COST vs CAT
Comparison between Costco Wholesale Corp (COST, Company) and Caterpillar Inc (CAT, Company).
COST is from the Consumer Defensive sector, while CAT is from the Industrials sector.
5-Year PerformanceCAT has outperformed COST, delivering a return of +32.4% compared to +22.6%
COST vs CAT - Performance Comparison
Key Characteristics
Financial metrics and valuation ratios
COST vs CAT - Historical Returns
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
COST vs CAT - Annual Returns (1999 - 2026)
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
| Year | COST | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +18.39% | +50.59% |
| 2025 | -4.72% | +61.64% |
| 2024 | +41.64% | +25.91% |
| 2023 | +50.03% | +26.33% |
| 2022 | -18.91% | +18.43% |
| 2021 | +50.47% | +15.88% |
| 2020 | +33.72% | +24.52% |
| 2019 | +44.95% | +20.13% |
| 2018 | +9.30% | -17.26% |
| 2017 | +22.66% | +72.68% |
| 2016 | +1.51% | +42.11% |
| 2015 | +19.11% | -23.29% |
| 2014 | +21.70% | +4.55% |
| 2013 | +18.56% | -0.88% |
| 2012 | +26.50% | -2.07% |
| 2011 | +16.31% | -1.99% |
| 2010 | +23.17% | +64.11% |
| 2009 | +12.51% | +26.79% |
| 2008 | -22.17% | -35.09% |
| 2007 | +33.29% | +20.81% |
| 2006 | +6.93% | +7.80% |
| 2005 | +4.29% | +23.77% |
| 2004 | +34.26% | +20.29% |
| 2003 | +28.16% | +78.20% |
| 2002 | -36.87% | -8.76% |
| 2001 | +7.74% | +16.19% |
| 2000 | -10.25% | +0.79% |
| 1999 | +16.15% | -13.86% |
COST vs CAT Drawdown Comparison
The maximum drawdown for COST was -53.39%, occurring on Dec 24, 2002. Recovery took 1551 trading sessions.
The maximum drawdown for CAT was -73.44%, occurring on Mar 2, 2009. Recovery took 803 trading sessions.
The current COST drawdown is -5.67%. The current CAT drawdown is -3.20%.
| Rank | COST | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | -53.39% May 1, 2000 - Jul 3, 2006 | -73.44% Jul 19, 2007 - Sep 24, 2010 |
| #2 | -48.03% Jul 8, 2008 - Dec 20, 2010 | -45.64% Nov 16, 1999 - May 16, 2001 |
| #3 | -31.40% Apr 7, 2022 - Dec 5, 2023 | -44.63% Jul 16, 2014 - Apr 25, 2017 |
| #4 | -22.02% Sep 11, 2018 - Apr 1, 2019 | -43.36% Jan 22, 2018 - Oct 12, 2020 |
| #5 | -20.74% Feb 13, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025 | -42.54% Mar 15, 2002 - Jun 16, 2003 |
| #6 | -20.65% Feb 3, 2000 - Mar 16, 2000 | -38.61% Apr 29, 2011 - Feb 3, 2012 |
| #7 | -19.49% Dec 1, 2020 - May 27, 2021 | -34.06% Nov 6, 2024 - Jul 17, 2025 |
| #8 | -18.54% Jul 3, 2006 - Feb 15, 2007 | -31.77% May 17, 2021 - Nov 22, 2022 |
| #9 | -17.43% Jun 7, 2017 - Nov 30, 2017 | -31.17% Feb 23, 2012 - Jul 3, 2014 |
| #10 | -16.23% Dec 7, 2007 - May 1, 2008 | -27.32% May 9, 2006 - Jun 13, 2007 |
| #11 | -15.93% Dec 29, 2021 - Mar 29, 2022 | -25.31% May 22, 2001 - Feb 25, 2002 |
| #12 | -15.86% Dec 8, 2015 - Jul 19, 2016 | -21.80% Jan 27, 2023 - Jul 18, 2023 |
| #13 | -15.80% May 19, 2011 - Sep 16, 2011 | -21.28% Aug 1, 2023 - Dec 19, 2023 |
| #14 | -15.60% Aug 12, 2016 - Feb 8, 2017 | -17.31% Jan 26, 2004 - Nov 3, 2004 |
| #15 | -14.75% Dec 3, 1999 - Jan 18, 2000 | -17.26% Sep 13, 2005 - Dec 16, 2005 |
Correlation
Correlation between COST and CAT is 0.92 which considered as a very strong positive correlation - the stocks move almost identically together.
Dividend Comparison (2000 - 2026)
COST vs CAT dividend yield comparison.
| Year | COST | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.27% | 0.34% |
| 2025 | 0.59% | 1.02% |
| 2024 | 0.49% | 1.49% |
| 2023 | 2.87% | 1.69% |
| 2022 | 0.76% | 1.93% |
| 2021 | 0.54% | 2.07% |
| 2020 | 3.38% | 2.26% |
| 2019 | 0.86% | 2.56% |
| 2018 | 1.08% | 2.58% |
| 2017 | 4.81% | 1.97% |
| 2016 | 1.09% | 3.32% |
| 2015 | 4.06% | 4.33% |
| 2014 | 0.97% | 2.84% |
| 2013 | 1.01% | 1.89% |
| 2012 | 8.17% | 2.77% |
| 2011 | 1.11% | 1.99% |
| 2010 | 1.10% | 1.84% |
| 2009 | 1.18% | 2.95% |
| 2008 | 1.19% | 3.49% |
| 2007 | 0.81% | 1.82% |
| 2006 | 0.96% | 1.79% |
| 2005 | 0.90% | 1.58% |
| 2004 | 0.62% | 1.60% |
| 2003 | 0.00% | 1.71% |
| 2002 | 0.00% | 3.06% |
| 2001 | 0.00% | 2.64% |
| 2000 | 0.00% | 2.81% |
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