Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports September Sales Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $19.50 billion for September 2021, marking a 15.8% increase from $16.84 billion in September 2020. Comparable sales across regions were strong, with U.S. sales up 14.6%, Canada 14.9%, and other international regions 12.0%. Excluding gasoline price changes and foreign exchange effects, total company sales rose 9.4%. E-commerce sales grew 10.6%.

Costco operates 817 warehouses globally, including 565 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Positive

• Net sales increased by 15.8% to $19.50 billion for September 2021.
• U.S. comparable sales rose by 14.6%.
• Canadian sales grew by 14.9%.
• International sales increased by 12.0%.
• Total company sales, excluding gasoline prices and foreign exchange impacts, saw a 9.4% rise.
• E-commerce sales grew by 10.6%.

Negative

• None.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Oct. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $19.50 billion for the retail month of September, the five weeks ended October 3, 2021, an increase of 15.8 percent from $16.84 billion last year.

Comparable sales were as follows:

		5 Weeks
		Retail Month
	U.S.	14.6%
	Canada	14.9%
	Other International	12.0%
	Total Company	14.3%
	E-commerce	10.6%

Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows:

		5 Weeks
		Retail Month
	U.S.	10.0%
	Canada	7.3%
	Other International	8.0%
	Total Company	9.4%
	E-commerce	9.6%

Additional discussion of these results is available in a pre-recorded telephone message. It can be accessed by dialing 1-855-859-2056 (conference ID 1340906). This message will be available through 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.

Costco currently operates 817 warehouses, including 565 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 105 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 30 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 16 in Korea, 14 in Taiwan, 13 in Australia, three in Spain, and one each in Iceland, France, and China. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.

Certain statements contained in this document and the pre-recorded telephone 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), energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions (including tariffs), the ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, COVID-19 related factors and challenges, including (among others) the duration of the pandemic, the unknown long-term economic impact, reduced shopping due to illness, travel restrictions or financial hardship, shifts in demand for products, reduced workforces due to illness, quarantine, or government mandates, temporary store closures or operational limitations due to government mandates, or supply-chain disruptions, capacity constraints of third-party logistics suppliers, 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.

CONTACTS:
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Richard Galanti, 425/313-8203
Bob Nelson, 425/313-8255
David Sherwood, 425/313-8239
Josh Dahmen, 425/313-8254

FAQ

What were Costco's net sales for September 2021?

Costco reported net sales of $19.50 billion for September 2021.

How much did Costco's sales increase compared to last year?

Costco's sales increased by 15.8% compared to $16.84 billion last year.

What was the percentage change in U.S. comparable sales for Costco?

U.S. comparable sales increased by 14.6%.

How did Costco's e-commerce sales perform in September 2021?

E-commerce sales increased by 10.6% for Costco in September 2021.

How many warehouses does Costco operate worldwide?

Costco operates a total of 817 warehouses globally.