COST vs KMB
Costco Wholesale Corporation compared with Kimberly-Clark Corporation on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
TTM yield · Quarterly
KMB
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- KMB yields more today: 4.97% vs 0.65% (forward).
- COST has grown its payout faster: 13.2%/yr vs 2.6%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- KMB has the longer streak of annual increases: 33 years vs 21.
- Over the last year COST delivered the higher total return: -2.9% vs -16.3% (price change plus payouts).
- COST raises fewer payout-risk flags on our heuristic (low vs moderate).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | COST | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $910.18 | $102.93 |
| TTM yield | 0.61% | 4.95% |
| Forward yield | 0.65% | 4.97% |
| Annual payout per share | $5.88 | $5.12 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 23, 2026 (est.) | Dec 4, 2026 (est.) |
| Payout ratio (earnings) | 27% | 100% |
| 1-year payout growth | +12.6% | +2.0% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +13.2% | +2.6% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 21 years | 33 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 88/100 | 98/100 |
| 1-year total return | -2.9% | -16.3% |
| 1-year price return | -3.5% | -20.3% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 403.6B | 34.2B |
| Years paying | 22.3 | 41.5 |
| Payout risk (heuristic) | Low | Moderate |
| 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 | KMB | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 11.0 | 97.2 |
| Income per year | $65 | $497 |
| Income per month (avg) | $5 | $41 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model COST · Model KMB
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| COST Oct 23, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | $1.47 | Est. |
| COST Jan 22, 2027 | Feb 5, 2027 | $1.47 | Est. |
| COST Apr 23, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | $1.47 | Est. |
| KMB Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $1.28 | Est. |
| KMB Mar 5, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 | $1.28 | Est. |
| KMB Jun 4, 2027 | Jul 1, 2027 | $1.28 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
COSTKMB
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 KMB?
KMB currently has the higher trailing yield: COST yields 0.61% and KMB yields 4.95%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do COST and KMB pay?
COST pays every quarter and KMB pays every quarter. COST's next ex-date is Oct 23, 2026 and KMB's is Dec 4, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, COST or KMB?
COST has grown its payout faster: 13.2%/yr vs 2.6%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is COST or KMB better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. COST and KMB 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.