COST vs WMT: which was the better investment?
Costco Wholesale Corporation against Walmart Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 9, 1986 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did COST beat WMT?
No — measured from Jul 9, 1986 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, WMT came out ahead: $1,914,672 versus $1,264,198 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.0% annual return against 12.9%.
What would $10,000 in COST be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) on Jul 9, 1986 would be worth about $1,264,198 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 12542.0% (12.9% per year). The same $10,000 in WMT would be worth $1,914,672.
Which was riskier — COST or WMT?
COST swung with an annualized volatility of 31.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -61.7%; WMT ran at 26.1% volatility with a -50.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.35 for COST vs 0.46 for WMT.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 9, 1986 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with COST vs WMT. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.