Costco Wholesale (COST) GF Value Rank: 9 (As of Jul. 07, 2026) — 80% Above Median


COST Costco Wholesale Corp COST
96 GF Score
Price $950.25
GF Value $1,018.57
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 1 Warning Sign
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What is Costco Wholesale GF Value Rank?

Costco Wholesale COST -0.15% 96 GF Value Rank is 9 as of Jul. 07, 2026, which is 80% above its 10-year median of 5.00. GuruFocus rates COST with a GF Score™ of 96/100 and a GF Value™ of $1,018.57 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review.

Costco Wholesale has the GF Value Rank of 9.

GF Value Rank evaluates the exclusive GuruFocus valuation and performance of a stock, rated on a scale from 1 to 10. It is determined by the price-to-GF-Value (P/GF Value) ratio, a proprietary metric calculated based on historical multiples along with an adjustment factor based on a company's past returns and growth and future estimates of the business' performance.

GuruFocus found that for valuation, we cannot simply give stocks a better GF Value rank simply because they have a lower P/GF Value ratio. Backtesting shows that over the long term, the two worst-performing groups are the most expensive group (with the highest P/GF Value ratio) and the least expensive group (with the lowest P/GF Value ratio).

We can understand why the most expensive group underperforms. We were initially puzzled by the underperformance of the least expensive group, but we realized there is a reason why some stocks are super cheap. If they look too undervalued, it is often because the businesses behind them are poor quality. The market realized this and gave them low valuations. In a way, the market is efficient.

After multiple backtesting analyses, we granted the stocks in third-cheapest percentile the highest GF Value rank, as they have performed the best over a full market cycle. Stock performance is actually not as sensitive to valuation as it is to growth and profitability. On average, the companies in the 20%-50% valuation groups have similar performances. Therefore, we should avoid the most expensive and the least expensive stocks. We can be more tolerant of valuation.

A higher score indicates a stock with a relatively low valuation and substantial potential for outperformance. Conversely, a lower score often reflects stocks that are either highly overvalued or deeply undervalued, both of which tend to underperform.

Please click GF Score to see more details on the GF Score's 5 Key Aspects of Analysis.

Costco Wholesale GF Value Rank Related Terms

COST vs TGT, DG, DLTR: GF Value Rank Comparison

For the Discount Stores subindustry, Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank, along with its competitors' market caps and GF Value Rank 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 GF Value Rank vs Retail - Defensive Industry

For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank falls into.


COST
96GF Score
Costco Wholesale Corp COST
GF Value Rank is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about GF Value Rank →
What does a GF Value Rank of 9 mean?
Costco Wholesale (COST) has a GF Value Rank of 9 as of Jul. 07, 2026. GF Value Rank is given based on historical multiples along with past returns, growth and future estimates of the business' performance. View historical data on Costco Wholesale and its competitors. This is 80% above median its historical median of 5.00. Over the past decade, Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank has ranged from 1.00 to 10.00.
Is Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank too high?
Costco Wholesale's current GF Value Rank of 9 is 80% above median its 10-year median of 5.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 1.00 to a high of 10.00. Overall, Costco Wholesale has a GF Score™ of 96/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank compare to TGT and DG?
Costco Wholesale's GF Value Rank of 9 can be compared against companies in the Retail - Defensive industry. Historically, Costco Wholesale's own GF Value Rank has ranged from 1.00 to 10.00 over the past decade. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good GF Value Rank for a Retail - Defensive company?
A good GF Value Rank depends on the Retail - Defensive industry context. However, GF Value Rank should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high GF Value Rank mean?
A high GF Value Rank can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. GF Value Rank is given based on historical multiples along with past returns, growth and future estimates of the business' performance. View historical data on Costco Wholesale and its competitors. Costco Wholesale's current GF Value Rank is 9, which is 80% above median its own 10-year median of 5.00. 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 Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $1,018.57, compared to a current price of $950.25 — trading 6.7% below its estimated fair value. The current GF Value Rank is 9, which is 80% above median its 10-year median of 5.00. Costco Wholesale's overall GF Score™ is 96/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is GF Value Rank calculated?
GF Value Rank is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Costco Wholesale (COST), the current GF Value Rank is 9 as of Jul. 07, 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 $950.25 is trading 6.7% below its estimated GF Value™ of $1,018.57. GuruFocus considers Costco Wholesale to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for COST:

  • GF Value Rank: 9 (80% above median its 10-year median of 5.00)
  • GF Value™: $1,018.57 vs. price of $950.25 (6.7% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 96/100 with 1 warning sign

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.

Costco Wholesale Business Description

Address 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA, USA, 98027
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.
96GF Score

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GF Value Rank is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$950.25
Price
$1,018.57
GF Value