TLDR
- Costco stock dips as Q3 net sales climb 11.6% to $69.15B
- Costco digital sales rise above 20% despite weak COST stock action
- COST slips after Q3 report shows strong earnings and sales growth
- Costco posts $2.19B Q3 profit as warehouse sales stay firm
- Costco Q3 results show broad sales growth across key regions
Costco Wholesale (COST) stock slipped during regular trading even as the retailer reported stronger quarterly sales and profit. COST closed at $995.20, down 0.85%, before edging higher overnight to $995.67. The move followed a weak intraday slide from above $1,010, while the company posted firm Q3 growth.
Costco Wholesale Corporation, COST
Costco Q3 Net Sales Reach $69.15 Billion
Costco reported net sales of $69.15 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2026. The figure marked an 11.6% increase from $61.96 billion in the same period last year. The quarter covered twelve weeks and ended on May 10, 2026.
For the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026, net sales rose to $203.37 billion. That compared with $185.48 billion in the prior-year period. Therefore, Costco recorded 9.6% sales growth across the longer reporting period.
The company also posted higher earnings during the quarter. Net income reached $2.19 billion, or $4.93 per diluted share. That compared with $1.90 billion, or $4.28 per diluted share, one year earlier.
Comparable Sales Show Broad Regional Growth
Comparable sales increased 9.8% across the total company during the third quarter. Adjusted comparable sales, excluding gasoline prices and foreign exchange, rose 6.6%. This showed continued store traffic strength across Costco’s major regions.
In the United States, comparable sales grew 9.4% during the quarter. Adjusted U.S. comparable sales increased 6.8%, while Canada posted 10.7% reported growth. Other international markets added 11.2%, supported by steady demand outside North America.
For the first 36 weeks, total comparable sales rose 7.9%. Adjusted comparable sales increased 6.6% over the same period. Besides, Canada and international markets continued to support Costco’s broader sales base.
Digital Sales Growth Tops 20% as Warehouse Network Expands
Costco’s digitally enabled sales remained one of the strongest parts of the report. The segment grew 21.5% in the third quarter. Adjusted digitally enabled sales rose 20.8%, keeping online growth above the 20% mark.
For the first 36 weeks, digitally enabled sales climbed 21.6%. Adjusted digital sales increased 21.1%, showing continued momentum across Costco’s online channels. The growth also supported the company’s wider retail model as customer habits kept shifting.
Costco currently operates 931 warehouses across global markets. Its network includes 639 locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, plus 115 in Canada. The company also runs e-commerce sites across major markets, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea and China.
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