Is Costco really worth its premium price tag. These two trends can justify the retailer's lofty valuation. Warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale (COST 0.
25%) may sell goods at affordable prices, but the stock is pretty expensive.
Costco investors have pocketed a total return of 2,320% over the last 15 years, leaving the S&P 500 index far behind at a 663% gain. The stock traded at a luxurious 55.
8 times trailing earnings on June 26, or 59. 6 times free cash flow. Image source: Getty Images. So you wouldn't be the first investor to call Costco's stock "expensive.
" But you might change your mind when you look at the chart below. Costco's rising fits and efficiency I'm to show you a rare combination.
Costco has a long-standing habit of growing its cash fits, while also making better and better use of the new capital over time. COST Free Cash Flow data by YCharts.
Costco's financial engine runs smoother than Kirkland butter Free cash flow is the fit that's left over after paying off operating expenses and capital expenses.
This capital can be used to finance dividend payouts, execute buybacks, acquire smaller rivals, or boost the balance sheet's cash reserves.
It's a measure of real cash fits, rather than the tax accounting construct you know as net fit or earnings. And Costco earns a lot of cash fits.
Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how effectively a company puts its fits to work. Costco's ROIC is nearly double the figures you see for Walmart (WMT 1. 45%) or Target (TGT 1.
83%) nowadays, and even exceeds Amazon's (AMZN 2. 66%) ROIC in the asset-light e-commerce industry.
The company also ders consistently wider ROIC margins over time, while most retailers struggle to keep ROIC stable.
As Costco pairs richer ROIC readings with growing cash flows, it keeps ing a flywheel of constant imvements. That's an incredibly holder-friendly combination.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Anders Bylund has positions in Amazon and Walmart.
The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.