COST · Nasdaq
Consumer Staples · Consumer Staples Retail
$996.08
+1.36%
Close on Oct 29, 2026
Research data through 2026-10-28
Long-term research evidence only. No price targets, no trading signals, no recommendations.
Free research · no account required
Research data through Oct 28, 2026. Research is updated periodically, not in real time.
69
of 100 · stored research reading
Stored Quality research reads 69 of 100, an above-average reading in the covered universe. Some underlying measurements are stronger than others.
Quality research measures durability of the business itself from stored fundamentals: balance-sheet strength, profitability consistency and cash generation. It is a research reading, not a prediction of future returns.
How this is measured68
of 100 · stored research reading
Stored Fundamental Momentum research reads 68 of 100. Stored measurements classify recent reported fundamentals as accelerating. This describes reported financial change already disclosed, with no forward-looking claim.
Fundamental Momentum research measures the direction of recently reported company fundamentals compared with the company's own history. It describes reported change, not future price movement.
How this is measured50
of 100 · stored research reading
Stored Capital Returns research reads 50 of 100, recorded as moderate. Stored records show 13 consecutive years of dividend payments. Share count has increased at about 0.0% a year in the stored window.
Capital Returns research measures how a company has actually returned cash to shareholders: dividend record, buyback effectiveness, dilution control and how those payments were funded.
How this is measuredStored ratios recorded at the last research date (2026-10-13). Valuation Intelligence remains research context and is not a validated allocation signal.
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Explore other companies in this industry. These are objective industry neighbours, not suggested alternatives.
Pro Investor Academy continuously applies its research rules across the eligible universe and surfaces a small number of investments for deeper research when they qualify.
Research Collections
This company does not currently satisfy any collection rule. That is a stored research result, not a judgement about the business.
Browse collectionsPlain-English definitions, with the formula and the limitations of each measure.
In the company’s own words
Costco Wholesale Corporation and its subsidiaries (Costco or the Company) began operations in 1983, in Seattle, Washington. We are principally engaged in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States (U.S.) and Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand. Costco operated 914, 890, and 861 warehouses worldwide at August 31, 2025, September 1, 2024, and September 3, 2023. The Company operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, under the symbol "COST."
We report on a 52/53-week fiscal year, consisting of thirteen four-week periods and ending on the Sunday nearest the end of August. The first three quarters consist of three periods each, and the fourth quarter consists of four periods (five weeks in the thirteenth period in a 53-week year). The material seasonal impact in our operations is increased net sales and earnings during the winter holiday season. References to 2025 and 2024 relate to the 52-week fiscal years ended August 31, 2025, and September 1, 2024. References to 2023 relate to the 53-week fiscal year ended September 3, 2023.
We operate membership warehouses and e-commerce sites based on the concept that offering low prices on a limited selection of nationally-branded and private-label products in a wide range of categories will produce high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover. When combined with the operating efficiencies achieved by volume purchasing, efficient distribution and reduced handling of merchandise in no-frills, self-service warehouse facilities, these volumes and turnover enable us to operate profitably at significantly lower gross margins (net sales less merchandise costs) than most other retailers. We often sell inventory before we are required to pay for it, even while taking advantage of early payment discounts.
We buy most of our merchandise directly from suppliers and route it to cross-docking consolidation points (depots) or directly to our warehouses. Our depots receive large shipments from suppliers and quickly ship these goods to warehouses. This process creates freight volume and handling efficiencies, lowering
Quoted from the business section of this company’s 10-K filed October 8, 2025. Read the filing
General research only. Not personalized advice. Public filings may be delayed, amended, incomplete, or reflect positions that have changed since the reporting date.
