COST vs. SBUX
COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) and SBUX (Starbucks Corporation) are both stocks. COST operates in Discount Stores (Consumer Defensive), while SBUX operates in Restaurants (Consumer Cyclical). Over the past 10 years, COST returned 22.27%/yr vs 8.66%/yr for SBUX. At a 0.35 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
COST vs. SBUX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, COST achieves a 14.24% return, which is significantly lower than SBUX's 23.87% return. Over the past 10 years, COST has outperformed SBUX with an annualized return of 22.27%, while SBUX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.66% annualized return.
COST
- 1D
- 0.68%
- 1M
- -5.66%
- YTD
- 14.24%
- 6M
- 11.38%
- 1Y
- -0.24%
- 3Y*
- 25.12%
- 5Y*
- 22.12%
- 10Y*
- 22.27%
SBUX
- 1D
- 0.74%
- 1M
- -2.59%
- YTD
- 23.87%
- 6M
- 22.22%
- 1Y
- 13.40%
- 3Y*
- 3.82%
- 5Y*
- 0.57%
- 10Y*
- 8.66%
COST vs. SBUX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation | 14.24% | -5.39% | 39.62% | 49.00% | -19.05% | 51.82% | 32.67% | 45.70% | 10.60% | 22.37% |
SBUX Starbucks Corporation | 23.87% | -5.26% | -2.48% | -1.19% | -13.18% | 11.15% | 24.19% | 39.09% | 14.74% | 5.36% |
Correlation
The correlation between COST and SBUX is 0.12, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 1993 | 0.35 |
Over the past year, the correlation between COST and SBUX has dropped to 0.12 - well below their long-term average of 0.35, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
COST:
$26.51
SBUX:
$1.31
COST:
37.06
SBUX:
78.64
COST:
1.12
SBUX:
3.06
COST:
$293.59B
SBUX:
$38.46B
COST:
$11.12B
SBUX:
$12.24B
COST:
$12.48B
SBUX:
$5.14B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
COST vs. SBUX — Risk / Return Rank
COST
SBUX
COST vs. SBUX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and Starbucks Corporation (SBUX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| COST | SBUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.51 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.83 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.09 | -0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.10 | 0.66 | -0.76 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.22 | 1.45 | -1.68 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
COST vs. SBUX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum COST drawdown since its inception was -53.39%, smaller than the maximum SBUX drawdown of -81.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for COST and SBUX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| COST | SBUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.39% | -81.91% | +28.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.14% | -18.53% | +3.39% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.74% | -31.97% | +11.23% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.40% | -43.68% | +12.28% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -31.40% | -43.68% | +12.28% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.23% | -8.15% | -2.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.36% | -16.24% | +2.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.67% | 8.37% | -1.70% |
Volatility
COST vs. SBUX - Volatility Comparison
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) have volatilities of 7.44% and 7.26%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| COST | SBUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.44% | 7.26% | +0.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.53% | 21.10% | -6.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.80% | 28.48% | -9.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.72% | 31.68% | -8.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.95% | 29.47% | -7.52% |
Dividends
COST vs. SBUX - Dividend Comparison
COST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.55%, less than SBUX's 2.40% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation | 0.55% | 0.59% | 0.49% | 2.87% | 0.76% | 0.54% | 3.38% | 0.86% | 1.08% | 4.81% | 1.09% | 4.06% |
SBUX Starbucks Corporation | 2.40% | 2.91% | 2.54% | 2.25% | 2.02% | 1.57% | 1.57% | 1.69% | 2.05% | 1.83% | 1.53% | 1.13% |
Financials
COST vs. SBUX - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Costco Wholesale Corporation and Starbucks Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
COST vs. SBUX - Profitability Comparison
COST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported a gross profit of -17.68B and revenue of 70.53B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was -25.1%.
SBUX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Starbucks Corporation reported a gross profit of 6.32B and revenue of 9.53B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 66.3%.
COST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported an operating income of 2.82B and revenue of 70.53B, resulting in an operating margin of 4.0%.
SBUX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Starbucks Corporation reported an operating income of 828.10M and revenue of 9.53B, resulting in an operating margin of 8.7%.
COST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported a net income of 2.19B and revenue of 70.53B, resulting in a net margin of 3.1%.
SBUX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Starbucks Corporation reported a net income of 510.90M and revenue of 9.53B, resulting in a net margin of 5.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
COST and SBUX have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
COST has higher volatility (7.44%) compared to SBUX (7.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, COST dropped -53.39% vs SBUX's -81.91%.
SBUX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.43 vs -0.08), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for COST and SBUX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer