Benchmark research · Costco
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed COST (Costco)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation), we screened COST against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against COST live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top COST: Out of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, 28 of 958 eligible ETFs (2.9%) and 169 of 1,501 eligible stocks (11%) outperformed COST in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. None of the ETFs and 27 stocks met the all-weather rule, which required outperformance in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: Walmart WMT outperformed in 1 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. Target TGT outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term periods but none of the long-term periods, while BJ's Wholesale Club BJ managed 3 of 5 short-term periods and none of the long-term periods. The SPY, a broad-market comparison, outperformed in 2 of 5 short-term periods and none of the long-term periods. No same-index funds were excluded.
- Top ETFs: Technology led the ETF group, with 8 of the top ETFs in that category. Semiconductor funds SMH, SOXX, PSI, and FTXL each outperformed in 3 of 5 short-term periods and all 3 long-term periods.
- Top stocks: 169 stocks qualified, and 27 met the all-weather rule. Among the top stocks shown, COKE from consumer staples, CVI and MPC from energy, and WSM from consumer discretionary each outperformed in all 5 short-term periods and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, none of the top ETFs or top stocks were less volatile than COST. The top ETFs had median volatility of 26.6%, compared with 22.9% for COST, while the top stocks' median volatility was 48.4%. About half of each group had a higher Sharpe ratio, a measure of return relative to risk: 6 of 15 ETFs and 5 of 10 stocks.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against COST, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| COST Costco Wholesale Corporation (benchmark) | — | +10.7% | +6.5% | 0.0% | +16.9% | +6.9% | +87.2% | +123% | +685% | 22.9% | 0.82 |
| WMT Fell shortWalmart Inc. | 1/5 short2/3 long | +9.7% | +5.3% | −7.5% | +5.2% | +11.0% | +130% | +158% | +508% | 22.6%1.0× COST | 0.96 |
| TGT Fell shortTarget Corporation | 4/5 short0/3 long | −2.4% | +11.2% | +20.3% | +57.4% | +75.1% | +58.0% | −28.5% | +207% | 36.1%1.6× COST | 0.00 |
| DG Fell shortDollar General Corporation | 3/5 short0/3 long | +10.6% | +8.1% | +7.2% | 0.0% | +28.5% | +24.2% | −32.0% | +127% | 37.0%1.6× COST | -0.01 |
| BJ Fell shortBJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. | 3/5 short0/3 long | +10.9% | +9.0% | +9.4% | +11.3% | +9.0% | +47.7% | +75.3% | — | 32.5%1.4× COST | 0.51 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%0.7× COST | 0.79 |
| RTH Fell shortVanEck Retail ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | +6.2% | +4.5% | +1.1% | +8.8% | +10.1% | +69.2% | +54.6% | +292% | 17.0%0.7× COST | 0.60 |
| VDC Fell shortVanguard Consumer Staples ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | +7.2% | +4.1% | +6.0% | +14.5% | +11.8% | +43.4% | +45.3% | +128% | 13.6%0.6× COST | 0.62 |
| XLP Fell shortState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | +7.1% | +4.1% | +7.9% | +15.1% | +13.2% | +41.5% | +41.4% | +121% | 13.8%0.6× COST | 0.57 |
| PEJ Fell shortInvesco Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | +5.9% | +1.1% | +4.5% | +8.6% | +13.9% | +89.4% | +31.5% | +91.7% | 22.7%1.0× COST | 0.36 |
| KR Fell shortThe Kroger Co. | 1/5 short0/3 long | +5.5% | +8.7% | −6.1% | +1.8% | −6.9% | +52.6% | +78.5% | +151% | 27.3%1.2× COST | 0.56 |
| XLY Fell shortState Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | +2.9% | +1.0% | −3.2% | −1.8% | −1.4% | +56.1% | +26.4% | +224% | 24.1%1.1× COST | 0.32 |
| XRT Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | +6.2% | −1.2% | +0.1% | +2.8% | +4.3% | +53.4% | +1.6% | +137% | 26.8%1.2× COST | 0.14 |
| FND Fell shortFloor & Decor Holdings, Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −4.3% | −16.1% | −17.2% | −28.2% | −37.3% | −45.1% | −64.8% | — | 47.0%2.0× COST | -0.21 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed COST
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed COST in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | COST Costco Wholesale Corporation (benchmark) | — | +10.7% | +6.5% | 0.0% | +16.9% | +6.9% | +87.2% | +123% | +685% | 22.9% | 0.82 | ||
| 1 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9%1.6× COST | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 2 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9%1.7× COST | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 3 | PSI TechnologyInvesco Semiconductors ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −12.9% | −12.1% | +3.7% | +52.3% | +68.1% | +217% | +196% | +1,134% | 41.6%1.8× COST | 0.73 | 0.55% | $2.8B |
| 4 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8%1.7× COST | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 5 | XSD TechnologyState Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.0% | −5.8% | +11.5% | +40.9% | +35.0% | +166% | +132% | +857% | 40.8%1.8× COST | 0.62 | 0.35% | $2.7B |
| 6 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%1.2× COST | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 7 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%1.1× COST | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 8 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.1× COST | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 9 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%1.1× COST | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 10 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%1.1× COST | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 11 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%1.2× COST | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 12 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short2/3 long | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%1.6× COST | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 13 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%1.1× COST | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 14 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short2/3 long | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1%1.5× COST | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 15 | GREK InternationalGlobal X - MSCI Greece ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | −5.6% | +8.8% | +14.9% | +21.4% | +32.7% | +175% | +234% | +380% | 24.6%1.1× COST | 1.11 | 0.56% | $327M |
Stocks that consistently outperformed COST
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | COST Costco Wholesale Corporation (benchmark) | — | +10.7% | +6.5% | 0.0% | +16.9% | +6.9% | +87.2% | +123% | +685% | 22.9% | 0.82 | |
| 1 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%1.7× COST | 1.10 | $14B |
| 2 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%2.3× COST | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 3 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%1.5× COST | 1.41 | $133B |
| 4 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%1.9× COST | 0.71 | $30B |
| 5 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%1.8× COST | 0.79 | $14B |
| 6 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%2.7× COST | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| 7 | P Computer HardwareEverpure, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.3% | +80.9% | +86.0% | +83.3% | +39.0% | +282% | +388% | +899% | 55.0%2.4× COST | 0.85 | $42B |
| 8 | PBR-A Oil & Gas IntegratedPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +23.3% | +47.0% | +30.3% | +117% | +130% | +133% | +705% | +768% | 37.5%1.6× COST | 1.31 | $157B |
| 9 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%2.5× COST | 0.74 | $59B |
| 10 | DELL Computer HardwareDell Technologies Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −19.6% | +21.3% | +127% | +265% | +217% | +636% | +800% | +3,701% | 54.4%2.4× COST | 1.08 | $294B |
What stands out
The ETF results point to technology, especially semiconductor funds, as a leading source of outperformance. SMH, SOXX, PSI, and FTXL each kept ahead of COST across all 3 long-term periods, as well as 3 of 5 short-term periods. The stock leaders came from a wider range of sectors, including energy, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary. COKE, CVI, MPC, and WSM all cleared the bar in every period listed, though that consistency among leading names does not mean the full group was similarly concentrated.
The returns came with a bumpier ride. Over 5 years, the top ETFs' median volatility was moderately higher than COST's, while the top stocks' median volatility was roughly double or more. Yet about half of each group posted a higher Sharpe ratio than COST, suggesting that some winners delivered enough added return per unit of risk to offset their larger swings, while others did not.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than COST's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of COST's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.