Costco Wholesale vs NIKE: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
Costco Wholesale · Consumer Defensive / Discount Stores·NIKE · Consumer Cyclical / Footwear & Accessories
Financial Comparison
| Metric | COSTCostco Wholesale | NKENIKE |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $447.43B | $79.91B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $286.27B | $46.51B |
| Revenue Growth | 9.2% | 0.6% |
| Gross Margin | 12.9% | 41.1% |
| Operating Margin | 3.7% | 8.1% |
| Net Margin | 3.0% | 5.4% |
| Return on Equity | 29.7% | 18.0% |
| P/E (Trailing) | 52.4x | 31.6x |
| P/E (Forward) | 45.0x | 23.5x |
| Free Cash Flow | $6.69B | $2.58B |
| Cash | $18.24B | $8.34B |
| Total Debt | $8.34B | $11.28B |
Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.
Business Model Comparison
Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale Corporation stands as a leading company in Consumer Defensive. Generating $280.39 billion in annual revenue (growing 8.3% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $436.22 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Discount Stores landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, Costco Wholesale Corporation continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that b…
Full Costco Wholesale analysis →NIKE
NIKE, Inc. stands as a leading company in Consumer Cyclical. Generating $46.51 billion in annual revenue (growing 0.6% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $85.89 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Footwear & Accessories landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, NIKE, Inc. continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth investment with s…
Full NIKE analysis →SWOT Analysis Comparison
Strengths
Costco Wholesale
- With a market capitalization of $436.22B, Costco Wholesale Corporation is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capita
- A return on equity of 30.3% demonstrates that Costco Wholesale Corporation generates strong returns from shareholder capital, a hallmark of companies with durable competitive advantages.
- Costco Wholesale Corporation generated $7.17B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
NIKE
- NIKE, Inc.'s gross margin of 41.1% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 8.1% demonstrates disciplined
- A return on equity of 18.0% demonstrates that NIKE, Inc. generates strong returns from shareholder capital, a hallmark of companies with durable competitive advantages.
- NIKE, Inc. generated $2.58B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
Weaknesses
Costco Wholesale
- A net profit margin of 3.0% leaves limited buffer against revenue fluctuations or cost increases. Any significant market downturn could quickly pressure profitability.
- With 341,000 employees globally, Costco Wholesale Corporation faces inherent challenges in agility, decision-making speed, and maintaining a consistent culture across geographies — advantages that sma
NIKE
- NIKE, Inc.'s debt-to-equity ratio of 80.1 indicates meaningful financial leverage. Total debt stands at $11.28B against $8.34B in cash and equivalents.
- Revenue growth of 0.6% is below what growth investors typically seek, suggesting market saturation in core businesses or increasing competitive pressure.
Opportunities
Costco Wholesale
- Costco Wholesale Corporation operates in the Discount Stores segment of the broader Consumer Defensive sector, which represents a $12 trillion global consumer staples market. Even modest share gains i
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for Costco
- With $17.18B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, Costco Wholesale Corporation is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic r
NIKE
- NIKE, Inc. operates in the Footwear & Accessories segment of the broader Consumer Cyclical sector, which represents a $28 trillion global consumer spending market. Even modest share gains in this envi
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for NIKE, I
- With $8.34B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, NIKE, Inc. is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
Threats
Costco Wholesale
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Costco Wholesale Corporation's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Costco Wholesale Co
- Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
NIKE
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. NIKE, Inc.'s revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession scena
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on NIKE, Inc.'s busine
- Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
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Open Comparison ToolCostco Wholesale vs NIKE: FAQ
- Is Costco Wholesale bigger than NIKE?
- By market capitalization, Costco Wholesale is larger at $447.43B vs NIKE's $79.91B.
- Which has better profit margins — Costco Wholesale or NIKE?
- NIKE has higher net profit margins (5.4%) compared to Costco Wholesale (3.0%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
- What sectors do Costco Wholesale and NIKE operate in?
- Costco Wholesale operates in the Consumer Defensive sector (Discount Stores). NIKE operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Footwear & Accessories).
- How does Costco Wholesale's revenue compare to NIKE's?
- Costco Wholesale generates $286.27B in annual revenue (TTM) while NIKE generates $46.51B. Costco Wholesale is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.