COST vs UNH Stock Comparison: Price, Growth & Valuation (2026)
Use MEXC Stock Compare for a detailed COST vs UNH analysis. Compare COST and UNH across price performance, growth, valuation, profitability and risk, based on market data and the latest reported financials.
COST vs UNH Stock Comparison Summary
COST reported year-over-year revenue growth of 9.2%, compared with 6.5% for UNH. Their P/E ratios are 45.0x and 23.8x, dividend yields are 0.58% and 2.41%, and 30-day volatility levels are 17.3% and 19.1%, respectively. These metrics highlight key differences in growth, valuation, dividend income and market risk. Overall neither stock has a clear lead based on the selected metrics.
Risk Disclaimer: MEXC Stock Compare provides information and comparisons on actual U.S.-listed stocks for reference only. Data may be delayed or inaccurate, does not constitute investment advice, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
COST vs UNH Stock Return Comparison (1W)
Compare the cumulative total returns of Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) and UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED (Delaware) (UNH) over the selected 1W period. Data as of 2026-09-25 12:00:00.
COST vs UNH Key Equity Metrics Comparison Summary
Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) has a market capitalization of $397.03B and operates in the Consumer Staples sector, with its main business classified under Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail. Its latest quarterly revenue changed +9.2% year over year.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED (Delaware) (UNH) has a market capitalization of $336.87B and operates in the Health Care sector, with its main business classified under Managed Health Care. Its latest quarterly revenue changed +6.5% year over year.
COST vs UNH Key Stock Indicators
| Comparison Metric | COST | UNH | Comparison results |
Stock Price & Returns Latest delayed stock price with 1-day, 1-month and year-to-date returns. | $895.261D: -0.9%1M: -4.7%1Y: -5.1% | $375.301D: +0.1%1M: -5.0%1Y: +8.6% | UNHWin |
Market Capitalization Total market value of the company's outstanding shares. | $397.03B | $336.87B | COSTWin |
Sector & Industry The company's market sector and primary industry classification. | Consumer Staples / Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail | Health Care / Managed Health Care | -- |
| Based on delayed market data, COST is trading at $895.26, compared with $375.30 for UNH. Their market capitalizations are $397.03B and $336.87B, respectively. COST operates in the Consumer Staples sector, while UNH belongs to Health Care. | |||
| COST vs UNH Growth & Profitability | |||
Revenue Growth (YoY) Year-over-year change in revenue. | +9.2% | +6.5% | COSTWin |
EPS Growth (YoY) Year-over-year change in earnings per share. | +12.8% | -32.5% | COSTWin |
ROIC Return generated from invested capital. | 42.8% | 10.4% | COSTWin |
Gross Margin / Operating Margin Profitability before and after operating expenses. | 12.9% / 3.8% | 30.8% / 4.6% | UNHWin |
| On growth, COST posted revenue growth of +9.2% and TTM EPS growth of +12.8%. UNH, by comparison, posted revenue growth of +6.5% and TTM EPS growth of -32.5%.On profitability, COST recorded a gross margin of 12.9%, an operating margin of 3.8%, and ROIC of 42.8%. For UNH, the corresponding figures were 30.8%, 4.6%, and 10.4%.Overall, the two stocks have different strengths across growth and profitability. | |||
| COST vs UNH Valuation & Balance Sheet | |||
Free Cash Flow Yield Free cash flow as a percentage of market capitalization. | 2.2% | 7.0% | UNHWin |
Net Debt / EBITDA Net debt relative to EBITDA; a negative value indicates net cash. | -0.6x | 2.2x | COSTWin |
Dividend Yield / Payout Ratio Dividend returns relative to share price and the share of earnings paid as dividends. | 0.58% / 25.9% | 2.41% / 57.5% | UNHWin |
| UNH offers a higher free cash flow yield, indicating a less demanding valuation. COST has the stronger balance sheet, while UNH provides the higher dividend yield. Overall, the two stocks differ mainly in valuation, financial strength and dividend income. | |||
| COST vs UNH Returns & Risk | |||
Total Return (Dividend-Adjusted) Cumulative return over 1, 5 and 10 years, including dividends. | 1Y: -5.1%5Y: +94.4%10Y: +492.1% | 1Y: +8.6%5Y: -7.4%10Y: +168.6% | COSTWin |
30-Day Realized Volatility Annualized volatility based on the past 30 days of daily returns. | 17.3% | 19.1% | COSTWin |
Beta (5Y vs S&P 500) Sensitivity to market movements; above 1 indicates greater market volatility. | 0.68 | 0.41 | UNHWin |
| COST has delivered stronger long-term returns, but the risk indicators show mixed results. | |||
COST vs UNH Valuation & Dividend Metrics
Review COST compared with UNH across valuation, cash flow and dividend metrics, including P/E, forward P/E, free cash flow yield and dividend yield. These figures are provided for reference only and do not represent a fair-value estimate, price target or investment recommendation.
| Metric | COST | UNH | Comparison results |
|---|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $397.03B | $336.87B | COSTWin |
P/E (TTM) | 45.0x | 23.8x | UNHWin |
P/S | 1.4x | 0.8x | UNHWin |
EV/EBITDA | 27.9x | 15.4x | UNHWin |
Dividend Yield | 0.58% | 2.41% | UNHWin |
COST vs UNH Profitability Over Time
Compare COST and UNH across gross margin and operating margin trends over time to understand how each company's profitability has changed. Based on reported financial data only; not a forecast or investment advice.
| TTM | 3Y Avg | 5Y Avg | 10Y Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 12.8% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.8% |
| UNH | 29.8% | 32.9% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
Technical & Fundamental Stock Analysis
RSI (14, daily)
COST 37.82 • UNH 38.47
Measures short-term price momentum and helps identify possible overbought or oversold conditions.
50/200-DMA Position
COST 50D Below / 200D Below • UNH 50D Below / 200D Above
Shows whether the stock is trading above or below its medium- and long-term trend lines.
R&D % of Revenue
COST 0.0% • UNH --
Shows how much of revenue is invested in research and development.
Share Count Trend (3Y)
COST Stable • UNH Decreased
Shows whether the company's share count has increased or decreased over the past three years.
Company Profiles
Costco Wholesale Corp.
Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale now operates a global chain of membership-based warehouse clubs, delivering high-quality goods and services at consistently low prices. As of its most recent fiscal year, Costco operated approximately 910 warehouses, serving more than 80 million members across its three geographic segments: Costco US (approximately 73% of total revenue), Costco Canada (13%), and Costco International (14%).Costco's core value proposition—quality products at unbeatable prices—has yielded consistently strong member renewal rates (93% in the US and Canada and nearly 90% internationally). About 55% of Costco's fiscal 2025 revenue came from its grocery offerings, and another 25% from general merchandise.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED (Delaware)
Managed Health Care
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2025. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to affiliates and third parties.
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Everything You Need to Know About COST vs UNH Stocks
What is MEXC Stock Compare?
MEXC Stock Compare is a side-by-side US stock comparison tool. It helps users compare two companies across stock price performance, market cap, valuation, growth, profitability, balance-sheet strength, dividends and risk. The results are provided for research purposes only and do not constitute investment advice.
Which metrics should I use to evaluate a company's growth?
Start with revenue growth to see how quickly the business is expanding, then review EPS growth to determine whether that growth is translating into higher earnings per share. Gross margin, operating margin and ROIC help assess the quality of that growth by showing profitability and capital efficiency. A company with fast revenue growth but declining margins may be expanding without improving its earnings quality.
How do COST and UNH compare in growth and profitability?
In the latest reported period, COST recorded revenue growth of +9.2% and TTM EPS growth of +12.8%, compared with +6.5% and -32.5% for UNH. COST leads on growth, while UNH has stronger profitability. This comparison is based on reported financial metrics and does not predict future performance.
What is the difference between P/E (TTM) and Forward P/E?
P/E (TTM) compares the current share price with actual earnings reported over the past 12 months. Forward P/E uses estimated earnings for the next 12 months, so it reflects market expectations but depends on forecasts that may change. Both ratios should be considered alongside growth, profitability and industry peers.
How do the risk profiles of COST and UNH compare?
COST has a 30-day realized volatility of 17.3% and a five-year Beta of 0.68, compared with 19.1% and 0.41 for UNH. The risk indicators show mixed results. These indicators describe historical price movements and market sensitivity, but they do not cover every source of investment risk.
What do dividend yield and payout ratio indicate?
Dividend yield shows the annual dividend relative to the current share price, while the payout ratio shows how much of a company's earnings is distributed as dividends. A higher yield may provide more income, but it can also rise because the share price has fallen. Dividend sustainability should therefore be considered together with earnings, cash flow and the payout ratio.
How should I compare a high-growth stock with a lower-valued stock?
A high-growth stock may trade at a higher valuation if investors expect its revenue and earnings to continue expanding. A lower-valued stock may offer a more conservative entry point, but the lower valuation could also reflect slower growth or higher business risk. Growth, valuation, profitability, cash flow and risk should therefore be considered together.
Which is the better stock, COST or UNH?
There is no single answer for every investor. Growth-focused investors may place greater weight on revenue growth, EPS growth and ROIC, while income-focused investors may prioritize dividend yield and payout sustainability. Investors with lower risk tolerance may focus more on volatility, Beta and balance-sheet strength. MEXC Stock Compare presents the relevant metrics but does not provide a buy or sell recommendation.
Can I trade COST and UNH as RealStocks on MEXC?
Eligible users can trade COST and UNH as real US stocks through MEXC RealStocks if both stocks are currently supported. Users must first open and verify a RealStocks account with MEXC's partner licensed broker. RealStocks represents ownership of actual shares rather than tokenized stock exposure. Availability may vary by stock and region, so users should check the corresponding RealStocks trading page before placing an order.
Disclaimer
The stock prices, financial metrics, comparison results and related information displayed on this page are sourced from third-party providers and are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Data may be delayed, incomplete or inaccurate, and MEXC does not guarantee its accuracy, completeness or timeliness. The comparisons and automated summaries do not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice, nor a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security or financial product. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Users should independently verify the information and assess their own objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance before making any decision. Where MEXC stock futures or other derivative products are referenced, such products do not represent ownership of the underlying shares and may involve leverage and a substantial risk of loss. Product availability is subject to applicable laws and regional restrictions.