Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports August Sales Results
Costco posts double-digit growth in fourth-quarter and full-year net sales, with digitally-enabled comparable sales rising about 20% across all reported periods.
Rhea-AI Summary
Costco Wholesale (COST) reported August 2026 net sales of $23.70 billion for the four weeks ended August 30, up 9.9% from $21.56 billion a year earlier.
Net sales for the 16‑week fourth quarter were $93.9 billion, an 11.3% increase from $84.4 billion. For the 52‑week fiscal year, net sales reached $297.3 billion, up 10.2% from $269.9 billion.
Reported comparable sales rose 8.4% company‑wide for August, 9.4% for the quarter, and 8.4% for the year, with U.S. comps up 9.0%, 10.7%, and 8.2%, respectively. Digitally‑enabled comparable sales increased 17.9% for August, 19.5% for the quarter, and 20.9% for the year. Excluding gasoline price and foreign exchange impacts, total company comparable sales rose 5.4% for August, 6.7% for the quarter, and 6.6% for the year. The later timing of Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada reduced August total and comparable sales growth by slightly under 75 basis points.
Positive
- August net sales $23.70 billion, up 9.9% year over year
- Fourth-quarter net sales $93.9 billion, up 11.3% from $84.4 billion
- Full-year net sales $297.3 billion, up 10.2% from $269.9 billion
- Total company comparable sales up 8.4% for August and full year
- Digitally-enabled comparable sales up 17.9% August, 19.5% quarter, 20.9% year
- U.S. comparable sales up 9.0% August, 10.7% quarter, 8.2% year
Negative
- Later Labor Day timing reduced August total and comparable sales by slightly under 75 bps
- Underlying comparable sales excluding gas and FX at total company 5.4% for August vs reported 8.4%
- Canada comparable sales growth lower than U.S.: 4.0% August and 5.0% quarter
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 05 | July sales report | Positive | +0.8% | Monthly net sales increased 10.7%, with reported comparable sales up 8.9%. |
| Jul 08 | June sales dividend | Positive | -4.2% | June sales rose 10.6%, alongside a quarterly cash dividend of $1.47 per share. |
| Jun 03 | May sales report | Positive | +1.1% | May net sales increased 14.5%, while total comparable sales rose 12.5%. |
| May 28 | Third-quarter earnings | Positive | -3.9% | Third-quarter net sales rose 11.6%, with net income reaching $2.19 billion. |
| May 06 | April sales report | Positive | +1.6% | April net sales increased 13.0%, with total comparable sales up 11.6%. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
COST's recent sales and earnings announcements produced mixed reactions, with three positive and two negative 24-hour moves despite positive reported operating results.
Key Terms
comparable sales financial
foreign exchange financial
u.s. gaap financial
forward-looking statements regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
ISSAQUAH, Wash., Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of
For the 16-week fourth quarter, the Company reported net sales of
For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 30, 2026, the Company reported net sales of
Comparable sales were as follows:
| 4 Weeks | 16 Weeks | 52 Weeks | ||||
| Retail Month | Fourth Quarter | Fiscal Year | ||||
| U.S. | ||||||
| Canada | ||||||
| Other International | ||||||
| Total Company | ||||||
Digitally-Enabled | ||||||
Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows:
| 4 Weeks | 16 Weeks | 52 Weeks | ||||
| Retail Month | Fourth Quarter | Fiscal Year | ||||
| U.S. | ||||||
| Canada | ||||||
| Other International | ||||||
| Total Company | ||||||
Digitally-Enabled | ||||||
Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada will occur one week later this year. The shift negatively impacted August total and comparable sales by a little less than 75 bps.
Additional discussion of these results is available in a pre-recorded message. It can be accessed by visiting investor.costco.com (click on “Events & Presentations”). This message will be available through 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Costco currently operates 939 warehouses, including 647 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, 43 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, three in France, two in Sweden, and one each in Iceland, and New Zealand. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and China.
Certain statements contained in this document and the pre-recorded message constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For these purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, inflation or deflation, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, breaches of security or privacy of member or business information, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, capital spending, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (generally including health-care costs and wages), workforce interruptions, energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions (including tariffs and global conflicts), the ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, regulatory and other impacts related to environmental and social matters, public-health related factors, and other risks identified from time to time in the Company’s public statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law. Comparable sales and comparable sales excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange are intended as supplemental information and are not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
| CONTACTS: | Costco Wholesale Corporation Josh Dahmen, 425/313-8254 Andrew Yoon, 425/313-6305 Bryan Starnes, 425/427-7403 |
COST-Sales
FAQ
What were Costco (COST) net sales for August 2026?
For the retail month of August 2026, the four weeks ended August 30, Costco reported net sales of $23.70 billion, an increase of 9.9% compared with $21.56 billion in the same period last year.
How much did Costco (COST) report in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2026?
For the 16‑week fourth quarter ended August 30, 2026, Costco net sales were $93.9 billion, up 11.3% from $84.4 billion in the prior year fourth quarter.
What were Costco (COST) full-year 2026 net sales and growth rate?
For the 52‑week fiscal year ended August 30, 2026, Costco reported net sales of $297.3 billion, an increase of 10.2% compared with $269.9 billion in the prior fiscal year.
How did Costco (COST) comparable sales perform in August 2026?
For August 2026, total company comparable sales rose 8.4%. By region, U.S. comps increased 9.0%, Canada 4.0%, and Other International 9.5%. Digitally‑enabled comparable sales grew 17.9%.
What were Costco (COST) comparable sales excluding gasoline and foreign exchange?
Excluding impacts from gasoline prices and foreign exchange, total company comparable sales increased 5.4% for August, 6.7% for the 16‑week fourth quarter, and 6.6% for the 52‑week fiscal year.
How fast did Costco (COST) digitally-enabled sales grow in 2026?
Digitally‑enabled comparable sales increased 17.9% for August, 19.5% for the 16‑week fourth quarter, and 20.9% for the 52‑week fiscal year. Excluding gas and foreign exchange, digital comps rose 17.9%, 19.8%, and 20.7%, respectively.
How did the Labor Day timing affect Costco (COST) August 2026 sales results?
Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada falls one week later this year. The company stated this calendar shift negatively impacted August total and comparable sales by slightly less than 75 basis points.