Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) — Free Cash Flow Generation Index
Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) has a Free Cash Flow Generation Index of 0.67x as of November 2025. Free cash flow of $3.16 Billion represents 1% of operating cash flow ($4.69 Billion). See working capital to net assets of Costco Wholesale Corp to evaluate short-term liquidity relative to the company's equity base.
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. Explore Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) cash flow to debt to assess how comfortably operating cash covers total debt obligations.
Annual Free Cash Flow Generation for Costco Wholesale Corp (1989–2025)
Year-by-year Free Cash Flow Generation Index for Costco Wholesale Corp. For the full company profile including market capitalisation, see market value of Costco Wholesale Corp.
| 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 | — |