# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed COST (Costco)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-cost
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform COST in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| COST: Costco Wholesale Corporation (benchmark) |  |  | +10.7% | +6.5% | 0.0% | +16.9% | +6.9% | +87.2% | +123% | +685% | 22.9% | 0.82 |
| [WMT](https://easycompare.io/research/wmt): Walmart Inc. | Fell short | 1/5 short, 2/3 long | +9.7% | +5.3% | −7.5% | +5.2% | +11.0% | +130% | +158% | +508% | 22.6% | 0.96 |
| [TGT](https://easycompare.io/research/tgt): Target Corporation | Fell short | 4/5 short, 0/3 long | −2.4% | +11.2% | +20.3% | +57.4% | +75.1% | +58.0% | −28.5% | +207% | 36.1% | 0.00 |
| DG: Dollar General Corporation | Fell short | 3/5 short, 0/3 long | +10.6% | +8.1% | +7.2% | 0.0% | +28.5% | +24.2% | −32.0% | +127% | 37.0% | -0.01 |
| BJ: BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. | Fell short | 3/5 short, 0/3 long | +10.9% | +9.0% | +9.4% | +11.3% | +9.0% | +47.7% | +75.3% | — | 32.5% | 0.51 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| RTH: VanEck Retail ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +6.2% | +4.5% | +1.1% | +8.8% | +10.1% | +69.2% | +54.6% | +292% | 17.0% | 0.60 |
| VDC: Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +7.2% | +4.1% | +6.0% | +14.5% | +11.8% | +43.4% | +45.3% | +128% | 13.6% | 0.62 |
| XLP: State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +7.1% | +4.1% | +7.9% | +15.1% | +13.2% | +41.5% | +41.4% | +121% | 13.8% | 0.57 |
| PEJ: Invesco Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +5.9% | +1.1% | +4.5% | +8.6% | +13.9% | +89.4% | +31.5% | +91.7% | 22.7% | 0.36 |
| [KR](https://easycompare.io/research/kr): The Kroger Co. | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | +5.5% | +8.7% | −6.1% | +1.8% | −6.9% | +52.6% | +78.5% | +151% | 27.3% | 0.56 |
| XLY: State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | +2.9% | +1.0% | −3.2% | −1.8% | −1.4% | +56.1% | +26.4% | +224% | 24.1% | 0.32 |
| XRT: State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | +6.2% | −1.2% | +0.1% | +2.8% | +4.3% | +53.4% | +1.6% | +137% | 26.8% | 0.14 |
| FND: Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −4.3% | −16.1% | −17.2% | −28.2% | −37.3% | −45.1% | −64.8% | — | 47.0% | -0.21 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed COST

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |  |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://easycompare.io/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9% | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| PSI: Invesco Semiconductors ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −12.9% | −12.1% | +3.7% | +52.3% | +68.1% | +217% | +196% | +1,134% | 41.6% | 0.73 | 0.55% | $2.8B |
| FTXL: First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8% | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| XSD: State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.0% | −5.8% | +11.5% | +40.9% | +35.0% | +166% | +132% | +857% | 40.8% | 0.62 | 0.35% | $2.7B |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://easycompare.io/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0% | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://easycompare.io/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1% | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| IXN: iShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2% | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| IGM: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5% | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1% | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| EWT: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2% | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| GREK: Global X - MSCI Greece ETF | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | −5.6% | +8.8% | +14.9% | +21.4% | +32.7% | +175% | +234% | +380% | 24.6% | 1.11 | 0.56% | $327M |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed COST

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |
| ANF: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9% | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| [P](https://easycompare.io/research/p): Everpure, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.3% | +80.9% | +86.0% | +83.3% | +39.0% | +282% | +388% | +899% | 55.0% | 0.85 | $42B |
| [PBR-A](https://easycompare.io/research/pbr-a): Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +23.3% | +47.0% | +30.3% | +117% | +130% | +133% | +705% | +768% | 37.5% | 1.31 | $157B |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| [DELL](https://easycompare.io/research/dell): Dell Technologies Inc. | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −19.6% | +21.3% | +127% | +265% | +217% | +636% | +800% | +3,701% | 54.4% | 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.

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## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-cost
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt