LOW vs COST
Lowe's Companies, Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated Aug 3, 2026
LOW — 11 winsCOST — 10 wins
Price Performance
LOW -11.12%COST -0.36%
Performance
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | -5.86% | +3.02% |
| 3 Months | -12.51% | -6.10% |
| 6 Months | -23.73% | -0.85% |
| YTD | -13.37% | +10.47% |
| 1 Year | -9.16% | +1.93% |
| 3 Year | +4.60% | +89.32% |
| 5 Year | +22.00% | +157.85% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | -15.8% | -2.4% | +12.9% | +11.8% | -22.0% | +61.2% | +33.3% | +29.8% | +0.8% | +31.0% | -5.5% | +12.3% |
| COST | +11.4% | -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 | 17.69 | 47.92 |
| Forward P/E | 10.15 | 46.34 |
| PEG Ratio | 2.51 | 4.59 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.35 | 1.41 |
| P/B Ratio | -13.55 | 12.37 |
| EV/EBITDA | 13.02 | 28.43 |
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) | 44.01 | 52.46 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | -0.93% | +1.43% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | -2.58% | -0.75% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | -12.65% | -0.52% |
| % From 52-Week High | -27.92% | -13.12% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +4.78% | +12.86% |
Analyst Ratings
LOW
Buy(33 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$270.63
+29.53% upside
COST
Buy(28 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1102.23
+15.71% upside
Overview
| LOW | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Home Improvement | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $116.42B | $414.67B |
| Shares Outstanding | 560.7M | 443.5M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 3.36M | 1.93M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.34% | 0.59% |
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 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 -9.16% compared to COST's +1.93%. In the short term (1 month), LOW returned -5.86% vs COST's +3.02%.
Is LOW or COST more expensive?
LOW trades at a P/E of 17.69 compared to COST's 47.92. On a price-to-sales basis, LOW trades at 1.35x vs COST's 1.41x. Forward P/E: LOW at 10.15 vs COST at 46.34.
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 2.34%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.59%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, LOW or COST?
LOW has 33 analysts with a target price of $270.63 (+29.53% upside). COST has 28 analysts with a target of $1102.23 (+15.71% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.