports Drinks, Fruit Beverages, and Bottled Water are some common types of non-alcoholic beverages. The largest segment in this market is soft drinks (think Pepsi and Coke). Many established companies in this space have also been stepping up production of low to zero-calorie varieties in recent years, to cater to a rising number of health-conscious consumers. Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Monster Beverage Corporation are some major non-alcoholic beverage makers.
| COST | KO | COST / KO | |
| Capitalization | 462B | 346B | 134% |
| EBITDA | 14.1B | 19.2B | 73% |
| Gain YTD | 21.087 | 15.868 | 133% |
| P/E Ratio | 54.15 | 25.30 | 214% |
| Revenue | 286B | 49.3B | 580% |
| Total Cash | 18.2B | 13.8B | 132% |
| Total Debt | 8.17B | 43.9B | 19% |
COST | KO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 11 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 94 Overvalued | 46 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 11 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 33 | 21 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 32 | 31 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 61 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
KO's Valuation (46) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is somewhat better than the same rating for COST (94) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that KO’s stock grew somewhat faster than COST’s over the last 12 months.
KO's Profit vs Risk Rating (11) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as COST (11) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that KO’s stock grew similarly to COST’s over the last 12 months.
KO's SMR Rating (21) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as COST (33) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that KO’s stock grew similarly to COST’s over the last 12 months.
KO's Price Growth Rating (31) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as COST (32) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that KO’s stock grew similarly to COST’s over the last 12 months.
COST's P/E Growth Rating (58) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as KO (61) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that COST’s stock grew similarly to KO’s over the last 12 months.
| COST | KO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 31% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 37% | 2 days ago 25% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 46% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 45% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 38% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 37% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 40% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 37% | 8 days ago 30% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 40% | 2 days ago 30% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 29% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| IWML | 30.46 | 0.32 | +1.08% |
| ETRACS 2x Leveraged US Size Fctr TR ETN | |||
| VYM | 157.24 | 1.60 | +1.03% |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | |||
| IVSI | 28.10 | N/A | N/A |
| Applied Finance IVS International Large ETF | |||
| FLGB | 35.64 | -0.14 | -0.38% |
| Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF | |||
| IDRV | 44.97 | -0.31 | -0.68% |
| iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF | |||
KO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KO has been loosely correlated with PEP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 55% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if KO jumps, then PEP could also see price increases.