LOW vs COST
Lowe's Companies, Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated Nov 8, 2026
LOW — 13 winsCOST — 8 wins
Price Performance
LOW -3.64%COST +15.07%
Performance
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | +19.20% | +11.53% |
| 3 Months | +2.84% | +10.97% |
| 6 Months | -1.79% | +4.80% |
| YTD | -6.66% | +22.60% |
| 1 Year | -4.47% | +12.38% |
| 3 Year | -0.27% | +97.98% |
| 5 Year | +35.07% | +196.85% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | -9.1% | -2.4% | +12.9% | +11.8% | -22.0% | +61.2% | +33.3% | +29.8% | +0.8% | +31.0% | -5.5% | +12.3% |
| COST | +23.3% | -5.2% | +40.8% | +45.6% | -19.4% | +49.3% | +29.3% | +43.5% | +8.2% | +16.5% | +0.4% | +14.1% |
Valuation
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 19.06 | 53.18 |
| Forward P/E | 10.15 | 46.38 |
| PEG Ratio | 2.51 | 4.54 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.39 | 1.54 |
| P/B Ratio | -13.55 | 13.48 |
| EV/EBITDA | 12.86 | 31.70 |
Financials
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| EPS (TTM) | $11.81 | $19.88 |
| Gross Margin | +39.16% | +12.77% |
| Operating Margin | +8.30% | +3.99% |
| Net Margin | +4.85% | +3.11% |
| ROE | -66.84% | +26.38% |
| ROA | +12.24% | +10.23% |
| Debt/Equity | -4.51 | 0.25 |
Growth
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth YoY | +10.95% | +11.58% |
| Revenue Growth QoQ | -1.10% | +1.34% |
| EPS Growth YoY | -11.00% | +15.19% |
| EPS Growth QoQ | -38.19% | +7.64% |
Technical
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 69.61 | 68.63 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | +10.52% | +5.26% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | +14.18% | +11.00% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | +0.06% | +8.69% |
| % From 52-Week High | -22.34% | -3.58% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +26.14% | +25.25% |
Analyst Ratings
LOW
Buy(38 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$240.00
+6.62% upside
COST
Buy(32 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1111.55
+5.14% upside
Overview
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Home Improvement | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $119.72B | $451.66B |
| Shares Outstanding | 561.1M | 443.1M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 3.62M | 2.60M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.30% | 0.56% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LOW or COST a better buy right now?
Based on 21 comparable metrics, LOW leads in 13 categories while COST leads in 8. LOW has a consensus analyst rating with 38 analysts covering the stock. Neither stock should be purchased based on a single comparison — consider your investment goals and risk tolerance.
Which stock has better performance, LOW or COST?
Over the past year, LOW returned -4.47% compared to COST's +12.38%. In the short term (1 month), LOW returned +19.20% vs COST's +11.53%.
Is LOW or COST more expensive?
LOW trades at a P/E of 19.06 compared to COST's 53.18. On a price-to-sales basis, LOW trades at 1.39x vs COST's 1.54x. Forward P/E: LOW at 10.15 vs COST at 46.38.
Which stock has higher growth, LOW or COST?
LOW's revenue grew +10.95% year-over-year compared to COST's +11.58%. EPS growth: LOW at -11.00% vs COST at +15.19%.
Do LOW and COST pay dividends?
LOW pays a dividend with a yield of 2.30%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.56%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, LOW or COST?
LOW has 38 analysts with a target price of $240.00 (+6.62% upside). COST has 32 analysts with a target of $1111.55 (+5.14% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.