Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST)
NASDAQ:COST
Want to see COST full AI Analyst Report?
Earnings Data
Report Date
Sep 24, 2026After Close (Confirmed)
Period Ending
2026 (Q4)Consensus EPS Forecast
6.55Last Year’s EPS
5.87Same Quarter Last Year
Moderate Buy
Based on 24 Analysts Ratings
Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call highlighted strong top‑line growth (net sales +11.6%, comps +9.8%), robust digital momentum (digital comps +21.5%, site/app traffic +37%), record gas volumes and solid membership metrics (membership income +10.7%, executive memberships +9.6%), supported by continued investment in warehouses, digital and same‑day delivery. Headwinds included gross margin pressure driven by mix and strategic price investments, near‑term inflation risks (notably gas and resin‑driven nonfood inflation), moderated membership growth rate (4.1%) and some one‑time SG&A offsets (healthcare, legal). Many of the negative items were framed as strategic or cyclical (e.g., temporary margin investments to drive traffic, lapping LIFO charges) and management emphasized strong demand, stability in supply chain, and long‑term growth initiatives (real estate pipeline, retail media, AI). Overall, the positives on sales, digital acceleration, membership health and record volumes materially outweigh the transitory and managed challenges discussed on the call.Company Guidance
Net Income and EPS Growth
Net income of $2.19 billion in Q3 (12 weeks ended May 10), up 15% year-over-year; diluted EPS $4.93 vs $4.28 last year (up 15%).
Strong Top-Line Performance
Net sales of $69.2 billion, an increase of 11.6% year-over-year; comparable sales up 9.8% (6.6% after adjusting for gas price inflation and FX).
Robust Digital and E‑commerce Growth
Digitally enabled comparable sales up 21.5% (20.8% FX‑adjusted); site and app traffic up 37%; personalized recommendation carousels contributed nearly $5 billion of e‑commerce sales and delivered 3x typical conversion rates.
Record Gas Volumes and Ancillary Strength
Record-breaking gas volume weeks during the quarter; gas comparable sales in the positive high‑20s driven by higher price per gallon and volume acceleration; ancillary businesses comp sales up in the mid‑20s with pharmacy leading and gaining market share (benefitting from GLP‑1 demand and inclusion of Wegovy/Ozempic).
Membership Metrics and Retention
Membership fee income $1.37 billion, up 10.7% (9.9% FX‑adjusted); total paid members 82.9 million (+4.1% YoY); paid executive memberships 41.2 million (+9.6% YoY); US & Canada renewal rate 92.2% (up 10 bps).
Traffic and Ticket Growth
Worldwide shopping frequency (traffic) increased 2.4%; average transaction/ticket up 7.3% worldwide and 4.2% excluding gas price inflation and FX.
Investments and Capacity Expansion
Opened 4 net new warehouses in the quarter (total warehouses 928); company expects ~26 net new openings in FY26 and is targeting 30+ openings per year going forward; Q3 CapEx $1.41 billion and FY26 CapEx estimated at ~$6.5 billion to support new builds, remodels, depots, manufacturing and digital.
Operational and SG&A Efficiency
Reported SG&A rate improved by 20 basis points to 8.96% (better year‑over‑year), with operations productivity gains partly offset by higher healthcare costs; interest expense modestly lower at $32 million while interest income rose to $130 million.
Strategic Pricing and Member Value Actions
Company executed targeted price reductions on multiple Kirkland Signature SKUs (examples: KS Crispy Wings $16.99→$14.99; KS king-size sheets $89.99→$79.99) and began filing Section 301 tariff refund claims with intent to return portion of refunds to members.
Digital Experience and Same‑Day Delivery
Same‑day delivery rolled out in Spain and France; average same‑day delivery time in the U.S. under 45 minutes with member satisfaction 4.8/5; early AI search traffic grew triple digits in Q3 with the highest conversion rate of traffic sources.
COST Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed
COST Earnings-Related Price Changes
Report Date | Price 1 Day Before | Price 1 Day After | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
May 28, 2026 | $995.20 | $956.32 | -3.91% |
Mar 05, 2026 | $981.15 | $996.65 | +1.58% |
Dec 11, 2025 | $881.99 | $881.98 | >-0.01% |
Sep 25, 2025 | $939.33 | $912.08 | -2.90% |
Earnings announcements can affect a stock’s price. This table shows the stock's price the day before and the day after recent earnings reports, including the percentage change.
FAQ
When does Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) report earnings?
Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) is schdueled to report earning on Sep 24, 2026, After Close (Confirmed).
What is Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) earnings time?
Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) earnings time is at Sep 24, 2026, After Close (Confirmed).
Where can I see when companies are reporting earnings?
You can see which companies are reporting today on our designated earnings calendar.
What companies are reporting earnings today?
You can see a list of the companies which are reporting today on TipRanks earnings calendar.
What is COST EPS forecast?
COST EPS forecast for the fiscal quarter 2026 (Q4) is 6.55.
