Discontinued — last reported Q4 '25
Stock-Based Comp
OperatingCostco Wholesale Stock-Based Comp decreased by 32.5% to $486.00M in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 5.0%, from $463.00M to $486.00M.
Analysis
StatementCash Flow Statement
SectionOperating
CategoryCapital Allocation
SignalContext dependent
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ1 2007
Last reportedQ4 2025
How to read this metric
An increase may signal a strategy to retain talent without using cash, but it also indicates future dilution for existing shareholders.
Detailed definition
The value of equity-based awards granted to employees as part of their compensation package, recognized as an expense on...
Peer comparison
High-growth software companies often have high SBC as a percentage of operating cash flow compared to mature industrial firms.
Metric ID:
cf_stock_based_compensationHistorical Data
14 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q4 '25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $550.00M | $388.00M | $516.00M | $606.00M | $402.00M | $549.00M | $643.00M | $444.00M | $580.00M | $686.00M | $463.00M | $614.00M | $720.00M | $486.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | -29.5% | +33.0% | +17.4% | -33.7% | +36.6% | +17.1% | -30.9% | +30.6% | +18.3% | -32.5% | +32.6% | +17.3% | -32.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | +10.2% | +3.6% | +6.4% | +6.1% | +10.4% | +5.6% | +6.7% | +4.3% | +5.9% | +5.0% | +5.0% |
Range$388.00M – $720.00M
CAGR-3.7%
Avg YoY Growth+6.3%
Median YoY Growth+5.9%
Stock-Based Comp at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Costco Wholesale's stock-based comp?
- Costco Wholesale (COST) reported stock-based comp of $486.00M in Q4 2025.
- How has Costco Wholesale's stock-based comp changed year-over-year?
- Costco Wholesale's stock-based comp increased by 5.0% year-over-year, from $463.00M to $486.00M.
- What does stock-based comp mean?
- The value of company shares given to employees as pay, which doesn't cost the company actual cash.