Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale Corp operates a global network of membership-only warehouse clubs focused on offering high-quality products and services at consistently low prices. In its latest fiscal year, the company ran approximately 910 warehouses and served more than 80 million members across three geographic segments: Costco U.S., which generated about 73% of total revenue, Costco Canada at 13%, and Costco International at 14%. Costco’s core value proposition—quality merchandise at highly competitive prices—has supported strong membership renewal rates, reaching 93% in the U.S. and Canada and nearly 90% internationally. Roughly 55% of fiscal 2025 revenue came from grocery sales, while general merchandise contributed another 25%.

Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Atlanta, The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest nonalcoholic beverage company, with a broad portfolio of 200 brands spanning major categories such as carbonated soft drinks, water, sports drinks, energy drinks, juice, and coffee. Through its bottling operations and distribution partners, Coca-Cola markets finished beverage products under its own and licensed brands via retailers and food-service outlets in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide. Approximately 60% of the company’s total revenue comes from international markets, with significant contributions from emerging economies in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.