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Costco WholesaleCOST -0.61%94 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 12.20% as of May. 2026, which is 13% above its 10-year median of 10.80. GuruFocus rates COST with a GF Score™ of 94/100 and a GF Value™ of $1,039.57 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 293 Retail - Defensive companies, Costco Wholesale ranks better than 70.65% on this metric.
During the past 12 months, Costco Wholesale's average Book Value per Share Growth Rate was 23.50% per year.
During the past 3 years, the average Book Value per Share Growth Rate was 12.20% per year.
During the past 5 years, the average Book Value per Share Growth Rate was 10.20% per year.
During the past 10 years, the average Book Value per Share Growth Rate was 10.70% per year.
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average Book Value per Share growth rate.
During the past 13 years, the highest 3-Year average Book Value per Share Growth Rate of Costco Wholesale was 20.80% per year. The lowest was -5.40% per year. And the median was 10.80% per year.
Costco Wholesale (NAS:COST) 3-Year Book Growth Rate Explanation
Book Value per Share is the ratio of equity available to common shareholders divided by the shares outstanding. Book value per share effectively indicates a firm's net asset value on a per-share basis. It can be used by investors to gauge whether a stock price is undervalued by comparing it to the firm's market value per share. Theoretically, it is what the shareholders will receive if the company is liquidated.
Costco Wholesale 3-Year Book Growth Rate Related Terms
COST vs TGT, DG, DLTR: 3-Year Book Growth Rate Comparison
For the Discount Stores subindustry, Costco Wholesale's 3-Year Book Growth Rate, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Book Growth Rate data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Costco Wholesale 3-Year Book Growth Rate vs Retail - Defensive Industry
For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Costco Wholesale's 3-Year Book Growth Rate distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Costco Wholesale's 3-Year Book Growth Rate falls into.
Costco Wholesale 3-Year Book Growth Rate Calculation
This is the 3-year average growth rate of Book Value per Share. The growth rate is calculated using exponential compounding based on the latest four year annual data.
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average Book Value per Share growth rate.
What does a 3-Year Book Growth Rate of 12.20% mean?
Costco Wholesale (COST) has a 3-Year Book Growth Rate of 12.20% as of May. 2026. 3-Year Book Growth Rate is the 3-year average growth rate of Book Value per Share. View historical data for Costco Wholesale and its competitors. This is 13% above median its historical median of 10.80. According to the industry distribution chart, Costco Wholesale ranks #86 out of 293 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 29.4%.
Is Costco Wholesale's 3-Year Book Growth Rate too high?
Costco Wholesale's current 3-Year Book Growth Rate of 12.20% is 13% above median its 10-year median of 10.80. The Retail - Defensive industry median 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 5.90. Costco Wholesale's value of 12.20% is 106.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Costco Wholesale ranks #86 out of 293 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Costco Wholesale has a GF Score™ of 94/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Costco Wholesale's 3-Year Book Growth Rate compare to TGT and DG?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, Costco Wholesale ranks #86 out of 293 companies for 3-Year Book Growth Rate. This puts Costco Wholesale in the upper half of its industry. The industry median 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 5.90. Costco Wholesale's value of 12.20% is 106.8% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 10.80 vs. the industry median of 5.90, Costco Wholesale has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 3-Year Book Growth Rate for a Retail - Defensive company?
The median 3-Year Book Growth Rate among Retail - Defensive companies is 5.90, based on 293 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a 3-Year Book Growth Rate significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, 3-Year Book Growth Rate should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Costco Wholesale's current 3-Year Book Growth Rate of 12.20% is 106.8% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 3-Year Book Growth Rate mean?
A high 3-Year Book Growth Rate can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. 3-Year Book Growth Rate is the 3-year average growth rate of Book Value per Share. View historical data for Costco Wholesale and its competitors. For the Retail - Defensive industry, the median 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 5.90 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Costco Wholesale's current 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 12.20%, which is 13% above median its own 10-year median of 10.80. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Costco Wholesale stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Costco Wholesale (COST) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $1,039.57, compared to a current price of $910.18 — trading 12.4% below its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 12.20%, which is 13% above median its 10-year median of 10.80 and 106.8% above the Retail - Defensive industry median of 5.90. Costco Wholesale's overall GF Score™ is 94/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Book Growth Rate calculated?
3-Year Book Growth Rate is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Costco Wholesale (COST), the current 3-Year Book Growth Rate is 12.20% as of May. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Costco Wholesale stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $910.18 is trading 12.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of $1,039.57.
GuruFocus considers Costco Wholesale to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for COST:
3-Year Book Growth Rate: 12.20% (13% above median its 10-year median of 10.80)
GF Value™: $1,039.57 vs. price of $910.18 (12.4% below fair value)
Industry Position: 106.8% above the Retail - Defensive median (#86 of 293)
No single metric tells the full story. See the COST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale now operates a global chain of membership-based warehouse clubs, delivering high-quality goods and services at consistently low prices. As of its most recent fiscal year, Costco operated approximately 910 warehouses, serving more than 80 million members across its three geographic segments: Costco US (approximately 73% of total revenue), Costco Canada (13%), and Costco International (14%).Costco's core value proposition—quality products at unbeatable prices—has yielded consistently strong member renewal rates (93% in the US and Canada and nearly 90% internationally). About 55% of Costco's fiscal 2025 revenue came from its grocery offerings, and another 25% from general merchandise.
94GF Score
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