Costco Wholesale (COST) Financial Ratios

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio divides the stock price by earnings per share. It shows how much investors pay for each dollar of earnings. A higher P/E may indicate growth expectations, while a lower P/E could suggest undervaluation or slower growth.

ROE measures how effectively a company uses shareholders' equity to generate profit. It's calculated as net income divided by shareholders' equity. Higher ROE indicates more efficient use of equity capital — generally above 15% is considered strong.

The current ratio divides current assets by current liabilities, measuring a company's ability to pay short-term obligations. A ratio above 1.0 means the company has more short-term assets than debts; below 1.0 may signal liquidity risk.

Debt-to-equity compares total debt to total shareholders' equity, indicating how much leverage a company uses. A higher ratio means more debt financing. Acceptable levels vary by industry — capital-intensive sectors like utilities typically carry higher ratios.

Compare Costco Wholesale's valuation ratios (P/E, P/B, EV/EBITDA) and profitability ratios (ROE, ROA, margins) against industry peers and historical trends in the table above. Quarterly data reveals recent changes in financial health.