What is the current annual operating margin of COST?

As of today, COST annual operating margin is 3.85%

What is 1-year change in COST annual operating margin?

COST annual operating margin is up +2.12% year-over-year

What is 3-year change in COST annual operating margin?

COST annual operating margin is up +14.93% over the past 3 years

How far is COST annual operating margin from its all-time high?

COST annual operating margin is currently at its all-time high

How does COST annual operating margin rank versus sector peers?

COST annual operating margin is higher than 48.21% of companies in Consumer Defensive sector

When is COST next annual earnings release?

As of today, the next annual earnings release for COST has not been scheduled

What is the current quarterly operating margin of COST?

As of today, COST quarterly operating margin is 3.97%

What is COST quarterly operating margin most recent change?

COST quarterly operating margin was down -0.50% on August 30, 2026

What is 1-year change in COST quarterly operating margin?

COST quarterly operating margin is up +2.32% year-over-year

How far is COST quarterly operating margin from its all-time high?

COST quarterly operating margin is currently -5.48% below its historical high of 4.20% set on August 30, 2020

How does COST quarterly operating margin rank versus sector peers?

COST quarterly operating margin is higher than 44.55% of companies in Consumer Defensive sector

When is COST next earnings release?

The next earnings release for COST is on December 10, 2026

COST Operating Margin History & Chart Since 1984

Annual Operating Margin

3.85%0.08%+2.12%

August 30, 2026

Summary

Current Value: As of today, COST annual operating margin is 3.85%, up +2.12% on August 30, 2026
Historical Performance: COST annual operating margin is up +14.93% over the past 3 years, up +3.22% over the past 5 years
All-Time High Comparison: COST annual operating margin is currently at its all-time high
3-Year Low Comparison: COST annual operating margin is +14.93% above its 3-year low of 3.35% reached on an earlier date
Sector Comparison: COST annual operating margin is higher than 48.21% of companies in Consumer Defensive sector

Operating Margin Chart

beforeafter

Performance

COST Performance
Metric	Date	Value	1Y	3Y	5Y	15Y
Annual Operating Margin	Aug 30, 26	3.85%	+2.1%	+14.9%	+3.2%	+37.5%
Quarterly Operating Margin	Aug 30, 26	3.97%	+2.3%	+12.8%	+7.6%	+42.3%
Price	Oct 13, 26	$958.31	+2.4%	+69.1%	+115.2%	+1073.4%
PE Ratio	Oct 13, 26	46.16	-10.2%	+15.3%	+16.8%	+87.1%
Annual Revenue	Aug 30, 26	$303.15B	+10.1%	+25.1%	+54.7%	+240.9%
Annual Operating Profit	Aug 30, 26	$11.69B	+12.5%	+44.0%	+60.1%	+368.5%
Annual Gross Margin	Aug 30, 26	12.82%	-0.2%	+4.6%	-0.5%	+2.0%
Annual Net Margin	Aug 30, 26	3.04%	+3.4%	+16.9%	+17.4%	+75.7%

Operating Margin Highs

COST Annual Operating Margin Highs Comparison
Period	High	Date	Current
3Y	3.85%	Aug 30, 26	at high
5Y	3.85%	Aug 30, 26	at high
All	3.85%	Aug 30, 26	at high

Operating Margin Lows

COST Annual Operating Margin Lows Comparison
Period	Low	Date	Current
3Y	3.35%	N/A	+14.9%
5Y	3.35%	Aug 1, 23	+14.9%
All	2.23%	Aug 28, 94	+72.7%

Operating Margin History

Year	Value	Change
2026	3.85%	+2.1%
2025	3.77%	+3.3%
2024	3.65%	+9.0%
2023	3.35%	-2.3%
2022	3.43%	-8.0%
2021	3.73%	+2.5%
2020	3.64%	+15.2%
2019	3.16%	-1.6%
2018	3.21%	-1.2%
2017	3.25%	+2.8%
2016	3.16%	-0.3%
2015	3.17%	+8.9%
2014	2.91%	-1.4%
2013	2.95%	+4.6%
2012	2.82%	+0.7%
2011	2.80%	+3.3%
2010	2.71%	+5.4%
2009	2.57%	-8.2%
2008	2.80%	+7.7%
2007	2.60%	-6.5%
2006	2.78%	-1.4%
2005	2.82%	-1.1%

Year	Value	Change
2004	2.85%	+4.0%
2003	2.74%	-6.8%
2002	2.94%	+3.2%
2001	2.85%	-11.8%
2000	3.23%	+3.2%
1999	3.13%	-3.4%
1998	3.24%	+8.0%
1997	3.00%	+19.5%
1996	2.51%	+5.9%
1995	2.37%	+6.3%
1994	2.23%	-13.2%
1993	2.57%	-10.8%
1992	2.88%	+3.2%
1991	2.79%	-10.9%
1990	3.13%	+17.2%
1989	2.67%	-18.8%
1988	3.29%	-14.3%
1987	3.84%	0.0%
1986	3.84%	+61.3%
1985	2.38%	-20.7%
1984	3.00%	-

FAQ

What is the current annual operating margin of COST?: As of today, COST annual operating margin is 3.85%
What is 1-year change in COST annual operating margin?: COST annual operating margin is up +2.12% year-over-year
What is 3-year change in COST annual operating margin?: COST annual operating margin is up +14.93% over the past 3 years
How far is COST annual operating margin from its all-time high?: COST annual operating margin is currently at its all-time high
How does COST annual operating margin rank versus sector peers?: COST annual operating margin is higher than 48.21% of companies in Consumer Defensive sector
When is COST next annual earnings release?: As of today, the next annual earnings release for COST has not been scheduled

Operating Margin Formula

Operating Profit Margin = Operating Income

Revenue × 100%

Quarterly Operating Margin

3.97%0.02%-0.50%

August 30, 2026

Summary

Current Value: As of today, COST quarterly operating margin is 3.97%, down -0.50% on August 30, 2026
Historical Performance: COST quarterly operating margin is up +2.32% year-over-year, up +12.78% over the past 3 years
All-Time High Comparison: COST quarterly operating margin is currently -5.48% below its historical high of 4.20% set on August 30, 2020
3-Year Low Comparison: COST quarterly operating margin is +15.74% above its 3-year low of 3.43% reached on November 30, 2023
Sector Comparison: COST quarterly operating margin is higher than 44.55% of companies in Consumer Defensive sector

Performance

COST Performance
Metric	Date	Value	3M	1Y	3Y	5Y
Quarterly Operating Margin	Aug 30, 26	3.97%	-0.5%	+2.3%	+12.8%	+7.6%
Annual Operating Margin	Aug 30, 26	3.85%	–	+2.1%	+14.9%	+3.2%
Price	Oct 13, 26	$958.31	+3.4%	+2.4%	+69.1%	+115.2%
PE Ratio	Oct 13, 26	46.16	-0.9%	-10.2%	+15.3%	+16.8%
Quarterly Revenue	Aug 30, 26	$95.72B	+35.7%	+11.1%	+21.3%	+52.7%
Quarterly Operating Profit	Aug 30, 26	$3.80B	+35.0%	+13.8%	+36.7%	+64.5%
Quarterly Gross Margin	Aug 30, 26	12.74%	-0.2%	-1.3%	+3.5%	+0.6%
Quarterly Net Margin	Aug 30, 26	3.13%	+0.6%	+3.3%	+14.2%	+15.9%

Quarterly Operating Margin Highs

COST Quarterly Operating Margin Highs Comparison
Period	High	Date	Current
1Y	3.99%	May 10, 26	-0.5%
3Y	4.00%	May 11, 25	-0.8%
5Y	4.00%	May 11, 25	-0.8%
All	4.20%	Aug 30, 20	-5.5%

Quarterly Operating Margin Lows

COST Quarterly Operating Margin Lows Comparison
Period	Low	Date	Current
1Y	3.66%	Nov 23, 25	+8.5%
3Y	3.43%	Nov 30, 23	+15.7%
5Y	3.13%	Apr 1, 23	+26.8%
All	-334.53%	Aug 31, 88	+101.2%

Quarterly Operating Margin History

Month	Value	Change
Aug 2026	3.97%	-0.5%
May 2026	3.99%	+6.7%
Feb 2026	3.74%	+2.2%
Nov 2025	3.66%	-5.7%
Aug 2025	3.88%	-3.0%
May 2025	4.00%	+10.2%
Feb 2025	3.63%	+2.8%
Nov 2024	3.53%	-7.6%
Aug 2024	3.82%	+1.9%
May 2024	3.75%	+6.2%
Feb 2024	3.53%	+2.9%
Nov 2023	3.43%	-2.6%
Aug 2023	3.52%	+12.5%
Apr 2023	3.13%	-9.0%
Feb 2023	3.44%	+6.8%
Nov 2022	3.22%	-6.9%
Aug 2022	3.46%	+1.5%
Apr 2022	3.41%	-2.3%
Feb 2022	3.49%	+3.9%
Nov 2021	3.36%	-8.9%
Aug 2021	3.69%	-3.4%
Apr 2021	3.82%	+7.3%
Feb 2021	3.56%	-7.5%
Nov 2020	3.85%	-8.3%
Aug 2020	4.20%	+5.0%
May 2020	4.00%	+22.7%
Feb 2020	3.26%	+12.4%
Nov 2019	2.90%	-8.5%
Aug 2019	3.17%	-3.1%
May 2019	3.27%	-4.4%
Feb 2019	3.42%	+23.5%
Nov 2018	2.77%	-16.8%
Aug 2018	3.33%	+0.3%
May 2018	3.32%	+6.4%
Feb 2018	3.12%	+2.6%
Nov 2017	3.04%	-13.1%
Aug 2017	3.50%	+2.6%
Apr 2017	3.41%	+18.0%
Feb 2017	2.89%	-6.8%
Nov 2016	3.10%	-6.6%
Aug 2016	3.32%	+1.5%
Apr 2016	3.27%	+6.5%
Feb 2016	3.07%	+5.5%
Nov 2015	2.91%	-12.1%
Aug 2015	3.31%	+3.4%
May 2015	3.20%	-0.9%
Feb 2015	3.23%	+10.6%
Nov 2014	2.92%	-6.1%
Aug 2014	3.11%	+6.5%
May 2014	2.92%	+5.0%
Feb 2014	2.78%	+0.4%
Nov 2013	2.77%	-7.4%
Aug 2013	2.99%	-1.6%
May 2013	3.04%	+1.7%
Feb 2013	2.99%	+7.9%
Nov 2012	2.77%	-7.4%
Aug 2012	2.99%	+6.0%
Apr 2012	2.82%	-0.7%
Feb 2012	2.84%	+11.4%
Nov 2011	2.55%	-8.6%
Aug 2011	2.79%	+1.8%
Apr 2011	2.74%	-4.9%
Feb 2011	2.88%	+2.5%
Nov 2010	2.81%	-3.1%
Aug 2010	2.90%	+3.6%
Apr 2010	2.80%	+11.1%
Feb 2010	2.52%	-1.2%
Nov 2009	2.55%	-6.6%
Aug 2009	2.73%	+15.2%
May 2009	2.37%	-1.7%
Feb 2009	2.41%	-10.7%
Nov 2008	2.70%	+1.1%
Aug 2008	2.67%	-8.2%
May 2008	2.91%	-3.3%
Feb 2008	3.01%	+14.4%
Nov 2007	2.63%	-6.4%
Aug 2007	2.81%	+18.1%
May 2007	2.38%	-3.3%

Month	Value	Change
Feb 2007	2.46%	-8.6%
Nov 2006	2.69%	+0.7%
Aug 2006	2.67%	-3.3%
Apr 2006	2.76%	-10.4%
Feb 2006	3.08%	+17.6%
Nov 2005	2.62%	-9.7%
Aug 2005	2.90%	0.0%
Jul 2005	2.90%	+5.8%
Apr 2005	2.74%	-16.7%
Feb 2005	3.29%	+21.4%
Nov 2004	2.71%	-11.1%
Aug 2004	3.05%	+10.1%
Apr 2004	2.77%	-10.1%
Feb 2004	3.08%	+26.2%
Nov 2003	2.44%	-11.3%
Aug 2003	2.75%	+5.0%
May 2003	2.62%	-10.9%
Feb 2003	2.94%	+12.6%
Nov 2002	2.61%	-15.8%
Aug 2002	3.10%	+23.5%
May 2002	2.51%	-26.2%
Feb 2002	3.40%	+33.9%
Nov 2001	2.54%	-11.2%
Aug 2001	2.86%	+26.5%
May 2001	2.26%	-34.7%
Feb 2001	3.46%	+24.9%
Nov 2000	2.77%	-10.4%
Aug 2000	3.09%	+8.0%
Apr 2000	2.86%	-25.9%
Feb 2000	3.86%	+24.5%
Nov 1999	3.10%	+8.4%
Aug 1999	2.86%	-1.7%
Apr 1999	2.91%	-24.2%
Feb 1999	3.84%	+28.9%
Nov 1998	2.98%	-11.3%
Aug 1998	3.36%	+23.5%
May 1998	2.72%	-26.1%
Feb 1998	3.68%	+17.2%
Nov 1997	3.14%	+53.9%
Aug 1997	2.04%	-20.3%
May 1997	2.56%	-24.5%
Feb 1997	3.39%	+19.4%
Nov 1996	2.84%	+6.0%
Aug 1996	2.68%	+32.0%
May 1996	2.03%	-30.5%
Feb 1996	2.92%	+27.0%
Nov 1995	2.30%	+172.8%
Aug 1995	-3.16%	-264.6%
May 1995	1.92%	-34.9%
Feb 1995	2.95%	+16.1%
Nov 1994	2.54%	+1.2%
Aug 1994	2.51%	+43.4%
May 1994	1.75%	-37.1%
Feb 1994	2.78%	+3.7%
Nov 1993	2.68%	+318.8%
Aug 1993	0.64%	+420.0%
May 1993	-0.20%	+66.7%
Feb 1993	-0.60%	-253.8%
Nov 1992	0.39%	-38.1%
Aug 1992	0.63%	+384.6%
May 1992	0.13%	+165.0%
Feb 1992	-0.20%	-122.5%
Nov 1991	0.89%	-23.9%
Aug 1991	1.17%	+185.4%
May 1991	0.41%	-8.9%
Feb 1991	0.45%	-61.2%
Nov 1990	1.16%	-34.5%
Aug 1990	1.77%	+84.4%
May 1990	0.96%	-24.4%
Feb 1990	1.27%	-14.8%
Nov 1989	1.49%	+100.5%
Aug 1989	-298.46%	+10.8%
Aug 1988	-334.53%	-23.3%
Aug 1987	-271.39%	-2.3%
Aug 1986	-265.39%	+3.6%
Aug 1985	-275.32%	-6.2%
Aug 1984	-259.13%	-

FAQ

What is the current quarterly operating margin of COST?: As of today, COST quarterly operating margin is 3.97%
What is COST quarterly operating margin most recent change?: COST quarterly operating margin was down -0.50% on August 30, 2026
What is 1-year change in COST quarterly operating margin?: COST quarterly operating margin is up +2.32% year-over-year
How far is COST quarterly operating margin from its all-time high?: COST quarterly operating margin is currently -5.48% below its historical high of 4.20% set on August 30, 2020
How does COST quarterly operating margin rank versus sector peers?: COST quarterly operating margin is higher than 44.55% of companies in Consumer Defensive sector
When is COST next earnings release?: The next earnings release for COST is on December 10, 2026

Operating Margin Formula

Operating Profit Margin = Operating Income

Revenue × 100%

Data Sources & References

COST Official Website www.costco.com
COST Profile on Yahoo Finance finance.yahoo.com/quote/COST
COST Profile on NASDAQ.com www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/cost