Considering how the precious metal performed over the previous two years, there is little doubt that Costco’s (NASDAQ: COST) 2023 decision to start selling gold bars has been exceptionally savvy.

Indeed, late 2025 reports indicate the membership-only retail giant has been selling an average of $200 million worth of bars every month for a total of an estimated $2.4 billion in volume for the entire year.

The demand for Costco’s gold is easy to explain, both by the deal offered by the chain and the commodity’s performance in the market.

Specifically, the retail giant charges its buyers an approximately 2% markup – well in line with industry averages – meaning that, at a press time of $5,269 per ounce, one might pay $5,374 for a Costco gold bar.

Such a difference, along with being rather common in the market, is also trivial when one looks at the precious metal’s 12-month price chart. Between late January 2025 and the same period in 2026, gold rallied 92% from $2,763 to $5,269.

This means that a Costco customer would have paid approximately $2,818 for gold worth $5,269 at press time on January 28, 2026, for a total profit of $2,451. 

Additionally, the difference between the potential profits from spot prices and retail prices is trivial, as the profit for the former would come in at the slightly higher $2,506.

Was it better to buy gold bars at Costco or COST stock ahead of February 13 dividends

Elsewhere, the success of Costco’s selling of gold bars has not been accompanied by success for COST stock. 

Specifically, the company’s shares are down only a minor 1.39% in the last 12 months, as they have, through the major volatility that marked the time frame, fallen from $979.88 to $966.25.

The silver lining for COST stock investors, on the other hand, comes in the form of Costco’s next dividend payment. Unlike between 2024 and 2025, when the yield fell nearly 75%, there have been no remarkable changes.

Thus, investors will be receiving $1.30 per share on February 13, 2026.

Featured image via Shutterstock