Press Releases September 2, 2026 04:15 PM

Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports August Sales Results

Costco reports strong August sales growth and solid fiscal year performance with double-digit net sales increases.

By Hana Yamamoto
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COST

Costco Wholesale Corporation announced a 9.9% increase in net sales for August 2026, reaching $23.7 billion, and an 11.3% rise for the fourth quarter, totaling $93.9 billion. For the full fiscal year ending August 30, 2026, net sales increased by 10.2% to $297.3 billion. Comparable sales growth was robust across the U.S., Canada, and international markets, with digitally-enabled sales showing particularly strong increases. The company operates 939 warehouses worldwide and continues to expand its e-commerce presence.

Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports August Sales Results
COST
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Key Points

  • August net sales increased 9.9% year-over-year to $23.7 billion.
  • Fiscal year net sales grew 10.2% to $297.3 billion, highlighting ongoing business expansion.
  • Digitally-enabled sales showed significant growth, increasing over 17% across reporting periods.
  • The company's global footprint includes 939 warehouses and strong e-commerce operations impacting retail and technology sectors.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $23.70 billion for the retail month of August, the four weeks ended August 30, 2026, an increase of 9.9 percent from $21.56 billion last year.

For the 16-week fourth quarter, the Company reported net sales of $93.9 billion, an increase of 11.3 percent compared to net sales of $84.4 billion last year.

For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 30, 2026, the Company reported net sales of $297.3 billion, an increase of 10.2 percent from $269.9 billion last year.

Comparable sales were as follows:

  4 Weeks 16 Weeks 52 Weeks  Retail Month Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year U.S.9.0% 10.7% 8.2% Canada4.0% 5.0% 7.8% Other International9.5% 7.0% 9.8%        Total Company8.4% 9.4% 8.4% 
Digitally-Enabled
17.9% 
19.5% 
20.9%       

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.5.6% 7.2% 6.6% Canada2.8% 4.6% 6.7% Other International6.8% 6.2% 6.5%        Total Company5.4% 6.7% 6.6% 
Digitally-Enabled
17.9% 
19.8% 
20.7%       

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


Risks

  • Economic conditions and inflation could impact consumer spending and profitability.
  • Rising employee costs, including health care and wages, may pressure margins.
  • Geopolitical risks such as tariffs and global conflicts could disrupt supply chains and operations.

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