Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco Wholesale (COST) shares moved marginally today as investors balanced strong membership retention against a high valuation multiple. The stock currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 52.4, significantly above the broader Consumer Staples sector average. This premium reflects the company's consistent revenue growth rate of 8.6% year-over-year, supported by robust warehouse traffic and high renewal rates. COST remains positioned near its 52-week high, signaling sustained market confidence in its defensive business model despite macroeconomic headwinds. Within the AlphaScala framework, the company maintains a strong Quality sub-score of 88, driven by superior return on invested capital and stable operating margins. However, the Valuation sub-score remains pressured at 12 due to the elevated earnings multiple relative to historical norms. While top-line expansion remains steady, the market continues to monitor how inflationary pressures on discretionary goods impact the overall basket size per transaction. The company demonstrates resilience, yet the current price point leaves little margin for error regarding future earnings surprises or shifts in consumer spending patterns. Watch for upcoming quarterly membership fee updates and their impact on operating margins in the next fiscal report.

Costco Reports Revenue Growth and Increased Net Income for Second Quarter 2026

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported financial results for the 12-week and 24-week periods ended February 15, 2026. For the 12-week quarter, total revenue reached $69.597 billion, compared to $63.723 billion in the same period of the prior year. Net income for the quarter was $2.035 billion, or $4.58 per diluted share, up from $1.788 billion, or $4.02 per diluted share, in the prior year period. For the 24-week period, total revenue was $136.904 billion, with net income of $4.036 billion, or $9.08 per diluted share. Merchandise costs for the 12-week period rose to $60.719 billion from $55.744 billion in the prior year. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $6.272 billion from $5.663 billion. As of February 15, 2026, the company held $17.383 billion in cash and cash equivalents, an increase from $14.161 billion at the end of the previous fiscal year. Total equity grew to $32.087 billion from $29.164 billion over the same period. The company declared cash dividends and continued share repurchases during the quarter.

Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Financial and Sales Results

Costco Wholesale Corporation filed an 8-K on March 5, 2026, to formally announce its financial performance for the second quarter of fiscal 2026. The filing confirms the release of operating results covering the twelve-week period and the first 24 weeks of the fiscal year, both ending February 15, 2026. Additionally, the company provided sales data for the four-week period ending March 1, 2026. The report includes the official press release and a supplemental earnings document as exhibits. The filing was signed by Gary Millerchip, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports Results of 2026 Annual Meeting and Dividend Declaration

Costco Wholesale Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on January 15, 2026. A total of 352,303,581 shares were voted out of 443,957,682 shares entitled to vote. Shareholders successfully elected all ten director nominees to the Board of Directors to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting. The nominees included Susan L. Decker, Kenneth D. Denman, Helena B. Foulkes, Hamilton E. James, Sally Jewell, Jeffrey S. Raikes, Gina M. Raimondo, John W. Stanton, Ron M. Vachris, and Maggie Wilderotter. In addition to the election of directors, shareholders ratified the selection of KPMG LLP as the company's independent auditors for fiscal year 2026. The advisory vote on executive compensation for fiscal year 2025 was also approved. A shareholder proposal requesting a greenwashing risk audit was presented to the meeting but was rejected by a significant margin, with 279,690,631 votes against the proposal compared to 4,058,782 votes in favor. Separately, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share of common stock. The dividend is scheduled for payment on February 13, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 30, 2026.

Costco Reports Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Net Income of $2.0 Billion

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported financial results for the 12-week period ended November 23, 2025. The company generated total revenue of $67.3 billion, an increase from $62.2 billion in the same period of the prior year. Net sales accounted for $66.0 billion of the total revenue, while membership fees contributed $1.3 billion. Net income for the quarter was $2.0 billion, or $4.50 per diluted share, compared to $1.8 billion, or $4.04 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Operating income rose to $2.5 billion from $2.2 billion year-over-year. As of November 23, 2025, Costco operated 921 warehouses worldwide, including 633 in the United States. The company ended the quarter with $16.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents, up from $14.2 billion at the end of the previous fiscal year. Operating activities provided $4.7 billion in cash, driven by strong sales and accounts payable management, while capital expenditures for property and equipment totaled $1.5 billion. The company declared cash dividends and continued share repurchases during the quarter.

Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports Financial Results for First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026

Costco Wholesale Corporation filed an 8-K on December 11, 2025, to formally report its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The reporting period covers the twelve weeks ended November 23, 2025. The filing serves as a notification that the company has issued a press release detailing its operating performance for this period. In addition to the primary press release, Costco provided a supplemental information document to offer further clarity on the quarterly results. The filing was signed by Gary Millerchip, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The company did not disclose specific financial metrics within the body of the 8-K itself, instead directing stakeholders to the attached exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 for the full breakdown of revenue, earnings, and operational data.