Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) - Net Assets
Based on the latest financial reports, Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) has net assets worth $30.30 Billion USD as of November 2025. Net assets (also known as shareholders' equity or book value) represent the difference between a company's total assets ($82.79 Billion) and total liabilities ($52.49 Billion). This figure indicates the residual interest in the assets after deducting liabilities, essentially showing what would remain for shareholders if all assets were liquidated and all debts paid off. Check asset resilience ratio of Costco Wholesale Corp to evaluate the company's liquid asset resilience ratio.
Key Net Assets Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Net Assets | $30.30 Billion |
| % of Total Assets | 36.6% |
| Annual Growth Rate | 13.88% |
| 5-Year Change | 61.32% |
| 10-Year Change | 136.49% |
| Growth Volatility | 24.01 |
Costco Wholesale Corp - Net Assets Trend (1985–2025)
This chart illustrates how Costco Wholesale Corp's net assets have evolved over time, based on quarterly financial data. Also explore COST total asset value for the complete picture of this company's asset base.
Annual Net Assets for Costco Wholesale Corp (1985–2025)
The table below shows the annual net assets of Costco Wholesale Corp from 1985 to 2025. For live valuation and market cap data, see Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) total market value.
| Year | Net Assets | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-31 | $29.16 Billion | +23.46% |
| 2024-08-31 | $23.62 Billion | -5.73% |
| 2023-08-31 | $25.06 Billion | +21.36% |
| 2022-08-31 | $20.65 Billion | +14.21% |
| 2021-08-31 | $18.08 Billion | -3.35% |
| 2020-08-31 | $18.70 Billion | +20.03% |
| 2019-08-31 | $15.58 Billion | +18.93% |
| 2018-08-31 | $13.10 Billion | +18.27% |
| 2017-08-31 | $11.08 Billion | -10.16% |
| 2016-08-31 | $12.33 Billion | +13.73% |
| 2015-08-31 | $10.84 Billion | -13.36% |
| 2014-08-31 | $12.52 Billion | +13.65% |
| 2013-08-31 | $11.01 Billion | -12.03% |
| 2012-08-31 | $12.52 Billion | -0.44% |
| 2011-08-31 | $12.57 Billion | +15.03% |
| 2010-08-31 | $10.93 Billion | +8.17% |
| 2009-08-31 | $10.10 Billion | +8.95% |
| 2008-08-31 | $9.27 Billion | +6.69% |
| 2007-08-31 | $8.69 Billion | -5.58% |
| 2006-08-31 | $9.21 Billion | +2.99% |
| 2005-08-31 | $8.94 Billion | +16.34% |
| 2004-08-31 | $7.68 Billion | +15.01% |
| 2003-08-31 | $6.68 Billion | +14.91% |
| 2002-08-31 | $5.81 Billion | +16.31% |
| 2001-08-31 | $5.00 Billion | +14.94% |
| 2000-08-31 | $4.35 Billion | +19.06% |
| 1999-08-31 | $3.65 Billion | +18.93% |
| 1998-08-31 | $3.07 Billion | +20.15% |
| 1997-08-31 | $2.56 Billion | +38.17% |
| 1996-08-31 | $1.85 Billion | +16.98% |
| 1995-08-31 | $1.58 Billion | -8.04% |
| 1994-08-31 | $1.72 Billion | -4.28% |
| 1993-08-31 | $1.80 Billion | +124.03% |
| 1992-08-31 | $802.00 Million | +5.11% |
| 1991-08-31 | $763.00 Million | +23.80% |
| 1990-08-31 | $616.30 Million | +15.17% |
| 1989-08-31 | $535.10 Million | +11.60% |
| 1988-08-31 | $479.50 Million | +26.42% |
| 1987-08-31 | $379.30 Million | +25.72% |
| 1986-08-31 | $301.70 Million | +87.04% |
| 1985-08-31 | $161.30 Million | -- |
Equity Component Analysis
This analysis shows how different components contribute to Costco Wholesale Corp's total equity over time. Equity components include common stock, retained earnings, additional paid-in capital, and other elements.
Equity Composition Insights
- Retained earnings have grown by 21430.4% over the analyzed period, indicating profitable operations and earnings retention.
Current Equity Component Breakdown (August 2025)
| Component | Amount | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Retained Earnings | $22.65 Billion | 77.66% |
| Common Stock | $2.00 Million | 0.01% |
| Other Comprehensive Income | $-1.77 Billion | -6.07% |
| Other Components | $8.28 Billion | 28.40% |
| Total Equity | $29.16 Billion | 100.00% |
Costco Wholesale Corp Competitors by Market Cap
The table below lists competitors of Costco Wholesale Corp ranked by their market capitalization.
| Company | Market Cap |
|---|---|
|
Mastercard Inc
NYSE:MA
|
$438.59 Billion |
|
Micron Technology Inc
NASDAQ:MU
|
$458.68 Billion |
|
ASML HOLDING NY EO-09
F:ASMF
|
$464.43 Billion |
|
ASML Holding N.V.
AS:ASML
|
$465.78 Billion |
|
Oracle Corporation
NYSE:ORCL
|
$429.39 Billion |
|
SK hynix Inc
F:HY9H
|
$398.13 Billion |
|
Netflix Inc
NASDAQ:NFLX
|
$390.09 Billion |
|
Advanced Micro Devices Inc
NASDAQ:AMD
|
$385.82 Billion |
Equity Growth Attribution
This analysis shows how different factors contributed to changes in Costco Wholesale Corp's equity between the two most recent reporting periods.
Equity Growth Insights
- From 2024 to 2025, total equity changed from 23,622,000,000 to 29,164,000,000, a change of 5,542,000,000 (23.5%).
- Net income of 8,099,000,000 contributed positively to equity growth.
- Dividend payments of 2,183,000,000 reduced retained earnings.
- Share repurchases of 903,000,000 reduced equity.
- Other comprehensive income increased equity by 58,000,000.
- Other factors increased equity by 471,000,000.
Equity Change Factors (2024 to 2025)
| Factor | Impact | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Net Income | $8.10 Billion | +27.77% |
| Dividends Paid | $2.18 Billion | -7.49% |
| Share Repurchases | $903.00 Million | -3.1% |
| Other Comprehensive Income | $58.00 Million | +0.2% |
| Other Changes | $471.00 Million | +1.62% |
| Total Change | $- | 23.46% |
Book Value vs Market Value Analysis
This analysis compares Costco Wholesale Corp's book value (net assets) with its market value over time. The relationship between these values can provide insights into investor sentiment and company valuation.
Valuation Insights
- Current price-to-book ratio: 15.43x
- The company is trading at a significant premium to its book value, suggesting the market values its earnings potential, brand, or other intangibles highly.
- The price-to-book ratio has decreased from 1202.16x to 15.43x over the analyzed period, indicating reduced market premium.
Historical Price-to-Book Ratios
| Date | Book Value per Share | Market Price | P/B Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-08-31 | $0.84 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1986-08-31 | $1.54 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1987-08-31 | $1.81 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1988-08-31 | $2.33 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1989-08-31 | $2.52 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1990-08-31 | $2.83 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1991-08-31 | $2.84 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1992-08-31 | $3.29 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1993-08-31 | $4.02 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1994-08-31 | $3.90 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1995-08-31 | $3.89 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1996-08-31 | $4.36 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1997-08-31 | $5.85 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1998-08-31 | $6.40 | $1011.70 | x |
| 1999-08-31 | $7.50 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2000-08-31 | $8.91 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2001-08-31 | $10.26 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2002-08-31 | $11.88 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2003-08-31 | $13.91 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2004-08-31 | $15.80 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2005-08-31 | $18.05 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2006-08-31 | $19.04 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2007-08-31 | $18.84 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2008-08-31 | $20.69 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2009-08-31 | $22.76 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2010-08-31 | $24.28 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2011-08-31 | $27.09 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2012-08-31 | $28.13 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2013-08-31 | $24.59 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2014-08-31 | $27.80 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2015-08-31 | $23.98 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2016-08-31 | $27.37 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2017-08-31 | $24.44 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2018-08-31 | $28.97 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2019-08-31 | $34.41 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2020-08-31 | $41.19 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2021-08-31 | $39.53 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2022-08-31 | $46.41 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2023-08-31 | $56.38 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2024-08-31 | $53.11 | $1011.70 | x |
| 2025-08-31 | $65.57 | $1011.70 | x |
Capital Efficiency Dashboard
This dashboard shows how efficiently Costco Wholesale Corp utilizes its equity to generate returns, including Return on Equity (ROE) and its components based on the DuPont analysis framework.
Capital Efficiency Insights
- Current Return on Equity (ROE): 27.77%
- The company demonstrates strong efficiency in generating profits from shareholder equity.
- DuPont Analysis Breakdown:
- • Net Profit Margin: 2.94%
- • Asset Turnover: 3.57x
- • Equity Multiplier: 2.64x
- Recent ROE (27.77%) is above the historical average (17.22%), indicating improving capital efficiency.
Historical Capital Efficiency Metrics
| Year | Return on Equity | Net Profit Margin | Asset Turnover | Equity Multiplier | Economic Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 28.52% | 2.51% | 4.82x | 2.36x | $29.87 Million |
| 1986 | 19.52% | 2.22% | 5.37x | 1.63x | $28.73 Million |
| 1987 | 19.33% | 2.22% | 3.97x | 2.20x | $35.37 Million |
| 1988 | 19.77% | 2.34% | 4.08x | 2.07x | $46.85 Million |
| 1989 | 21.87% | 2.39% | 4.41x | 2.07x | $63.49 Million |
| 1990 | 20.35% | 2.37% | 4.42x | 1.94x | $63.77 Million |
| 1991 | 17.58% | 2.03% | 3.60x | 2.40x | $57.80 Million |
| 1992 | 16.10% | 1.76% | 3.85x | 2.37x | $48.90 Million |
| 1993 | 12.42% | 1.47% | 3.86x | 2.18x | $43.53 Million |
| 1994 | -6.67% | -0.68% | 3.89x | 2.51x | $-280.90 Million |
| 1995 | 8.74% | 0.75% | 4.04x | 2.90x | $-19.27 Million |
| 1996 | 13.99% | 1.27% | 3.98x | 2.76x | $71.02 Million |
| 1997 | 12.65% | 1.43% | 3.99x | 2.22x | $65.39 Million |
| 1998 | 15.50% | 1.89% | 3.88x | 2.11x | $163.21 Million |
| 1999 | 11.25% | 1.45% | 3.66x | 2.12x | $44.09 Million |
| 2000 | 14.89% | 1.96% | 3.73x | 2.04x | $207.41 Million |
| 2001 | 12.33% | 1.73% | 3.45x | 2.07x | $113.80 Million |
| 2002 | 12.29% | 1.81% | 3.34x | 2.04x | $130.56 Million |
| 2003 | 11.00% | 1.69% | 3.23x | 2.01x | $65.50 Million |
| 2004 | 11.57% | 1.83% | 3.19x | 1.98x | $119.91 Million |
| 2005 | 11.97% | 2.01% | 3.18x | 1.88x | $174.98 Million |
| 2006 | 12.07% | 1.83% | 3.44x | 1.91x | $188.87 Million |
| 2007 | 12.56% | 1.68% | 3.28x | 2.27x | $220.44 Million |
| 2008 | 13.96% | 1.77% | 3.50x | 2.25x | $363.79 Million |
| 2009 | 10.83% | 1.52% | 3.25x | 2.19x | $83.60 Million |
| 2010 | 12.03% | 1.67% | 3.27x | 2.20x | $220.10 Million |
| 2011 | 12.18% | 1.64% | 3.32x | 2.23x | $261.80 Million |
| 2012 | 13.83% | 1.72% | 3.65x | 2.20x | $472.90 Million |
| 2013 | 18.82% | 1.94% | 3.47x | 2.80x | $955.70 Million |
| 2014 | 16.73% | 1.83% | 3.41x | 2.68x | $827.70 Million |
| 2015 | 22.39% | 2.05% | 3.52x | 3.11x | $1.32 Billion |
| 2016 | 19.46% | 1.98% | 3.58x | 2.75x | $1.14 Billion |
| 2017 | 24.86% | 2.08% | 3.55x | 3.37x | $1.60 Billion |
| 2018 | 24.49% | 2.21% | 3.47x | 3.19x | $1.85 Billion |
| 2019 | 24.00% | 2.40% | 3.36x | 2.98x | $2.13 Billion |
| 2020 | 21.89% | 2.40% | 3.00x | 3.04x | $2.17 Billion |
| 2021 | 28.51% | 2.56% | 3.31x | 3.37x | $3.25 Billion |
| 2022 | 28.31% | 2.57% | 3.54x | 3.11x | $3.78 Billion |
| 2023 | 25.11% | 2.60% | 3.51x | 2.75x | $3.79 Billion |
| 2024 | 31.19% | 2.90% | 3.64x | 2.96x | $5.00 Billion |
| 2025 | 27.77% | 2.94% | 3.57x | 2.64x | $5.18 Billion |
Industry Comparison
This section compares Costco Wholesale Corp's net assets metrics with peer companies in the Discount Stores industry.
Industry Context
- Industry: Discount Stores
- Average net assets among peers: $14,724,682,222
- Average return on equity (ROE) among peers: 27.21%
Peer Company Comparison
| Company | Net Assets | Return on Equity | Debt-to-Equity | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) | $30.30 Billion | 28.52% | 1.73x | $434.25 Billion |
| BJs Wholesale Club Holdings Inc (BJ) | $319.33 Million | 131.85% | 15.95x | $12.24 Billion |
| Dollar General Corporation (DG) | $4.05 Billion | 15.49% | 1.35x | $25.19 Billion |
| Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) | $5.39 Billion | 16.63% | 1.91x | $18.83 Billion |
| Ollie's Bargain Outlet Hldg (OLLI) | $1.70 Billion | 11.78% | 0.51x | $5.25 Billion |
| PriceSmart Inc (PSMT) | $1.25 Billion | 11.62% | 0.82x | $4.59 Billion |
| BBB Foods Inc. (TBBB) | $-4.63 Billion | 0.00% | 0.00x | $2.27 Billion |
| Target Corporation (TGT) | $6.52 Billion | 19.39% | 1.99x | $52.60 Billion |
| Walmart Inc. Common Stock (WMT) | $82.83 Billion | 19.34% | 1.47x | $1.01 Trillion |
| Walmart Inc. Common Stock (WMT) | $35.10 Billion | 18.78% | 1.38x | $898.72 Billion |
About Costco Wholesale Corp
Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merch… Read more