That said, each has unique payout characteristics, as Walmart is aDividend King, having increased its payout for 50 or more consecutive years. In addition to its quarterly dividend payouts, Costco has paid a special dividend every few years. I like both Walmart and Costco as investments, and Costco is alluring because of its special dividend payout. That creates a guessing game about when the compoany might pay one, which is why the special dividend payout shouldn't be the sole reason why someone should consider investing in Costco. In comparison, as a Dividend King that has increased its dividend payout for 53 consecutive years, Walmart offers greater reliability and consistency for income.