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). Read COST total debt and obligations for a breakdown of total debt and financial obligations.
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 COST capital reinvestment ratio to see what proportion of operating cash flow is directed to capital expenditures.
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 COST company net worth.
| 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 | — |