Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports May Sales Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported strong sales performance for May 2025, with net sales reaching $20.97 billion, a 6.8% increase from the previous year. The company's year-to-date net sales for the first 39 weeks grew 8.0% to $201.02 billion. Total company comparable sales rose 4.3% for the 4-week period and 5.8% for the 39-week period. E-commerce showed remarkable growth with comparable sales increasing 11.6% for May and 15.8% year-to-date. Excluding impacts from gasoline prices and foreign exchange, total company comparable sales were even stronger at 6.0% for the month and 7.9% for the 39-week period. Costco continues to maintain a strong global presence with 905 warehouses across 13 countries and e-commerce operations in 8 markets.

Positive

• Net sales increased 6.8% to $20.97 billion for May 2025
• Year-to-date net sales grew 8.0% to $201.02 billion
• E-commerce sales showed strong growth of 11.6% in May
• Core sales growth (excluding gas and forex) was robust at 6.0% for May
• Global expansion continues with 905 warehouses across 13 countries

Negative

• U.S. comparable sales growth of 4.1% was lower than other regions for May
• Canadian comparable sales showed slower growth at 3.3% for the month

Insights

Retail Industry Financial Analyst

Costco posts solid 6.8% May sales growth with e-commerce surging 11.6%, showing continued strength across all regions.

Costco has reported $20.97 billion in net sales for May 2025, representing a 6.8% year-over-year increase. This continues the company's strong performance for the fiscal year, with year-to-date sales reaching $201.02 billion, up 8.0% from the previous year.

Diving into the comparable sales metrics, the company achieved 4.3% growth overall for the month. When excluding the impacts of gasoline prices and foreign exchange fluctuations – which provides a clearer picture of core merchandise performance – comparable sales were even stronger at 6.0%.

The standout performer remains e-commerce, with 11.6% growth (12.0% excluding gas/forex effects). This digital acceleration continues to outpace brick-and-mortar growth and demonstrates Costco's successful omnichannel strategy in an increasingly digital retail landscape.

Geographically, international markets showed particular strength in May with 6.6% comparable sales growth (8.4% excluding gas/forex). This outpaced both U.S. (4.1%) and Canadian (3.3%) growth rates, suggesting momentum in Costco's international expansion strategy across its 281 international warehouses.

The year-to-date performance of 5.8% comparable sales growth (7.9% excluding gas/forex) indicates Costco continues to execute effectively in a challenging retail environment. With 905 warehouses globally and e-commerce operations in eight countries, the company maintains its position as a retail leader with consistent growth across all channels and regions.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $20.97 billion for the retail month of May, the four weeks ended June 1, 2025, an increase of 6.8 percent from $19.64 billion last year.

Net sales for the first 39 weeks were $201.02 billion, an increase of 8.0 percent from $186.07 billion last year.

Comparable sales for the periods ended June 1, 2025, were as follows:

	4 Weeks		39 Weeks
U.S.	4.1%		6.5%
Canada	3.3%		4.4%
Other International	6.6%		3.4%
Total Company	4.3%		5.8%
E-commerce	11.6%		15.8%

Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows:

	4 Weeks		39 Weeks
U.S.	5.5%		7.7%
Canada	6.3%		8.2%
Other International	8.4%		8.6%
Total Company	6.0%		7.9%
E-commerce	12.0%		16.6%

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, June 11, 2025.

Costco currently operates 905 warehouses, including 624 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 109 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 19 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.

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), 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

COST-Sales

FAQ

What was Costco's (COST) total sales growth in May 2025?

Costco's net sales grew 6.8% to $20.97 billion in May 2025 compared to the previous year.

How many warehouses does Costco operate globally in 2025?

Costco operates 905 warehouses across 13 countries, including 624 in the United States and Puerto Rico.

What was Costco's e-commerce growth in May 2025?

Costco's e-commerce sales increased by 11.6% in May 2025, or 12.0% excluding gasoline prices and foreign exchange impacts.

How much were Costco's year-to-date sales for 2025?

Costco's net sales for the first 39 weeks of 2025 were $201.02 billion, an increase of 8.0% from the previous year.

What was Costco's comparable sales growth excluding gas prices and foreign exchange?

Costco's total company comparable sales excluding gas prices and foreign exchange increased 6.0% for May 2025 and 7.9% for the 39-week period.