Is Now a Good Time to Buy Costco Wholesale Stock?

Costco Wholesale, traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol COST, has delivered consistent performance throughout 2026, rising 11.5%, as of the latest data. However, despite this growth, it has yet to match the 13.7% return achieved by the S&P 500. Given the upcoming earnings report, there may not be significant company-specific factors to propel the stock much higher this year.

Nevertheless, despite trailing the broader market in the short term, Costco remains a compelling long-term investment opportunity. Over three years, the stock's total return aligns closely with the S&P 500, whereas over five and ten years, it significantly outperforms the benchmark with gains of 115% and 573%, respectively. While the stock has not been included in The Motley Fool's latest 10-stock selection, it demonstrates the potential for substantial long-term growth.