Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) — Free Cash Flow Generation Index
Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) has a Free Cash Flow Generation Index of 0.59x as of May 2026. Free cash flow of $2.04 Billion represents 1% of operating cash flow ($3.45 Billion). Explore Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) capital reinvestment to see what proportion of operating cash flow is directed to capital expenditures.
FCF Generation Index
Free Cash Flow
Operating Cash Flow
Capital Expenditures
Costco Wholesale Corp Free Cash Flow Generation Index (1989–2025)
Historical FCF Generation Index trend for Costco Wholesale Corp across 37 annual periods. For the full cash flow conversion analysis, see cash efficiency ratio of Costco Wholesale Corp.
Annual Free Cash Flow Generation for Costco Wholesale Corp (1989–2025)
Year-by-year Free Cash Flow Generation Index for Costco Wholesale Corp. Check COST cash reinvestment to operating cash ratio to assess the company's total reinvestment commitment from operating cash flow.
| Year | FCG Index | Free Cash Flow (USD) | Operating CF | Capital Expenditures | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.59x | $7.84 Billion | $13.34 Billion | $5.50 Billion | ▲ +0.5% |
| 2024 | 0.58x | $6.63 Billion | $11.34 Billion | $4.71 Billion | ▼ -4.1% |
| 2023 | 0.61x | $6.75 Billion | $11.07 Billion | $4.32 Billion | ▲ +28.7% |
| 2022 | 0.47x | $3.50 Billion | $7.39 Billion | $3.89 Billion | ▼ -21.0% |
| 2021 | 0.60x | $5.37 Billion | $8.96 Billion | $3.59 Billion | ▼ -12.2% |
| 2020 | 0.68x | $6.05 Billion | $8.86 Billion | $2.81 Billion | ▲ +29.3% |
| 2019 | 0.53x | $3.36 Billion | $6.36 Billion | $3.00 Billion | ▲ +8.8% |
| 2018 | 0.49x | $2.81 Billion | $5.77 Billion | $2.97 Billion | ▼ -22.6% |
| 2017 | 0.63x | $4.22 Billion | $6.73 Billion | $2.50 Billion | ▲ +221.5% |
| 2016 | 0.20x | $643.00 Million | $3.29 Billion | $2.65 Billion | ▼ -55.8% |
| 2015 | 0.44x | $1.89 Billion | $4.29 Billion | $2.39 Billion | ▼ -11.6% |
| 2014 | 0.50x | $1.99 Billion | $3.98 Billion | $1.99 Billion | ▲ +26.9% |
| 2013 | 0.39x | $1.35 Billion | $3.44 Billion | $2.08 Billion | ▼ -23.6% |
| 2012 | 0.52x | $1.58 Billion | $3.06 Billion | $1.48 Billion | ▼ -13.5% |
| 2011 | 0.60x | $1.91 Billion | $3.20 Billion | $1.29 Billion | ▼ -3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.62x | $1.73 Billion | $2.78 Billion | $1.05 Billion | ▲ +54.2% |
| 2009 | 0.40x | $842.00 Million | $2.09 Billion | $1.25 Billion | ▲ +51.6% |
| 2008 | 0.27x | $577.60 Million | $2.18 Billion | $1.60 Billion | ▼ -20.2% |
| 2007 | 0.33x | $690.71 Million | $2.08 Billion | $1.39 Billion | ▼ -1.1% |
| 2006 | 0.34x | $614.72 Million | $1.83 Billion | $1.21 Billion | ▼ -23.8% |
| 2005 | 0.44x | $787.75 Million | $1.78 Billion | $995.43 Million | ▼ -33.4% |
| 2004 | 0.66x | $1.39 Billion | $2.10 Billion | $705.62 Million | ▲ +43.6% |
| 2003 | 0.46x | $696.54 Million | $1.51 Billion | $810.66 Million | ▲ +2411.0% |
| 2002 | -0.02x | $-20.36 Million | $1.02 Billion | $1.04 Billion | ▲ +95.0% |
| 2001 | -0.40x | $-414.99 Million | $1.03 Billion | $1.45 Billion | ▼ -172.2% |
| 2000 | -0.15x | $-158.06 Million | $1.07 Billion | $1.23 Billion | ▼ -190.8% |
| 1999 | 0.16x | $153.00 Million | $940.90 Million | $787.90 Million | ▼ -27.6% |
| 1998 | 0.22x | $165.70 Million | $737.60 Million | $571.90 Million | ▲ +260.3% |
| 1997 | 0.06x | $36.80 Million | $590.20 Million | $553.40 Million | ▲ +133.1% |
| 1996 | -0.19x | $-80.40 Million | $426.40 Million | $506.80 Million | ▲ +79.2% |
| 1995 | -0.91x | $-252.20 Million | $278.40 Million | $530.60 Million | ▲ +1.0% |
| 1994 | -0.92x | $-226.80 Million | $247.80 Million | $474.60 Million | ▼ -14.1% |
| 1993 | -0.80x | $-237.20 Million | $295.80 Million | $533.00 Million | ▲ +55.5% |
| 1992 | -1.80x | $-279.20 Million | $155.10 Million | $434.30 Million | ▼ -2080.4% |
| 1991 | -0.08x | $-19.60 Million | $237.40 Million | $257.00 Million | ▲ +70.9% |
| 1990 | -0.28x | $-35.70 Million | $126.00 Million | $161.70 Million | ▲ +6.6% |
| 1989 | -0.30x | $-37.30 Million | $122.90 Million | $160.20 Million | — |