Costco vs M2 Money Supply
Since 1986, Costco has shown a nominal return of +8,954.0%, while M2 money supply has grown by +745.2%. When adjusted for M2 money supply expansion, Costco's real return is +971.2%.
Key Insights
Costco has returned +8,954.0% nominally since 1986, but only +971.2% when adjusted for M2 money supply expansion. This means approximately 89.2% of Costco's price appreciation is due to monetary expansion rather than real value growth.
Performance Summary
Period: July 14, 1986 to November 3, 2025
What This Means
Costco has significantly outperformed M2 money supply expansion, indicating strong real value appreciation. This suggests the asset has generated genuine wealth beyond what can be explained by monetary expansion alone.
Adjusting stock performance for M2 money supply expansion reveals how much of price appreciation is due to monetary policy versus real value growth. This perspective helps investors understand whether an asset is generating genuine wealth or simply keeping pace with money supply growth.