BABA vs BKNG vs COST Stock Comparison

Alibaba Group Holding, Booking Holdings and Costco Wholesale Prices as of Oct 27, 2026 Peers: Industry group
BKNG Booking Holdings Inc.
$150.14 -8.4% 1M -28.6% 1Y
Market cap
$112.81B
P/E
16.0x
Revenue (TTM)
$28.24B
Div. yield
1.09%
Digital Marketplaces Technology
7 wins
COST Costco Wholesale Corp /New
$992.13 +7.5% 1M +6.7% 1Y
Market cap
$439.78B
P/E
47.7x
Revenue (TTM)
$303.15B
Div. yield
0.56%
Warehouse Clubs Consumer Staples
5 wins

Head to Head

12 decided of 12

Booking Holdings leads on 7 of the 12 questions below (Booking Holdings 7, Costco Wholesale 5). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionBABABKNGCOSTLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $232.79B $112.81B $439.78B COST
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 22.1x 16.0x 47.7x BKNG
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 14.3x 13.8x 46.8x BKNG
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +8.1% +12.9% +10.1% BKNG
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 7.0% 25.5% 3.0% BKNG
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 2.4% 75.5% 21.7% BKNG
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA — 0.3x -1.1x COST
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 1.05% 1.09% 0.56% BKNG
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months -44.1% -28.6% +6.7% COST
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years -10.0%/yr +9.1%/yr +15.1%/yr COST
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 40.3% 38.0% 20.0% COST
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 46/100 61/100 51/100 BKNG

Percentile Scorecard

BABABKNGCOST

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisBABABKNGCOST
Valuation 68 #55 of 167 66 #57 of 167 8 #37 of 40
Growth 17 #127 of 153 38 #95 of 153 78 #9 of 38
Profitability 54 #71 of 153 99 #2 of 153 74 #10 of 36
Financial Health 59 #74 of 179 41 #106 of 179 85 #7 of 40
Shareholder Returns 30 #66 of 94 61 #37 of 94 11 #25 of 28
Overall 46 61 51
  • BABA ranked among 185 companies in Internet Platforms
  • BKNG ranked among 185 companies in Internet Platforms
  • COST ranked among 41 companies in Staples Retail

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodBABABKNGCOSTSPY
1 month -8.7%-8.4%+7.5% -0.2%
3 months -13.0%-24.7%+2.6% +3.9%
6 months -23.4%-13.4%-0.2% +8.2%
Year to date -31.6%-29.9%+15.1% +12.9%
1 year -44.1%-28.6%+6.7% +12.3%
3 years +21.0%+36.7%+82.7% +87.4%
3 years, per year +6.6%+11.0%+22.3% +23.3%
5 years -41.0%+54.5%+102.3% +67.9%
5 years, per year -10.0%+9.1%+15.1% +10.9%
10 years -2.1%+156.6%+557.6% +261.1%
10 years, per year -0.2%+9.9%+20.7% +13.7%

Risk

MeasureBABABKNGCOSTSPY
Volatility, 1Y 40.3%38.0%20.0% 12.7%
Downside volatility, 1Y 35.9%38.1%19.7% 12.7%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 1.110.84-0.19 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y -1.10-0.750.34 0.97
Max drawdown, 5Y -62.9%-39.5%-31.5% -25.4%
From 52-week high -44.3%-31.7%-9.3% -1.2%
52-week high $179.97$219.68$1,094.32 $779.14
52-week low $94.81$150.14$850.00 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleBABABKNGCOST
P/E now vs peer median 22.1xmedian 17.3x 16.0xmedian 17.3x 47.7xmedian 22.1x
P/S now vs peer median 1.5xmedian 1.4x 4.0xmedian 1.4x 1.5xmedian 0.5x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median —median 14.2x 11.7xmedian 14.2x 29.6xmedian 9.7x
P/FCF now vs peer median 7.0xmedian 11.5x 11.8xmedian 11.5x 46.9xmedian 17.5x
P/B now vs peer median 1.4xmedian 1.8x -10.5xmedian 1.8x 12.3xmedian 2.9x
PEG now vs peer median -15.35median 0.40 -0.28median 0.40 3.51median 1.19

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsBABABKNGCOST
Revenue $150.46B $28.24B $303.15B
Gross profit $57.45B – $38.88B
Operating income $4.39B $9.28B $11.69B
Net income $10.08B $7.21B $9.23B
Free cash flow $33.19B $9.54B $9.38B
R&D $10.68B – –
EPS (diluted) $4.38 $9.36 $20.76
Cash & equivalents $21.06B $17.21B $20.21B
Total debt $83.76B $20.18B $6.16B
Shares (diluted) 2.40B 770.00M 444.43M
Enterprise value $54.86B $45.86B $363.06B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricBABABKNGCOST
P/E 22.1x 16.0x 47.7x
P/FCF 7.0x 11.8x 46.9x
P/Operating cash flow 20.6x 11.4x 27.8x
P/S 1.5x 4.0x 1.5x
P/B 1.4x -10.5x 12.3x
P/Tangible book 1.4x -9.7x 12.3x
EV/EBITDA – 11.7x 29.6x
EV/EBIT 48.0x 12.5x 36.3x
EV/Revenue 1.4x 4.1x 1.4x
EV/FCF 6.3x 12.1x 45.3x
EV/Operating cash flow 18.6x 11.7x 26.8x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) -15.35 -0.28 3.51

Growth

14 metrics
MetricBABABKNGCOST
Revenue growth (1Y) 8.1% 12.9% 10.1%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 5.6% 13.4% 7.8%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 0.2% – 10.0%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 6.5% – 9.4%
Operating income growth (1Y) -77.5% 12.9% 12.5%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) -35.9% 15.3% 12.9%
Net income growth (1Y) -50.0% 49.8% 13.9%
Net income CAGR (3Y) -3.6% 17.4% 13.6%
EPS growth (1Y) -47.9% -93.7% 14.0%
EPS CAGR (3Y) -1.4% -57.3% 13.6%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) -45.8% 2.9% 18.6%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) -27.8% 13.2% 12.6%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) -8.5% 3.2% 19.7%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) -0.6% 13.9% 11.6%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricBABABKNGCOST
Gross margin 38.2% – 12.8%
EBITDA margin – 34.9% 4.7%
Operating margin 2.9% 32.9% 3.9%
Pretax margin 9.7% 32.9% 4.0%
Net margin 7.0% 25.5% 3.0%
FCF margin 22.1% 33.8% 3.1%
Operating cash flow margin 7.5% 34.9% 5.2%
Return on equity 6.2% – 26.6%
Return on assets 3.6% 25.1% 10.5%
Return on invested capital 2.4% 75.5% 21.7%
Return on capital employed 2.1% 121.7% 26.7%
Asset turnover 0.5x 1.0x 3.5x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.1x 1.4x 1.7x
Stock comp / revenue 1.1% 2.1% 0.3%

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricBABABKNGCOST
Debt / assets 7.5% 68.0% 6.9%
Debt / equity 0.1x -1.9x 0.2x
Net debt / EBITDA – 0.3x -1.1x
Debt / FCF 0.6x 2.1x 0.7x
Liabilities / assets 43.6% 136.3% 59.8%
Equity / assets 56.4% -36.3% 40.2%
Interest coverage 3.2x 8.4x 80.6x
Current ratio 1.4x 1.1x 1.1x
Quick ratio 0.6x 1.0x 0.6x
Cash ratio 0.6x 0.8x 0.5x
Altman Z-score 2.30 5.77 9.28

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricBABABKNGCOST
Dividend yield 1.0% 1.1% 0.6%
Net buyback yield – 9.3% 0.2%
Shareholder yield 1.0% 10.4% 0.8%
Payout ratio (earnings) – – –
Payout ratio (FCF) – – –
Dividend growth (1Y) – – –
Dividend CAGR (3Y) – – –

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusBABABKNGCOST
Forward P/E 14.3xFY2026 13.8xFY2026 46.8xFY2027
EPS, next fiscal year $7.02FY2026 $10.90FY2026 $21.22FY2027
EPS growth, next FY +80.9%FY2026 +19.5%FY2026 +2.2%FY2027
EPS growth, the year after +22.8% +16.7% +22.4%
Revenue, next fiscal year $174.00BFY2026 $27.56BFY2026 $345.44BFY2027
Revenue growth, next FY +17.3%FY2026 +2.4%FY2026 +14.0%FY2027
Revenue growth, the year after +14.7% +11.4% -4.4%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersBABABKNGCOST
Held by institutions 10.1% 92.9% 73.2%
Institutions holding 1,218 1,916 4,210
Change in shares held, QoQ -5.4% -9.6% +5.0%
Institutions buying 555 892 1,921
Institutions selling 421 828 1,705
Buyers to sellers 1.32 1.08 1.13

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

BABABKNGCOST
BABA 1.00 0.08 -0.02
BKNG 0.08 1.00 0.09
COST -0.02 0.09 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, BABA, BKNG and COST?

Costco Wholesale (COST) is the largest by market capitalisation: Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) $232.79B, Booking Holdings (BKNG) $112.81B, Costco Wholesale (COST) $439.78B.

Which stock is cheaper, BABA, BKNG and COST?

Booking Holdings (BKNG) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) 22.1x, Booking Holdings (BKNG) 16.0x, Costco Wholesale (COST) 47.7x). On next year's consensus earnings, Booking Holdings (BKNG) is cheapest (Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) 14.3x, Booking Holdings (BKNG) 13.8x, Costco Wholesale (COST) 46.8x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Booking Holdings (BKNG) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) +8.1%, Booking Holdings (BKNG) +12.9%, Costco Wholesale (COST) +10.1%.

Which company is more profitable?

Booking Holdings (BKNG) has the highest net margin (Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) 7.0%, Booking Holdings (BKNG) 25.5%, Costco Wholesale (COST) 3.0%). On return on invested capital, Booking Holdings (BKNG) leads (Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) 2.4%, Booking Holdings (BKNG) 75.5%, Costco Wholesale (COST) 21.7%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Costco Wholesale (COST) returned the most: Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) -44.1%, Booking Holdings (BKNG) -28.6%, Costco Wholesale (COST) +6.7%. Over five years, Costco Wholesale (COST) compounded fastest (Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) -10.0%/yr, Booking Holdings (BKNG) +9.1%/yr, Costco Wholesale (COST) +15.1%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Booking Holdings (BKNG) has the highest dividend yield: Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) 1.05%, Booking Holdings (BKNG) 1.09%, Costco Wholesale (COST) 0.56%.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, Costco Wholesale (COST) has been the steadiest (Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) 40.3%, Booking Holdings (BKNG) 38.0%, Costco Wholesale (COST) 20.0%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, BABA, BKNG and COST?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, Booking Holdings (BKNG) leads on 7. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.