Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)

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%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is among the world’s largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to roughly 51 million members globally as of December 2025, including about 1 million outside the United States. A leading provider of employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-supported health plans, the company has built substantial scale in the medical insurance market. In addition to its core insurance operations, UnitedHealth’s Optum businesses expand its reach across healthcare services, spanning pharmacy benefits, outpatient care, and analytics for affiliated organizations and third-party clients.