IPG vs. COST

Last updated Jun 23, 2026

IPG (The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.) and COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) are both stocks. IPG operates in Advertising Agencies (Communication Services), while COST operates in Discount Stores (Consumer Defensive). At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

IPG vs. COST - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

IPG

• 1D: —
• 1M: —
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

COST

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: -7.48%
• YTD: 10.63%
• 6M: 12.24%
• 1Y: -2.41%
• 3Y*: 23.60%
• 5Y*: 20.70%
• 10Y*: 21.90%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IPG vs. COST - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
IPG The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.	0.00%	-8.88%	-10.46%	1.61%	-7.82%	64.69%	7.21%	16.96%	6.07%	-11.02%
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation	10.63%	-5.39%	39.62%	49.00%	-19.05%	51.82%	32.67%	45.70%	10.60%	22.37%

Correlation

The correlation between IPG and COST is 0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.08
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.17
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.26
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.25
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 1993	0.29

Over the past year, the correlation between IPG and COST has dropped to 0.08 - well below their long-term average of 0.29, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Fundamentals

EPS IPG : $1.49 COST : $26.51
PE Ratio IPG : 16.44 COST : 35.89
PEG Ratio IPG : 0.43 COST : 2.81
PS Ratio IPG : 0.89 COST : 1.08
Total Revenue (TTM) IPG : $10.21B COST : $293.59B
Gross Profit (TTM) IPG : $1.86B COST : $11.12B
EBITDA (TTM) IPG : $1.25B COST : $12.48B

Return for Risk

IPG vs. COST — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IPG

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

COST

COST Risk / Return Rank: 34
COST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
COST Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
COST Omega Ratio Rank: 31
COST Calmar Ratio Rank: 37
COST Martin Ratio Rank: 36

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IPG vs. COST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST). 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.

	IPG	COST	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	-0.13	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	-0.05	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	0.99	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	-0.16	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	-0.35	—

Drawdowns

Drawdown Indicators

	IPG	COST	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	—	-53.39%	—
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-15.14%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-20.74%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-31.40%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-31.40%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	—	-13.06%	—
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	—	-13.36%	—
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	6.86%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IPG	COST	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	6.51%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	14.49%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	18.95%	—
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	—	22.73%	—
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	—	21.98%	—

Dividends

IPG vs. COST - Dividend Comparison

IPG has not paid dividends to shareholders, while COST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.56%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation	0.56%	0.59%	0.49%	2.87%	0.76%	0.54%	3.38%	0.86%	1.08%	4.81%	1.09%	4.06%
IPG The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.	1.34%	4.03%	4.71%	3.80%	3.48%	2.88%	4.34%	4.07%	4.07%	3.57%	2.56%	2.06%

Financials

IPG vs. COST - Profitability Comparison

The chart below illustrates the profitability comparison between The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corporation over time, highlighting three key metrics: Gross Profit Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Profit Margin.

IPG - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. reported a gross profit of 460.80M and revenue of 2.49B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 18.5%.

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%.

IPG - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. reported an operating income of 219.00M and revenue of 2.49B, resulting in an operating margin of 8.8%.

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%.

IPG - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. reported a net income of 130.00M and revenue of 2.49B, resulting in a net margin of 5.2%.

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%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IPG and COST in my portfolio?

IPG and COST have a correlation of 0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.