COST vs DG
Costco (COST) and Dollar General (DG) compared side by side. Costco (COST) is larger, with a market cap of $444.6B versus $29.3B for Dollar General, about 15.2 times the size. On trailing earnings, DG is cheaper at 17.2x versus 48.3x for COST.
Head to head
| Metric | COST | DG |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $444.6B | $29.3B |
| P/E (TTM) | 48.3x | 17.2x |
| Forward P/E | 40.1x | 16.0x |
| Revenue (TTM) | $303.2B | $43.6B |
| Revenue growth | 11.1% | 5.2% |
| Gross margin | 12.8% | 31.2% |
| Operating margin | 3.8% | 6.8% |
| Free cash flow | $9.4B | $2.0B |
| Dividend yield | 0.59% | 1.78% |
| 1-year return | +7.1% | +31.3% |
| 5-year return (annual) | +17.0% | -8.1% |
| Max drawdown | -62% | -73% |
| FI Handbook grade | C- | C |
Highlighted: the stronger figure on metrics where higher or lower is clearly better.
Growth of $10,000 (5 years, price only)
COST vs DG FAQ
Which is bigger, COST or DG?
Costco (COST) is larger, with a market cap of $444.6B versus $29.3B for Dollar General, about 15.2 times the size.
Is COST or DG cheaper?
On trailing earnings, DG is cheaper at 17.2x 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 DG?
DG returned +31.3% over the past year including dividends, versus +7.1% for COST, through October 23, 2026.
Which pays a higher dividend, COST or DG?
DG yields 1.78% versus 0.59% for COST.
Full pages: Costco · Dollar General