COVID-19 has devastated people and companies across the board. Consumer staples companies like Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Costco (NASDAQ: COST) have served as one of the few bright spots during these difficult times.
This is not only because they escaped the forced closures that stores such as Kohl's and Macy's have faced. Demand for key staples has also emptied many of their shelves. Consequently, Walmart and Costco have adjusted their hours and gone on unprecedented hiring sprees to keep items stocked.
Walmart stock has increased fractionally year-to-date, and while Costco stock has declined slightly, it has dramatically outperformed the S&P 500. However, while the popularity of consumer staples will act as a stabilizing force for both retailers, making a choice between these stocks likely comes down to factors unrelated to coronavirus.
Source Fool.com