COST vs MO
Costco (COST) and Altria (MO) compared side by side. Costco (COST) is larger, with a market cap of $444.6B versus $124.1B for Altria, about 3.6 times the size. On trailing earnings, MO is cheaper at 15.6x versus 48.3x for COST.
Head to head
| Metric | COST | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $444.6B | $124.1B |
| P/E (TTM) | 48.3x | 15.6x |
| Forward P/E | 40.1x | 12.6x |
| Revenue (TTM) | $303.2B | $20.4B |
| Revenue growth | 11.1% | 1.2% |
| Gross margin | 12.8% | 72.4% |
| Operating margin | 3.8% | 61.7% |
| Free cash flow | $9.4B | $9.1B |
| Dividend yield | 0.59% | 5.97% |
| 1-year return | +7.1% | +22.9% |
| 5-year return (annual) | +17.0% | +17.7% |
| Max drawdown | -62% | -65% |
| FI Handbook grade | C- | B |
Highlighted: the stronger figure on metrics where higher or lower is clearly better.
Growth of $10,000 (5 years, price only)
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COST vs MO FAQ
Which is bigger, COST or MO?
Costco (COST) is larger, with a market cap of $444.6B versus $124.1B for Altria, about 3.6 times the size.
Is COST or MO cheaper?
On trailing earnings, MO is cheaper at 15.6x versus 48.3x for COST. A lower P/E can reflect slower expected growth, so compare growth and margins too.
Which stock performed better over the past year, COST or MO?
MO returned +22.9% over the past year including dividends, versus +7.1% for COST, through October 23, 2026.
Which pays a higher dividend, COST or MO?
MO yields 5.97% versus 0.59% for COST.