WDC vs. COST
WDC (Western Digital Corporation) and COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) are both stocks. WDC operates in Computer Hardware (Technology), while COST operates in Discount Stores (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, WDC returned 33.24%/yr vs 21.14%/yr for COST. At a 0.23 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WDC vs. COST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WDC achieves a 235.45% return, which is significantly higher than COST's 10.51% return. Over the past 10 years, WDC has outperformed COST with an annualized return of 33.24%, while COST has yielded a comparatively lower 21.14% annualized return.
WDC
- 1D
- 7.14%
- 1M
- 12.85%
- 6M
- 207.58%
- YTD
- 235.45%
- 1Y
- 776.25%
- 3Y*
- 173.12%
- 5Y*
- 61.74%
- 10Y*
- 33.24%
COST
- 1D
- -0.15%
- 1M
- -2.22%
- 6M
- 8.81%
- YTD
- 10.51%
- 1Y
- -3.18%
- 3Y*
- 23.50%
- 5Y*
- 19.91%
- 10Y*
- 21.14%
WDC vs. COST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WDC Western Digital Corporation | 235.45% | 283.68% | 13.86% | 65.99% | -51.62% | 17.73% | -10.89% | 77.14% | -51.90% | 19.83% |
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation | 10.51% | -5.39% | 39.62% | 49.00% | -19.05% | 51.82% | 32.67% | 45.70% | 10.60% | 22.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between WDC and COST is -0.11, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.10 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 1993 | 0.23 |
The correlation between WDC and COST shifts across timeframes, from -0.11 (1 year) to 0.23 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
WDC:
$199.04B
COST:
$421.42B
WDC:
$25.88
COST:
$26.51
WDC:
22.32
COST:
35.85
WDC:
0.52
COST:
2.80
WDC:
12.29
COST:
1.08
WDC:
$11.78B
COST:
$293.59B
WDC:
$5.35B
COST:
$11.12B
WDC:
$10.88B
COST:
$12.48B
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Return for Risk
WDC vs. COST — Risk / Return Rank
WDC
COST
WDC vs. COST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Western Digital Corporation (WDC) 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.
| WDC | COST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +11.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +5.91 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.78 | 0.99 | +0.79 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 28.23 | -0.21 | +28.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 112.83 | -0.46 | +113.29 |
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Drawdowns
WDC vs. COST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WDC drawdown since its inception was -96.20%, which is greater than COST's maximum drawdown of -53.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WDC and COST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WDC | COST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -96.20% | -53.39% | -42.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -27.77% | -15.50% | -12.27% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -49.65% | -20.74% | -28.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -57.38% | -31.40% | -25.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -70.49% | -31.40% | -39.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.62% | -13.17% | -9.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -52.01% | -13.36% | -38.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.94% | 6.87% | +0.07% |
Volatility
WDC vs. COST - Volatility Comparison
Western Digital Corporation (WDC) has a higher volatility of 35.54% compared to Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) at 5.57%. This indicates that WDC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than COST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WDC | COST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 35.54% | 5.57% | +29.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 60.36% | 14.88% | +45.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 72.23% | 19.16% | +53.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 50.69% | 22.80% | +27.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 49.28% | 21.95% | +27.33% |
Dividends
WDC vs. COST - Dividend Comparison
WDC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.09%, less than COST's 0.57% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation | 0.57% | 0.59% | 0.49% | 2.87% | 0.76% | 0.54% | 3.38% | 0.86% | 1.08% | 4.81% | 1.09% | 4.06% |
WDC Western Digital Corporation | 0.09% | 0.19% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.81% | 2.36% | 5.41% | 2.51% | 2.94% | 3.33% |
Financials
WDC vs. COST - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Western Digital Corporation and Costco Wholesale 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
WDC vs. COST - Profitability Comparison
WDC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Western Digital Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.68B and revenue of 3.34B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 50.2%.
COST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 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%.
WDC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Western Digital Corporation reported an operating income of 1.14B and revenue of 3.34B, resulting in an operating margin of 34.0%.
COST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported an operating income of 2.82B and revenue of 70.53B, resulting in an operating margin of 4.0%.
WDC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Western Digital Corporation reported a net income of 3.21B and revenue of 3.34B, resulting in a net margin of 96.0%.
COST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 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
WDC and COST have a correlation of -0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WDC has higher volatility (35.54%) compared to COST (5.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WDC dropped -96.20% vs COST's -53.39%.
WDC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (10.87 vs -0.17), 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.
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