Stock Comparison
WMT vs COST: Everyday Supercenter, or a Paid Membership Club?
A head-to-head of Walmart and Costco covering retail mix, payout record, and scale.
Data updated August 28, 2026
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
COST has lagged WMT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 0.15% total return against 8.20%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — COST has compounded at 21.18% a year, ahead of WMT at 17.75%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Nov 1985 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 11.13% | 0.15% | 22.42% | 17.24% | 21.18% | 18.09% | 20.4% | 0.78 | 1.08 | -20.7% |
| WMT | -7.99% | 8.20% | 26.21% | 17.57% | 17.75% | 14.90% | 23.0% | 0.82 | 1.16 | -23.3% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 28, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Nov 1985” measures every fund from November 27, 1985 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  COST |  WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Costco Wholesale Corporation | Walmart Inc. |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $945.47 as of August 28, 2026 | $103.09 as of August 28, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 0.59% | 0.97% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 92 | 100 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 0.54% | 0.97% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Operates membership-only warehouse clubs offering a wide selection of merchandise at competitive prices. Sells branded and private-label products across food, sundries, hardlines, softlines, and fresh food categories. | Operates retail stores and e-commerce platforms worldwide. Segments include Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club, offering groceries, general merchandise, and financial services. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.86 | 0.605 |
| Last dividend | $1.4700 | $0.2475 |
| Ex-dividend date | 07/24/2026 | 12/11/2026 |
Bottom lineCOST and WMT are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar consumer staples exposure with very similar cost and risk. Neither charges a fund expense ratio, so the decision rests on business fundamentals, payout history, and valuation.
WMT vs COST: supercenter or warehouse club?
Both are US retailers that pay quarterly. Walmart is a Dividend King; Costco is a membership warehouse with a smaller regular payout.
| COST | WMT | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | General merchandise supercenter | Membership warehouse |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution yield | 0.59% | 0.97% |
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Quick verdict
COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) and WMT (Walmart Inc.) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
WMT offers the higher yield at 0.97% vs 0.59% for COST. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, COST would generate roughly $4.92/month, while WMT would produce $8.08/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
COST is a stock built around consumer staples exposure, while WMT is a stock built around retail exposure. Beta is 0.86 for COST and 0.605 for WMT, making WMT the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) is a stock. WMT (Walmart Inc.) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between WMT and COST for dividends?
Both are US retailers that pay a quarterly dividend. COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) distributes 0.59% and WMT (Walmart Inc.) distributes 0.97% as of August 2026. Walmart is a Dividend King supercenter; Costco is a membership warehouse with a smaller regular payout. Compare mix and payout record, not a one-date yield race.
What is the current distribution yield for COST and WMT?
COST currently distributes 0.59% and WMT 0.97%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is COST or WMT better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. WMT currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between COST and WMT?
COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) is a stock built around consumer staples exposure, while WMT (Walmart Inc.) is a stock built around retail exposure. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both COST and WMT?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is COST or WMT safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — WMT scores 100, COST scores 92, so WMT's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. WMT has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.60 vs 0.86 for COST). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in COST vs WMT generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in COST would generate roughly $4.92 per month ($59.00 annually). The same in WMT would produce about $8.08 per month ($97.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, COST or WMT?
COST has lagged WMT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 0.15% total return against 8.20%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — COST has compounded at 21.18% a year, ahead of WMT at 17.75%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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