LOW vs COST
Lowe's Companies, Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated Sep 25, 2026
LOW — 11 winsCOST — 10 wins
Price Performance
LOW -25.93%COST -2.60%
Performance
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | -12.28% | -6.35% |
| 3 Months | -15.18% | -4.58% |
| 6 Months | -20.08% | -7.83% |
| YTD | -21.94% | +4.26% |
| 1 Year | -29.02% | -4.69% |
| 3 Year | -7.17% | +71.23% |
| 5 Year | +15.35% | +155.27% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | -23.3% | -2.4% | +12.9% | +11.8% | -22.0% | +61.2% | +33.3% | +29.8% | +0.8% | +31.0% | -5.5% | +12.3% |
| COST | +7.5% | -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 | 15.94 | 45.22 |
| Forward P/E | 10.15 | 39.58 |
| PEG Ratio | 2.51 | 4.50 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.26 | 1.35 |
| P/B Ratio | -13.55 | 11.83 |
| EV/EBITDA | 12.71 | 26.66 |
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) | 27.95 | 36.79 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | -4.90% | -1.50% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | -9.33% | -3.83% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | -19.37% | -6.32% |
| % From 52-Week High | -35.06% | -18.01% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +0.40% | +6.52% |
Analyst Ratings
LOW
Buy(37 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$256.38
+32.94% upside
COST
Buy(20 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1101.78
+22.86% upside
Overview
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Home Improvement | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $108.86B | $396.44B |
| Shares Outstanding | 560.7M | 443.5M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 3.46M | 2.39M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.50% | 0.62% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LOW or COST a better buy right now?
Based on 21 comparable metrics, LOW leads in 11 categories while COST leads in 10. LOW has a consensus analyst rating with 37 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 -29.02% compared to COST's -4.69%. In the short term (1 month), LOW returned -12.28% vs COST's -6.35%.
Is LOW or COST more expensive?
LOW trades at a P/E of 15.94 compared to COST's 45.22. On a price-to-sales basis, LOW trades at 1.26x vs COST's 1.35x. Forward P/E: LOW at 10.15 vs COST at 39.58.
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 2.50%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.62%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, LOW or COST?
LOW has 37 analysts with a target price of $256.38 (+32.94% upside). COST has 20 analysts with a target of $1101.78 (+22.86% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.