Costco vs Target: Founders, CEOs and History
Costco was founded in 1983 by James D. Sinegal, Jeffrey H. Brotman and is led by Ron Vachris. Target was founded in 1902 by George Dayton and is led by Michael Fiddelke.
Company facts
Founders
Costco
James D. Sinegal
Costco Wholesale possesses a unique founding story, emerging from the hyper-competitive retail environment of the Pacific Northwest and built upon a foundational realization about consumer psychology.
Jeffrey H. Brotman
Jeffrey H. Brotman co-founded Costco in 1983 and served for decades as chairman and a guiding board presence.
Target
George Dayton
George Draper Dayton became a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company, one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, in 1902, and became sole owner and president within a year, renaming it the Dayton Dry Goods Company.
CEOs and their tenures
Costco
- James D. Sinegal1983–2011
CEO
Co-founder who set Costco's low-markup, limited-SKU, employee-first operating code.
Source - Craig Jelinek2012–2023
CEO
CEO who scaled Costco globally and added digital and delivery options without changing the model.
Source - Ron Vachris2024–present
CEO
Current President and CEO; a Costco lifer who started as a Price Club forklift driver in 1982.
Source
Target
- Brian Cornell2014–2026
Former Chairman and CEO
Cornell's tenure ended amid a stock and sales slump, with revenue declining for three consecutive fiscal years (from $107.412 billion in FY2023 to $104.780 billion in FY2025) even as the omnichannel infrastructure he built began paying off in the following qua…
Source - Michael Fiddelke2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Fiddelke inherited a company coming off three straight years of revenue decline. His first two quarters as CEO delivered growth: Q1 FY2026 net sales rose 6.7% and Q2 FY2026 net sales rose 5.3% to $26.5 billion, with comparable traffic up 3.6%.
Source
Timeline: Costco and Target side by side
1902Target
Dayton Company is founded
George Dayton becomes a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902, then sole owner in 1903, renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company -- the business that eventually becomes Target Corporation.
1962Target
First Target store opens
The first Target discount store opens in Roseville, Minnesota.
1983Costco
First Costco Warehouse Opens in Seattle
James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle in September 1983. The store gave the new company a direct test of the membership warehouse idea: fewer choices, bulk sizes, lower markups, and fast inventory movement.
1985Costco
First Canadian Warehouse and Public Listing
Costco opened its first Canadian warehouse in Burnaby, British Columbia, and offered public stock in December 1985. The year mattered because the young chain proved it could expand beyond its original U.S.
1993Costco
Price Club Merger Creates PriceCostco
Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, creating PriceCostco. Costco says the combined company had 206 locations and $16B in annual sales, which gave the warehouse-club model broader geographic reach and stronger supplier use.
1995Costco
Kirkland Signature and Gasoline Become Growth Tools
Kirkland Signature was introduced in 1995, the same year Costco opened its first gas station in Tucson, Arizona. Together, private label and fuel strengthened the member cost advantage by adding visible savings beyond ordinary grocery and general merchandise.
1997Costco
Executive Membership Is Introduced
Executive Membership launched in 1997, adding a higher-value tier for members who spend more. The tier later became central to renewal economics; in FY2025 Executive members represented 73.6% of worldwide net sales.
1998Costco
Costco.com Brings the Model Online
Costco launched e-commerce at Costco.com in 1998. The move mattered because it gave members online access to selected products and services while keeping the digital business narrower than a marketplace model.
1999Costco
Name Changes to Costco Wholesale Corporation
After the PriceCostco and Costco Companies periods, the company adopted the Costco Wholesale Corporation name on August 30, 1999. The change gave the public company the corporate identity it still uses today.
2000Target
Company becomes Target Corporation
Dayton Hudson changes its name to Target Corporation as the discount chain becomes the center of the company.
2013Target
Target Data Breach
Target discloses a data breach affecting more than 40 million customer payment cards during the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the most-cited cybersecurity failures in US retail history.
2014Target
Dermstore Acquired
Target acquires online beauty retailer Dermstore to expand its e-commerce beauty business; it sells the unit to THG for $350 million in 2021.
2017Target
Target acquires Shipt and Grand Junction
Target acquires same-day delivery platform Shipt for about $550 million and transportation-technology startup Grand Junction, accelerating omnichannel fulfillment.
2020Costco
Innovel Acquisition Adds Last-Mile Capacity
Costco acquired Innovel Solutions in 2020 for $1B to strengthen delivery and installation for large and bulky items. The deal mattered because e-commerce growth in appliances, furniture, and similar categories depends on execution after checkout.
2020Target
Stores become fulfillment hubs
Target's store-based fulfillment model becomes central to digital growth during the pandemic period.
2024Costco
Ron Vachris Becomes CEO
Ron Vachris became President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2024, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer.
2025Costco
$275.2B Revenue and 914 Warehouses
Costco reported FY2025 revenue of $275.2B, net income of $8.1B and 914 warehouses at fiscal year-end, the first full year after the September 2024 membership fee increase.
2025Target
Michael Fiddelke named next CEO
Target announces that Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO effective February 1, 2026, after 22 years rising through the company including as CFO and COO.
2026Costco
$303.2B Revenue and 939 Warehouses
Costco reported FY2026 total revenue of $303.2B and net income of $9.23B, with 84.1M paid members and a 92.3% U.S. and Canada renewal rate. It also received its first IEEPA tariff refunds in Q4.
2026Target
FY2025 revenue is reported
Target reports FY2025 revenue of $104.780B and net income of $3.705B, the third consecutive year of revenue decline.
2026Target
Q1 FY2026 sales rebound
Target reports Q1 FY2026 net sales growth of 6.7% and comparable sales growth of 5.6% under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
2026Target
Q2 FY2026 growth and raised outlook
Target reports Q2 FY2026 net sales of $26.5B (+5.3%), comparable sales growth of 3.8% and raises full-year guidance to about 5% sales growth.
Acquisitions
Questions about Costco vs Target
Who is the CEO of Costco Wholesale Corporation and Target Corporation?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is led by Ron Vachris and Target Corporation is led by Michael Fiddelke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Costco Wholesale Corporation founded vs Target Corporation?
Target Corporation was founded in 1902 — 81 years before Costco Wholesale Corporation, which was founded in 1983. Target Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Costco Wholesale Corporation.
How many employees does Costco Wholesale Corporation have compared to Target Corporation?
Costco Wholesale Corporation employs approximately 341,000 people, while Target Corporation employs approximately 415,000. Target Corporation has the larger workforce at 415,000 employees, compared to Costco Wholesale Corporation's 341,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Costco Wholesale Corporation and Target Corporation headquartered?
Both Costco Wholesale Corporation and Target Corporation are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Costco Wholesale Corporation and Target Corporation?
Costco Wholesale Corporation was founded by James D. Sinegal, Jeffrey H. Brotman. Target Corporation was founded by George Dayton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Costco Wholesale Corporation or Target Corporation?
Target Corporation has been operating for approximately 124 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Costco Wholesale Corporation has been in operation for around 43 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Costco vs Target overview