COST Debt-to-Equity Ratio Analysis
Updated 609h ago·SEC filings & market data
Key Takeaway
Debt-to-equity ratio measures a company’s total liabilities against shareholders’ equity, so 0.17x means Costco carries far more equity than debt.
Sector Performance
16th percentileCOST
0.17x
Sector Median
0.74x
Sector Avg
2.51x
Prior Period
0.25x(Jun 2026)
Deep Analysis
Debt-to-equity ratio measures a company’s total liabilities against shareholders’ equity, so 0.17x means Costco carries far more equity than debt.
That is well below the sector median of 0.73x, and the 16th percentile rank places Costco among the lowest-leveraged peers. The year-over-year change is N/A, the quarter-over-quarter change is N/A, and the last 8 quarters show no trend, with 0.17x as the only historical value available. The low ratio points to limited financial risk from debt, but the lack of trend data provides no signal on whether leverage is increasing or decreasing. That combination supports a cautious view: the balance sheet is currently strong, yet the direction is unknown. This metric supports the overall NEUTRAL verdict because low leverage reduces risk, while the missing trend prevents any stronger positive assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Debt-to-Equity Ratio tell investors about COST?
Shows how much a company is financing its operations through debt vs shareholder funds. High D/E can amplify returns — and losses.
How is the Debt-to-Equity Ratio calculated?
Debt-to-Equity Ratio is calculated as: Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity.
Who are COST's closest peers by Debt-to-Equity Ratio?
The closest peers by Debt-to-Equity Ratio include: TAP (0.76x), PCAR (0.72x), O (0.78x), PRU (0.78x), KIM (0.85x).
Learn More About Debt-to-Equity Ratio
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Learn how to spot a debt problem in stocks using D/E, interest coverage, and net debt/EBITDA ratios. Real examples from META and MSFT, plus danger thresholds you need to know.
Debt/Equity Ratio: How Much Debt Is Too Much?
The debt to equity ratio explained: why context, interest coverage, and sector norms matter far more than the raw number when assessing debt risk.
The Formula
Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity
Why It Matters
Shows how much a company is financing its operations through debt vs shareholder funds. High D/E can amplify returns — and losses.
Master COST's Valuation
Get the complete institutional research report covering all fundamental and technical metrics.
View full COST research report →COST
0.17x
Sector Median
0.74x
Sector Avg
2.51x
How COST's Debt-to-Equity Ratio compares to sector peers.
Also Analyze
Not financial advice. Research tool only. Data may be delayed.