Got $1,000? 1 Consumer Goods Stock To Buy and Hold for Decades

Source Motley_fool

Key Points

  • An investment in Costco stock 30 years ago would have increased an astounding 157-fold.

  • Its international expansion demonstrates the potential for continued growth beyond the U.S.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale ›

A $1,000 investment in Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) stock in 1995 would be worth $157,000 today, assuming dividends were reinvested to purchase additional shares. That is a rare 100-plus bagger, showing the power of patiently holding shares of quality businesses for a lifetime of compounding returns.

Its expansion in North America largely drove those returns, but it is still in the early innings of international expansion. If you're looking to park extra cash in a solid stock right now, you can't go wrong with Costco over the long term.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

Stock charts with money in the background.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why buy Costco stock

The company's stores in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are expected to account for 85% of its store base by the end of the year. However, Costco is starting to show significant potential for international expansion. Management continues to target locations globally, having recently opened its third location in France, while maintaining low capital investment through creative real estate strategies.

In fiscal 2025, international comparable sales, excluding the impact of gasoline sales, grew 8.2% year over year, compared to 7.3% in the U.S. International sales continued to grow slightly faster than the U.S. in the fiscal first quarter, up 6.8% compared to the U.S. market's 5.9% increase on an adjusted basis. The balanced growth across these markets demonstrates how Costco's discount warehouse model is resonating globally, offering the potential for excellent returns for decades to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Costco Wholesale right now?

Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Costco Wholesale wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $513,353!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,072,908!*

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*Stock Advisor returns as of December 15, 2025

John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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