Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Operating Results for Fiscal 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Costco Wholesale (Nasdaq: COST) reported its third-quarter and year-to-date results for fiscal 2024, ending May 12, 2024.

Net sales for Q3 increased by 9.1% to $57.39 billion, and for the first 36 weeks, they rose by 7.0% to $171.44 billion. Sales were positively influenced by a shift in the fiscal calendar, adding 0.5-1.0% for Q3.

Comparable sales for Q3 were up 6.6% overall, with U.S. sales up 6.2%, Canada 7.7%, and International 7.7%. E-commerce sales surged by 20.7%.

Net income for Q3 was $1.68 billion, or $3.78 per diluted share, compared to $1.30 billion, or $2.93 per diluted share, last year. For the first 36 weeks, net income was $5.01 billion, or $11.27 per diluted share, compared to $4.13 billion, or $9.30 per diluted share, last year.

Costco operates 878 warehouses globally and e-commerce sites in several countries. A conference call to discuss these results is scheduled for May 30, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (PT).

Positive

• Q3 net sales increased by 9.1% to $57.39 billion.
• First 36 weeks sales increased by 7.0% to $171.44 billion.
• Comparable sales for Q3 rose by 6.6%.
• E-commerce sales surged by 20.7% in Q3.
• Net income for Q3 was $1.68 billion, a substantial increase from $1.30 billion last year.
• Net income for the first 36 weeks was $5.01 billion, up from $4.13 billion last year.
• EPS for Q3 was $3.78 per diluted share, up from $2.93 last year.
• EPS for the first 36 weeks was $11.27 per diluted share, compared to $9.30 last year.
• Costco operates 878 warehouses worldwide, indicating strong global presence.
• Positive impact on sales from fiscal calendar shift.

Negative

• Net sales increase partially attributed to fiscal calendar shift, not pure growth.
• Non-recurring charge affecting last year's lower net income skews comparison.
• Excluding gasoline prices and foreign exchange, comparable sales show modest growth.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Costco's third-quarter financial results offer a positive outlook for retail investors. The 9.1% increase in net sales to $57.39 billion suggests robust consumer demand, despite the challenging economic environment. Moreover, the 20.7% growth in e-commerce sales is particularly noteworthy, indicating a successful digital strategy. This is important as online shopping continues to expand. However, it's important to note the impact of the fiscal calendar shift, which inflated the sales figures by about 0.5 to 1.0 percent. This adjustment should be considered when evaluating growth consistency.

The increase in net income to $1.68 billion from $1.30 billion, adjusted for last year's one-time charge, further demonstrates Costco's operational efficiency. This improvement in earnings per share to $3.78 from $2.93 indicates strong profitability, a key metric for investors.

Looking at the year-to-date figures, net sales rose by 7.0%, reaching $171.44 billion and net income grew by 21.3% to $5.01 billion. These results reflect sustained growth and effective cost management.

In summary, Costco's financial health appears robust, with significant growth in both sales and profitability. However, investors should remain aware of external factors, like fluctuating gasoline prices and foreign exchange rates, which can affect future results.

Market Research Analyst

From a market research perspective, Costco's performance in the international markets is particularly compelling. Comparable sales growth in Canada and other international markets outpaced the U.S., with notable figures of 7.7% and 8.5% for the third quarter. This indicates strong global demand for Costco's product offerings and suggests that international expansion strategies are yielding positive results.

The e-commerce growth of 20.7% is another pivotal insight. This substantial increase shows Costco's success in adapting to the digital age, meeting consumer demand for online shopping options. This trend is likely to continue, driven by convenience and a broader product range available online.

Additionally, Costco's extensive warehouse network, with 878 locations worldwide, provides a robust distribution framework that supports its growth. The company's ability to manage and expand this network efficiently is important for sustaining competitive advantage.

Overall, Costco's market position remains strong both domestically and internationally, supported by effective strategies in physical and online retail spaces. This bodes well for its long-term growth prospects.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today announced its operating results for the third quarter (twelve weeks) and the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2024, ended May 12, 2024.

Net sales for the quarter increased 9.1 percent, to $57.39 billion, from $52.60 billion last year. Net sales for the first 36 weeks increased 7.0 percent, to $171.44 billion, from $160.28 billion last year. Net sales were positively impacted by approximately 0.5 to 1.0 percent for the quarter from the shift of the fiscal calendar, as a result of the fifty-third week last year.

The following comparable sales data reflect comparable locations year-over-year and comparable retail weeks.

Comparable sales for the third quarter and first 36 weeks of fiscal 2024 were as follows:

	12 Weeks		12 Weeks		36 Weeks		36 Weeks
			Adjusted*				Adjusted*
U.S.	6.2%		6.0%		4.1%		4.5%
Canada	7.7%		7.4%		7.7%		8.2%
Other International	7.7%		8.5%		9.1%		7.9%
Total Company	6.6%		6.5%		5.3%		5.4%
E-commerce	20.7%		20.7%		14.9%		14.7%

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

Net income for the quarter was $1.68 billion, $3.78 per diluted share. Last year’s third quarter net income was $1.30 billion, $2.93 per diluted share, which included a non-recurring charge to merchandise costs of $298 million pretax, $0.50 per diluted share, primarily for the discontinuation of our charter shipping activities. Net income for the first 36 weeks was $5.01 billion, $11.27 per diluted share, compared to $4.13 billion, $9.30 per diluted share, last year.

Costco currently operates 878 warehouses, including 605 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 108 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 33 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, four 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, May 30, 2024, and is available via a webcast on investor.costco.com (click on “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), energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions (including tariffs), the ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, regulatory and other impacts related to climate change, 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								36 Weeks Ended
	May 12, 2024				May 7, 2023				May 12, 2024				May 7, 2023
REVENUE
Net sales	$	57,392			$	52,604			$	171,440			$	160,280
Membership fees		1,123				1,044				3,316				3,071
Total revenue		58,515				53,648				174,756				163,351
OPERATING EXPENSES
Merchandise costs		51,173				47,175				152,770				143,367
Selling, general and administrative		5,145				4,794				15,743				14,651
Operating income		2,197				1,679				6,243				5,333
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense		(41	)			(36	)			(120	)			(104	)
Interest income and other, net		128				128				504				295
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		2,284				1,771				6,627				5,524
Provision for income taxes		603				469				1,614				1,392
NET INCOME	$	1,681			$	1,302			$	5,013			$	4,132
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic	$	3.79			$	2.94			$	11.29			$	9.31
Diluted	$	3.78			$	2.93			$	11.27			$	9.30
Shares used in calculation (000s):
Basic		443,892				443,814				443,870				443,843
Diluted		444,828				444,360				444,662				444,455

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (amounts in millions, except par value and share data) (unaudited)
Subject to Reclassification
	May 12, 2024				September 3, 2023
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	10,404			$	13,700
Short-term investments		1,095				1,534
Receivables, net		2,583				2,285
Merchandise inventories		17,430				16,651
Other current assets		1,776				1,709
Total current assets		33,288				35,879
OTHER ASSETS
Property and equipment, net		28,062				26,684
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,643				2,713
Other long-term assets		3,918				3,718
TOTAL ASSETS	$	67,911			$	68,994
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	18,844			$	17,483
Accrued salaries and benefits		4,365				4,278
Accrued member rewards		2,339				2,150
Deferred membership fees		2,553				2,337
Current portion of long-term debt		1,077				1,081
Other current liabilities		6,183				6,254
Total current liabilities		35,361				33,583
OTHER LIABILITIES
Long-term debt, excluding current portion		5,834				5,377
Long-term operating lease liabilities		2,386				2,426
Other long-term liabilities		2,559				2,550
TOTAL LIABILITIES		46,140				43,936
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; 443,374,000 and 442,793,000 shares issued and outstanding		2				2
Additional paid-in capital		7,702				7,340
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,922	)			(1,805	)
Retained earnings		15,989				19,521
TOTAL EQUITY		21,771				25,058
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	67,911			$	68,994

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  (amounts in millions) (unaudited)
Subject to Reclassification
	36 Weeks Ended
	May 12, 2024				May 7, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	5,013			$	4,132
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,531				1,389
Non-cash lease expense		220				300
Stock-based compensation		686				643
Impairment of assets and other non-cash operating activities, net		(35	)			441
Changes in working capital		966				438
Net cash provided by operating activities		8,381				7,343
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of short-term investments		(1,007	)			(947	)
Maturities and sales of short-term investments		1,441				594
Additions to property and equipment		(3,133	)			(2,767	)
Other investing activities, net		(7	)			(27	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,706	)			(3,147	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayments of short-term borrowings		(637	)			(698	)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		628				667
Repayments of long-term debt		—				(75	)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		498				—
Tax withholdings on stock-based awards		(313	)			(302	)
Repurchases of common stock		(484	)			(446	)
Cash dividend payments		(8,527	)			(799	)
Financing lease payments		(112	)			(204	)
Other financing activities, net		(1	)			(93	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(8,948	)			(1,950	)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(23	)			44
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(3,296	)			2,290
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BEGINNING OF YEAR		13,700				10,203
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS END OF YEAR	$	10,404			$	12,493

FAQ

What were Costco's net sales for Q3 fiscal 2024?

Costco's net sales for Q3 fiscal 2024 were $57.39 billion, a 9.1% increase from last year.

How much did Costco's e-commerce sales grow in Q3 fiscal 2024?

Costco's e-commerce sales grew by 20.7% in Q3 fiscal 2024.

What was Costco's net income for Q3 fiscal 2024?

Costco's net income for Q3 fiscal 2024 was $1.68 billion, or $3.78 per diluted share.

How many warehouses does Costco operate globally as of May 2024?

As of May 2024, Costco operates 878 warehouses worldwide.

What was the comparable sales growth for Costco in the U.S. during Q3 fiscal 2024?

Comparable sales growth for Costco in the U.S. during Q3 fiscal 2024 was 6.2%.

How did Costco's net sales perform for the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2024?

For the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2024, Costco's net sales increased by 7.0% to $171.44 billion.

What was Costco's EPS for Q3 fiscal 2024?

Costco's EPS for Q3 fiscal 2024 was $3.78 per diluted share.

What was Costco's net income for the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2024?

Costco's net income for the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2024 was $5.01 billion, or $11.27 per diluted share.