COST vs FLO
Costco Wholesale Corporation compared with Flowers Foods, Inc. on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
TTM yield · Quarterly
FLO
Flowers Foods, Inc.
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- FLO yields more today: 8.13% vs 0.59% (forward).
- COST has grown its payout faster: 13.2%/yr vs -1.9%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- FLO has the longer streak of annual increases: 23 years vs 21.
- Over the last year COST delivered the higher total return: +9.0% vs -47.2% (price change plus payouts).
- COST raises fewer payout-risk flags on our heuristic (low vs elevated).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | COST | FLO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $1,003.32 | $6.15 |
| TTM yield | 0.55% | 12.13% |
| Forward yield | 0.59% | 8.13% |
| Annual payout per share | $5.88 | $0.50 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 30, 2026 (declared) | Dec 11, 2026 (est.) |
| Payout ratio (earnings) | 27% | 321% |
| 1-year payout growth | +12.6% | -23.6% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +13.2% | -1.9% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 21 years | 23 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 88/100 | 80/100 |
| 1-year total return | +9.0% | -47.2% |
| 1-year price return | +8.4% | -52.9% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 444.6B | 1.3B |
| Years paying | 22.5 | 39.8 |
| Payout risk (heuristic) | Low | Elevated |
| Sector / category | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| COST | FLO | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 10.0 | 1,626.0 |
| Income per year | $59 | $813 |
| Income per month (avg) | $5 | $68 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model COST · Model FLO
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| COST Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | $1.47 | Declared |
| COST Jan 29, 2027 | Feb 12, 2027 | $1.47 | Est. |
| COST Apr 30, 2027 | May 14, 2027 | $1.47 | Est. |
| FLO Dec 11, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | $0.125 | Est. |
| FLO Mar 12, 2027 | Mar 26, 2027 | $0.125 | Est. |
| FLO Jun 11, 2027 | Jun 25, 2027 | $0.125 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
COSTFLO
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, COST or FLO?
FLO currently has the higher trailing yield: COST yields 0.55% and FLO yields 12.13%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do COST and FLO pay?
COST pays every quarter and FLO pays every quarter. COST's next ex-date is Oct 30, 2026 and FLO's is Dec 11, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, COST or FLO?
COST has grown its payout faster: 13.2%/yr vs -1.9%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is COST or FLO better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. COST and FLO differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.