Costco (NASDAQ: COST) posts strong Q3 2026 results with 11.6% sales growth
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Costco Wholesale Corporation reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with net sales rising 11.6% to $69.15 billion from $61.96 billion a year earlier. Total revenue reached $70.53 billion, driven by broad-based comparable sales growth and continued strength in membership.
Net income for the quarter increased to $2.19 billion, or $4.93 per diluted share, up from $1.90 billion, or $4.28 per share. Company-wide comparable sales grew 9.8%, or 6.6% excluding gasoline price and foreign exchange effects, while digitally-enabled comparable sales rose 21.5%. Membership metrics remained robust, with an 89.7% worldwide renewal rate, 92.2% renewal in the U.S. and Canada, and 148.5 million total cardholders.
Positive
- Double-digit growth in revenue and earnings: Quarterly net sales rose 11.6% to $69.15 billion, while net income increased 15.2% to $2.19 billion and diluted EPS reached $4.93, reflecting strong operating performance.
- Strong comparable and digital sales: Total company comparable sales grew 9.8% (6.6% adjusted), and digitally-enabled comparable sales jumped 21.5%, indicating robust demand both in warehouses and online.
- Exceptional membership metrics: Worldwide renewal rate of 89.7%, U.S./Canada renewal of 92.2%, and 10.7% membership income growth underscore a highly sticky and expanding member base.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Costco posted double-digit sales and earnings growth with very strong membership and digital trends.
Costco delivered net sales of $69.15 billion for the quarter, up 11.6% year over year, and total revenue of $70.53 billion. Net income rose to $2.19 billion with diluted EPS of $4.93, up 15.2%.
Comparable sales grew 9.8% for the quarter, or 6.6% after excluding gasoline and foreign exchange impacts, indicating healthy underlying demand across regions. Digitally-enabled comparable sales increased 21.5%, showing rapid growth in online and app-driven activity alongside warehouse traffic gains.
Membership remains a key strength: worldwide renewal rates were 89.7%, U.S./Canada reached 92.2%, and paid memberships were 82.9 million. Membership income grew 10.7%, supporting a recurring revenue base. Future disclosures in company filings may provide additional color on margin sustainability and expansion plans.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 2.02, 9.01
2 items
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Financial
Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Net sales (Q3 2026): $69.15B
Net income (Q3 2026): $2.19B
Diluted EPS (Q3 2026): $4.93
+5 more
8 metrics
Net sales (Q3 2026)
$69.15B
Quarterly net sales, up 11.6% year over year
Net income (Q3 2026)
$2.19B
Quarterly net income; 15.2% growth vs prior year
Diluted EPS (Q3 2026)
$4.93
Earnings per diluted share; up 15.2% year over year
Total revenue (Q3 2026)
$70.53B
Net sales plus membership fees for the quarter
Comparable sales growth
9.8%
Total company Q3 2026 comparable sales growth
Digitally-enabled comp sales
21.5%
Q3 2026 digitally-enabled comparable sales growth
Worldwide renewal rate
89.7%
Membership renewal rate in Q3 2026
Operating cash flow
$11.13B
Net cash provided by operating activities, 36 weeks 2026
Key Terms
comparable sales, digitally-enabled comparable sales, membership renewal rate, LIFO, +2 more
6 terms
comparable sales financial
"Comparable sales for the third quarter and first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026 were as follows"
"Comparable sales" are the total sales from stores or products that have been open for a certain period, usually the same time last year or last quarter. They help show whether a business is growing by comparing similar locations or products over time, much like checking if your favorite store's sales are going up compared to previous years.
digitally-enabled comparable sales financial
"Digitally-Enabled | 21.5% | | 20.8% | | 21.6% | | 21.1%"
membership renewal rate financial
"89.7% Worldwide Membership Renewal Rate"
LIFO financial
"LIFO +14bps +14bps"
An accounting method that assumes the most recently acquired inventory items are sold first, so the newest costs flow into cost of goods sold while older costs stay on the balance sheet. Imagine a stack of boxes where you take from the top; when prices are rising, that top-first approach produces higher reported costs and lower reported profits, which can reduce taxes and change profit margins. Investors watch LIFO because it affects reported earnings, tax liabilities, and how comparable a company’s performance is to peers.
stock-based compensation financial
"Stock-based compensation | 771 | | | 720"
Stock-based compensation is when a company pays employees, directors or consultants with shares or the right to buy shares instead of or in addition to cash. It matters to investors because issuing stock or options spreads ownership thinner (like cutting a pie into more slices), which can reduce each existing share’s claim on profits and can also change reported earnings; investors watch it to assess true cost of running the business and how management is incentivized.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995."
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
Earnings Snapshot
Net sales: $69.15B
Q3 2026
Net sales
$69.15B
+11.6% YoY
Net income
$2.19B
+15.2% YoY
Diluted EPS
$4.93
+15.2% YoY
Comparable sales
9.8%
Total company Q3 2026 comp growth
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 28, 2026
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File No.) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 425 -313-8100
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On May 28, 2026, the Company issued a press release containing its operating results for the third quarter (twelve weeks) and the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026, ended May 10, 2026. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. In addition, a copy of the Company's earnings release supplement for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 is attached as Exhibit 99.2.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
99.1. Press release dated May 28, 2026.
99.2. Third quarter fiscal 2026 supplemental information.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION | |||||||||||
| Dated: May 28, 2026 | By: | /s/ Gary Millerchip | |||||||||
| Gary Millerchip | |||||||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION REPORTS THIRD QUARTER AND YEAR-TO-DATE OPERATING RESULTS FOR FISCAL 2026
ISSAQUAH, Wash., May 28, 2026 - Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today announced its operating results for the third quarter (twelve weeks) and the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026, ended May 10, 2026.
Net sales for the quarter increased 11.6 percent, to $69.15 billion, from $61.96 billion last year. Net sales for the first 36 weeks increased 9.6 percent, to $203.37 billion, from $185.48 billion last year.
Comparable sales for the third quarter and first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026 were as follows:
| 12 Weeks | 12 Weeks | 36 Weeks | 36 Weeks | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted* | Adjusted* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. | 9.4% | 6.8% | 7.1% | 6.4% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Canada | 10.7% | 6.2% | 9.1% | 7.6% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other International | 11.2% | 5.9% | 11.0% | 6.6% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Company | 9.8% | 6.6% | 7.9% | 6.6% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Digitally-Enabled | 21.5% | 20.8% | 21.6% | 21.1% | |||||||||||||||||||
*Excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange.
Net income for the quarter was $2.19 billion, $4.93 per diluted share, compared to $1.90 billion, $4.28 per diluted share, last year. Net income for the first 36 weeks was $6.23 billion, $14.01 per diluted share, compared to $5.49 billion, $12.34 per diluted share, last year.
Costco currently operates 931 warehouses, including 639 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.
A conference call to discuss these results is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (PT) today, May 28, 2026, and is available via a webcast on investor.costco.com (click on “Events & Presentations”).
Press Release
Certain statements contained in this document 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-Earn
Press Release
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)
| 12 Weeks Ended | 36 Weeks Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 10, 2026 | May 11, 2025 | May 10, 2026 | May 11, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| REVENUE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 69,154 | $ | 61,965 | $ | 203,374 | $ | 185,480 | |||||||||||||||
| Membership fees | 1,373 | 1,240 | 4,057 | 3,599 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 70,527 | 63,205 | 207,431 | 189,079 | |||||||||||||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Merchandise costs | 61,519 | 54,996 | 180,748 | 164,849 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 6,193 | 5,679 | 18,799 | 17,188 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 2,815 | 2,530 | 7,884 | 7,042 | |||||||||||||||||||
| OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (32) | (35) | (100) | (108) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income and other, net | 155 | 85 | 458 | 374 | |||||||||||||||||||
| INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 2,938 | 2,580 | 8,242 | 7,308 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 746 | 677 | 2,014 | 1,819 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME | $ | 2,192 | $ | 1,903 | $ | 6,228 | $ | 5,489 | |||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 4.94 | $ | 4.29 | $ | 14.03 | $ | 12.36 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 4.93 | $ | 4.28 | $ | 14.01 | $ | 12.34 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares used in calculation (000s): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 443,923 | 443,958 | 443,943 | 443,976 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 444,430 | 444,762 | 444,455 | 444,846 | |||||||||||||||||||
Press Release
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in millions, except par value and share data) (unaudited)
Subject to Reclassification
| May 10, 2026 | August 31, 2025 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 18,946 | $ | 14,161 | |||||||
| Short-term investments | 1,050 | 1,123 | |||||||||
| Receivables, net | 3,750 | 3,203 | |||||||||
| Merchandise inventories | 19,418 | 18,116 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 2,013 | 1,777 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 45,177 | 38,380 | |||||||||
| OTHER ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 34,293 | 31,909 | |||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 2,747 | 2,725 | |||||||||
| Other long-term assets | 4,213 | 4,085 | |||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 86,430 | $ | 77,099 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 22,363 | $ | 19,783 | |||||||
| Accrued salaries and benefits | 5,218 | 5,205 | |||||||||
| Accrued member rewards | 2,948 | 2,677 | |||||||||
| Deferred membership fees | 3,157 | 2,854 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 8,439 | 6,589 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 42,125 | 37,108 | |||||||||
| OTHER LIABILITIES | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt, excluding current portion | 5,670 | 5,713 | |||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 2,466 | 2,460 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 2,660 | 2,654 | |||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 52,921 | 47,935 | |||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | |||||||||||
| EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Preferred stock $0.005 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||||||
| Common stock $0.005 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 443,514,000 and 443,237,000 shares issued and outstanding | 2 | 2 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 8,683 | 8,282 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,658) | (1,770) | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | 26,482 | 22,650 | |||||||||
| TOTAL EQUITY | 33,509 | 29,164 | |||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 86,430 | $ | 77,099 | |||||||
Press Release
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in millions) (unaudited)
Subject to Reclassification
| 36 Weeks Ended | |||||||||||
| May 10, 2026 | May 11, 2025 | ||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 6,228 | $ | 5,489 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,791 | 1,652 | |||||||||
| Non-cash lease expense | 221 | 208 | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 771 | 720 | |||||||||
| Other non-cash operating activities, net | 36 | (15) | |||||||||
Changes in working capital | 2,086 | 1,414 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 11,133 | 9,468 | |||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Additions to property and equipment | (4,228) | (3,532) | |||||||||
| Purchases of short-term investments | (480) | (573) | |||||||||
| Maturities of short-term investments | 544 | 786 | |||||||||
| Other investing activities, net | 4 | (24) | |||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (4,160) | (3,343) | |||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Repayments of short-term borrowings | (390) | (635) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from short-term borrowings | 459 | 616 | |||||||||
| Repayments of long-term debt | (69) | — | |||||||||
| Tax withholdings on stock-based awards | (361) | (392) | |||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (603) | (623) | |||||||||
| Cash dividend payments | (1,154) | (1,030) | |||||||||
| Financing lease payments and other financing activities, net | (57) | (118) | |||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (2,175) | (2,182) | |||||||||
| EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (13) | (13) | |||||||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 4,785 | 3,930 | |||||||||
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BEGINNING OF YEAR | 14,161 | 9,906 | |||||||||
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS END OF PERIOD | $ | 18,946 | $ | 13,836 | |||||||
Supplemental Information Third Quarter FY 2026 Exhibit 99.2
$69.2B 2 +11.6% Comparable Sales +9.8% Adjusted Comparable Sales1 +6.6% Comparable Traffic +2.4% Comparable Ticket +7.3% Adjusted Comparable Ticket1 +4.2% Digitally-Enabled Comparable Sales +21.5% Adjusted Digitally- Enabled Comparable Sales2 +20.8% Net Sales Growth Sales | Q3 Highlights 1 - Excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange 2 - Excluding impacts from changes in foreign exchange rates
Segment Reporting - Sales | Q3 Highlights 3 Comp Sales US Canada Other International Total Company Sales +9.4% +10.7% +11.2% +9.8% Ticket +7.5% +6.0% +8.1% +7.3% Traffic +1.8% +4.4% +2.9% +2.4% 1 - Excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange Adjusted Comp Sales1 US Canada Other International Total Company Sales +6.8% +6.2% +5.9% +6.6% Ticket +5.0% +1.7% +3.0% +4.2% Traffic +1.8% +4.4% +2.9% +2.4%
4 89.7% Worldwide Membership Renewal Rate 148.5MM Total Cardholders +4.0% Growth 41.2MM Executive Memberships Membership | Q3 Highlights +9.9% Membership Income Growth ex-FX +10.7% Membership Income Growth 92.2% US/CN Renewal Rate 82.9MM Paid Memberships +4.1% Growth 75.0% Penetration of Sales to Executive Members
Financial Performance | Q3 Highlights 5 Gross Margin 11.04% -21 bps vs Q3 FY’25 +1 bps ex. gas impact Reported Ex Gas1 Core -46bps -29bps Other Bus +9bps +14bps LIFO +14bps +14bps Other2 +2bps +2bps Total -21bps +1bp Core on Core Sales: -9 bps Reported Ex Gas1 Ops +12bps -3bps Central +3bps +1bp Equity Comp 0bps -1bp Pre-opening 0bps 0bps Other2 +5bps +5bps Total +20bps +2bps SG&A 8.96% +20 bps vs Q3 FY’25 +2 bps ex. gas impact 1 - Excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices 2 - Related to lapping of the one-time vacation accrual impact from the new employee agreement effective March 2025 + = Favorable/lower, - = Unfavorable/higher Net Income $2.19B +15.2% Growth Diluted EPS $4.93 +15.2% Growth
Digital | Q3 Highlights Top Sales Growth Categories: ● Pharmacy ● Gold & Jewelry ● Home Furnishings ● Tires ● Housewares ● Majors 6 Digitally-Enabled Comparable Sales +21.5% Adjusted Digitally-Enabled Comparable Sales1 +20.8% Digital Enhancements: ● Scaling of push notifications in app to streamline warehouse efficiency ● Mobile cake ordering expansion on Costco app ● Pre-Scan rolling out internationally Ecommerce Site & App Traffic +37% 1 - Excluding impacts from changes in foreign exchange rates
Warehouse Expansion | Q3 Highlights 7 Q4 FY’25 End FY’26 Q1 FY’26 Q2 FY’26 Q3 Rest of FY (Estimated) FY’26 End (Estimated) US 629 4 1 3 11 648 Canada 110 2 2 1 - 115 Other International 175 1 - - 1 177 Total 914 7 3 4 12 940 Liberty Hill, TX: 3/11/26 South St. George, UT: 3/13/26
New Member Values | Q3 Highlights 8 Lowering Everyday Low Prices KS Crispy Wings From $16.99 to $14.99 KS Milk Chocolate Almonds From $19.99 to $18.99 KS Golf Ball From $32.99 to $29.99 KS Sheets King From $89.99 to $79.99 New Items KS Chicken Strip w/Dipping Sauce KS French Roast 120ct Kcups KS Oven Roasted Chicken Dog Food KS Sparkling Energy Drink
Safe Harbor | Q3 Highlights 9 Certain statements contained in this document 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.
FAQ
How did Costco (COST) perform financially in Q3 fiscal 2026?
Costco delivered strong Q3 fiscal 2026 results, with net sales of $69.15 billion, up 11.6% year over year. Total revenue reached $70.53 billion, and net income rose to $2.19 billion, or $4.93 per diluted share, reflecting solid profitability.
What were Costco (COST) comparable sales trends in Q3 fiscal 2026?
Comparable sales at Costco grew 9.8% company-wide in Q3 fiscal 2026. Excluding gasoline price changes and foreign exchange, adjusted comparable sales increased 6.6%, showing broad-based underlying demand across U.S., Canada, and other international markets.
How fast did Costco (COST) earnings grow in Q3 fiscal 2026?
Costco’s earnings grew rapidly in Q3 fiscal 2026, with net income rising 15.2% to $2.19 billion. Diluted earnings per share also climbed 15.2% to $4.93, supported by higher revenue and operating income compared with the prior-year quarter.
How are Costco (COST) membership metrics trending in fiscal 2026?
Costco’s membership metrics are very strong, with a worldwide renewal rate of 89.7% and a 92.2% renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada. Paid memberships reached 82.9 million, while total cardholders were 148.5 million, and membership income grew 10.7%.
What was Costco (COST) digital performance in Q3 fiscal 2026?
Digital channels are growing quickly at Costco. Digitally-enabled comparable sales increased 21.5% in Q3 fiscal 2026, with adjusted digitally-enabled comparable sales up 20.8%, reflecting expanding e-commerce and app usage alongside higher traffic on online platforms.
How much cash did Costco (COST) generate from operations in fiscal 2026 year-to-date?
For the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026, Costco generated $11.13 billion in net cash from operating activities. This compares with $9.47 billion in the same period last year, highlighting strong cash generation from its core warehouse and membership business.
How many warehouses does Costco (COST) operate as of Q3 fiscal 2026?
As of the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Costco operates 931 warehouses worldwide. This includes 639 locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, and additional warehouses across Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, and other countries.