LOW vs COST
Lowe's Companies, Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated May 14, 2026
LOW — 12 winsCOST — 9 wins
Price Performance
LOW -2.05%COST +4.30%
Performance
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | -11.14% | +5.91% |
| 3 Months | -20.34% | +5.65% |
| 6 Months | -4.66% | +11.99% |
| YTD | -8.54% | +19.83% |
| 1 Year | -1.74% | +2.51% |
| 3 Year | +9.24% | +109.99% |
| 5 Year | +45.89% | +191.09% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | -9.3% | -2.4% | +12.9% | +11.8% | -22.0% | +61.2% | +33.3% | +29.8% | +0.8% | +31.0% | -5.5% | +12.3% |
| COST | +21.0% | -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 | 18.68 | 53.74 |
| Forward P/E | 10.15 | 49.18 |
| PEG Ratio | 2.51 | 5.18 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.52 | 1.54 |
| P/B Ratio | -13.55 | 13.77 |
| EV/EBITDA | 11.40 | 30.75 |
Financials
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| EPS (TTM) | $11.81 | $19.23 |
| Gross Margin | +39.16% | +12.76% |
| Operating Margin | +8.30% | +3.74% |
| Net Margin | +4.85% | +2.92% |
| ROE | -66.84% | +26.64% |
| ROA | +12.24% | +10.22% |
| Debt/Equity | -0.72 | 0.26 |
Growth
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth YoY | +10.95% | +9.22% |
| Revenue Growth QoQ | -1.10% | +3.40% |
| EPS Growth YoY | -11.00% | +13.93% |
| EPS Growth QoQ | -38.19% | +1.78% |
Technical
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 38.28 | 60.13 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | -6.87% | +2.64% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | -7.85% | +3.40% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | -11.51% | +8.43% |
| % From 52-Week High | -23.91% | -3.16% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +4.87% | +22.43% |
Analyst Ratings
LOW
Buy(33 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$288.25
+25.63% upside
COST
Buy(32 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1070.13
+6.33% upside
Overview
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Home Improvement | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $130.70B | $441.77B |
| Shares Outstanding | 560.1M | 443.7M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 2.65M | 1.88M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 0.54% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LOW or COST a better buy right now?
Based on 21 comparable metrics, LOW leads in 12 categories while COST leads in 9. LOW has a consensus analyst rating with 33 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 -1.74% compared to COST's +2.51%. In the short term (1 month), LOW returned -11.14% vs COST's +5.91%.
Is LOW or COST more expensive?
LOW trades at a P/E of 18.68 compared to COST's 53.74. On a price-to-sales basis, LOW trades at 1.52x vs COST's 1.54x. Forward P/E: LOW at 10.15 vs COST at 49.18.
Which stock has higher growth, LOW or COST?
LOW's revenue grew +10.95% year-over-year compared to COST's +9.22%. EPS growth: LOW at -11.00% vs COST at +13.93%.
Do LOW and COST pay dividends?
LOW pays a dividend with a yield of 2.06%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.54%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, LOW or COST?
LOW has 33 analysts with a target price of $288.25 (+25.63% upside). COST has 32 analysts with a target of $1070.13 (+6.33% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.