Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)

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 1962, Walmart Inc. has grown into the world’s largest retailer, operating more than 10,700 stores worldwide, including about 4,600 Walmart locations in the United States and roughly 600 Sam’s Club warehouses, while continuing to expand its e-commerce business. The company serves around 270 million customers each week and generated over $680 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue. Walmart’s operations are organized into three reporting segments: Walmart U.S., which accounted for 68% of fiscal 2025 sales, Walmart International at 18%, and Sam’s Club at 14%. In the U.S., nearly 60% of Walmart’s $465 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue came from grocery sales, with about one-quarter generated by general merchandise. Internationally, the company’s business is primarily concentrated in Mexico, with additional emerging exposure to India.