Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Costco (COST) reported strong first-quarter fiscal 2025 results with net sales increasing 7.5% to $60.99 billion from $56.72 billion year-over-year. Net income rose to $1,798 million ($4.04 per diluted share) from $1,589 million ($3.58 per diluted share) last year, including a tax benefit of $100 million ($0.22 per share) related to stock-based compensation.

Comparable sales showed positive growth across all regions: U.S. (5.2%), Canada (5.8%), and Other International (4.7%), with adjusted total company growth at 7.1%. E-commerce sales demonstrated robust growth of 13.0%. The company currently operates 897 warehouses globally across 13 countries and maintains e-commerce operations in 8 markets.

Positive

• Net sales increased 7.5% YoY to $60.99 billion
• Net income grew 13.2% YoY to $1,798 million
• E-commerce sales grew 13.0%
• Strong comparable sales growth across all regions
• Expanded global presence with 897 warehouses

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Costco delivered robust Q1 FY2025 results with net sales up 7.5% to $60.99 billion. The adjusted comparable sales growth of 7.1% demonstrates strong operational execution across all regions. E-commerce continues to shine with 13% growth, indicating successful digital transformation efforts. The standout metric is net income reaching $1.798 billion ($4.04 per share), up from $1.589 billion last year, benefiting from a $100 million tax benefit. The company's global expansion continues steadily with 897 warehouses worldwide, showing particular strength in international markets. Margin performance and operational efficiency remain solid, supporting the company's premium valuation in the retail sector. The healthy comparable sales growth in both U.S. and international markets suggests resilient consumer spending and effective pricing strategies.

Market Research Analyst

The results reflect Costco's continued market leadership in the wholesale club sector. The 7.2% adjusted U.S. comparable sales growth outperforms many retail peers, indicating strong market share retention despite inflationary pressures. International performance is particularly noteworthy, with Canada posting 6.7% and other international markets achieving 7.1% growth on an adjusted basis. The 13.2% adjusted e-commerce growth demonstrates successful omnichannel integration and digital adaptation. The expansion in strategic markets like China (7 warehouses) and continued penetration in established markets positions Costco well for sustained growth. Consumer engagement remains high across all regions, validating the company's membership-based business model and value proposition.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today announced its operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (twelve weeks), ended November 24, 2024.

Net sales for the first quarter increased 7.5 percent, to $60.99 billion from $56.72 billion last year.

Comparable sales for the first quarter fiscal 2025 were as follows:

	12 Weeks			12 Weeks
				Adjusted*
U.S.	5.2%			7.2%
Canada	5.8%			6.7%
Other International	4.7%			7.1%
Total Company	5.2%			7.1%
E-commerce	13.0%			13.2%

*Excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange.

Net income for the quarter was $1,798 million, $4.04 per diluted share, compared to $1,589 million, $3.58 per diluted share, last year. This year’s results included a tax benefit of $100 million, $0.22 per diluted share, related to stock-based compensation. Last year’s results included a tax benefit of $44 million, $0.10 per diluted share, also related to stock-based compensation.

Costco currently operates 897 warehouses, including 617 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 109 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 36 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.

A conference call to discuss these results is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (PT) today, December 12, 2024, and is available via a webcast on investor.costco.com (click “Events & Presentations”).

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), 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
	David Sherwood, 425/313-8239
	Josh Dahmen, 425/313-8254
	Andrew Yoon, 425/313-6305

COST-Earn

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)
	12 Weeks Ended
	November 24, 2024				November 26, 2023
REVENUE
Net sales	$	60,985			$	56,717
Membership fees		1,166				1,082
Total revenue		62,151				57,799
OPERATING EXPENSES
Merchandise costs		54,109				50,457
Selling, general and administrative		5,846				5,358
Operating income		2,196				1,984
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense		(37	)			(38	)
Interest income and other, net		147				160
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		2,306				2,106
Provision for income taxes		508				517
NET INCOME	$	1,798			$	1,589
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic	$	4.05			$	3.58
Diluted	$	4.04			$	3.58
Shares used in calculation (000s):
Basic		443,988				443,827
Diluted		444,891				444,403

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in millions, except par value and share data) (unaudited)
Subject to Reclassification
	November 24, 2024				September 1, 2024
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	10,907			$	9,906
Short-term investments		920				1,238
Receivables, net		2,963				2,721
Merchandise inventories		20,979				18,647
Other current assets		1,754				1,734
Total current assets		37,523				34,246
OTHER ASSETS
Property and equipment, net		29,336				29,032
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,539				2,617
Other long-term assets		3,988				3,936
TOTAL ASSETS	$	73,386			$	69,831
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	21,793			$	19,421
Accrued salaries and benefits		4,785				4,794
Accrued member rewards		2,444				2,435
Deferred membership fees		2,683				2,501
Other current liabilities		6,584				6,313
Total current liabilities		38,289				35,464
OTHER LIABILITIES
Long-term debt, excluding current portion		5,745				5,794
Long-term operating lease liabilities		2,288				2,375
Other long-term liabilities		2,613				2,576
TOTAL LIABILITIES		48,935				46,209
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; 443,942,000 and 443,126,000 shares issued and outstanding		2				2
Additional paid-in capital		7,901				7,829
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,152	)			(1,828	)
Retained earnings		18,700				17,619
TOTAL EQUITY		24,451				23,622
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	73,386			$	69,831

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in millions) (unaudited)
Subject to Reclassification
	12 Weeks Ended
	November 24, 2024				November 26, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	1,798			$	1,589
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		548				501
Non-cash lease expense		72				74
Stock-based compensation		463				444
Other non-cash operating activities, net		(72	)			43
Changes in working capital		451				2,000
Net cash provided by operating activities		3,260				4,651
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of short-term investments		(247	)			(200	)
Maturities and sales of short-term investments		541				878
Additions to property and equipment		(1,264	)			(1,040	)
Other investing activities, net		(15	)			(4	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(985	)			(366	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayments of short-term borrowings		(194	)			(173	)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		133				144
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—				498
Tax withholdings on stock-based awards		(389	)			(292	)
Repurchases of common stock		(207	)			(162	)
Cash dividend payments		(515	)			(905	)
Financing lease payments and other financing activities, net		(21	)			(84	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(1,193	)			(974	)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(81	)			—
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		1,001				3,311
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BEGINNING OF YEAR		9,906				13,700
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS END OF YEAR	$	10,907			$	17,011

FAQ

What was Costco's (COST) earnings per share in Q1 2025?

Costco reported earnings of $4.04 per diluted share in Q1 2025, including a $0.22 per share tax benefit related to stock-based compensation.

How much did Costco's (COST) e-commerce sales grow in Q1 2025?

Costco's e-commerce sales grew by 13.0% in Q1 2025, with an adjusted growth of 13.2% excluding gasoline and foreign exchange impacts.

What was Costco's (COST) total revenue in Q1 fiscal 2025?

Costco's net sales for Q1 fiscal 2025 were $60.99 billion, up 7.5% from $56.72 billion in the same period last year.

How many warehouses does Costco (COST) operate globally as of Q1 2025?

Costco operates 897 warehouses across 13 countries, including 617 in the United States and Puerto Rico.

What were Costco's (COST) comparable sales growth rates by region in Q1 2025?

Costco's comparable sales growth was 5.2% in the U.S., 5.8% in Canada, and 4.7% in Other International markets.