COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP - MARCH SALES DOWN 1.5% DUE TO REDUCED SHOPPING DAYS
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 08 2026
0mins
Source: moomoo
Sales Performance: Costco's wholesale sales in March were negatively impacted, showing a decline of 1.5%.
Shopping Days: The decrease in sales is attributed to fewer shopping days during the month.
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Analyst Views on COST
Wall Street analysts forecast COST stock price to rise
24 Analyst Rating
19 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1050.450
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
Current: 1050.450
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
About COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco) operates membership warehouses and e-commerce sites that offer a selection of nationally branded and private-label products in a wide range of categories. The Company buys the majority of its merchandise directly from suppliers and route it to cross-docking consolidation points (depots) or directly to its warehouses. It operates 891 warehouses, including 614 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 108 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 35 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. It also operates e-commerce sites in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. The Company provides wide selection of merchandise, plus the convenience of specialty departments and exclusive member services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Stock Fluctuation: Costco (COST) shares fell 1.3% to $1,080 on Friday after six consecutive days of gains, indicating market caution regarding its short-term performance.
- Year-to-Date Performance: So far this year, COST shares have risen over 25%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 8% increase, highlighting its strong position in the retail sector.
- Analyst Ratings: According to Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating, COST holds a 3.4 Hold rating, receiving an A+ for profitability prospects but only a C for growth factors, indicating concerns about its growth potential.
- Market Expectations: Among 22 Wall Street analysts, 12 have rated the stock as Hold and 2 as Sell, reflecting a cautious outlook ahead of the upcoming Q3 earnings report.
See More
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- Significant Sales Growth: Ross Stores reported quarterly sales and earnings exceeding expectations, with same-store sales surging 17%, as CEO James Conroy noted increased transaction volume and customer count across income levels, driving the stock price up over 5.5%.
- Strong Performance from TJX: TJX's first-quarter same-store sales grew by 6%, with CFO John Klinger emphasizing that this growth was driven by a higher average basket and increased customer transactions, indicating robust consumer purchasing power across various demographics, leading to a stock price increase of over 6% on earnings day.
- Declining Consumer Confidence: The latest consumer sentiment survey hit a record low, indicating that consumers are becoming more frugal amid high gas prices and other economic pressures, with Walmart's CFO Rainey noting that customer fuel purchases fell below 10 gallons for the first time, reflecting consumer stress.
- Impact of High Gas Prices on Spending: With gas prices nearing a four-year high at $4.56 per gallon, consumers may further cut discretionary spending, potentially impacting overall economic performance and providing the Fed with room to lower interest rates, reflecting the risks of an economic slowdown.
See More
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- Workday Earnings Beat: Workday reported earnings that exceeded expectations on both revenue and profit, leading to a stock price increase of over 7%, while also raising its full-year margin outlook, indicating the effectiveness of its AI strategy and potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Deckers Sales Growth: Deckers Outdoor reported a 14.5% increase in Hoka sales and a 9.2% increase in Ugg sales, although its stock fell about 2.5%, the company provided full-year guidance above Wall Street expectations, indicating strong market demand.
- Take-Two Stock Rally: Take-Two Interactive shares rose over 3% after reaffirming that Grand Theft Auto VI will be released in November, despite facing multiple delays, this news may restore market confidence in its future revenues.
- Zoom Guidance Raised: Zoom Communication's earnings beat expectations, with a stock price increase of over 7% and an upgraded full-year guidance, leading KeyBanc to raise its rating from sell to hold, reflecting improved profitability and steady market performance.
See More
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- Corporate Refund Applications: Following President Trump's suggestion to monitor companies that do not seek tariff refunds, major U.S. firms like Walmart and Apple have confirmed they are applying for refunds despite potential political risks, indicating a willingness to risk government relations for financial gain.
- Significant Refund Amounts: U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that over $35 billion in refunds have been processed, with the government owing approximately $166 billion overall, providing substantial financial incentives for companies to pursue refunds, especially under current economic pressures to maximize shareholder returns.
- Walmart's Strategy: Walmart's finance chief confirmed the company applied for IEEPA tariff refunds, although expecting minimal impact on overall business; nonetheless, it plans to use any received funds to lower consumer prices, demonstrating a commitment to customer value amid competitive market pressures.
- Apple's Innovation Investment: In response to Trump's comments, Apple has decided to apply for tariff refunds and plans to reinvest any recovered funds into U.S. innovation and advanced manufacturing, reflecting the company's strategy to align with government priorities while addressing market demands and enhancing its competitive edge.
See More
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- Earnings Season Wrap-Up: With over 90% of S&P 500 companies reporting, first-quarter earnings are projected to rise over 28% year-over-year, but as earnings reports conclude, investors are shifting focus to the macroeconomic environment, which may lead to increased market volatility.
- Inflation Concerns Rise: The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield hit its highest level since January 2025 this week, while the 30-year yield reached its highest since 2007, with rapidly rising yields posing headwinds for stocks by pressuring valuations and increasing borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.
- Shifts in Fed Policy Expectations: Futures markets now anticipate a potential rate hike by the Federal Reserve in 2026, reflecting heightened inflation concerns, particularly amid the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war, as officials express growing worries about price spikes potentially necessitating policy changes.
- Retail Performance Focus: Upcoming earnings reports from retailers will be closely watched, especially as elevated gas prices may impact consumer spending, with Walmart's conservative sales and profit targets leading to a stock price decline, indicating market concerns over consumer confidence.
See More
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- Market Turmoil Intensifies: As the Iran war enters its third month, global markets are experiencing increasing turmoil, particularly with 30-year borrowing costs in the U.S. Treasury market hitting their highest levels since 2007 this week, indicating investor concerns over inflationary shocks that could lead to increased government spending and exacerbate debt burdens.
- Turkish Political Uncertainty: Turkey's court effectively ousted main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel, causing a strong market reaction with stocks plunging and the lira hitting a fresh low, as the central bank was forced to sell billions in forex to mitigate economic pressures, highlighting the direct impact of political instability on the economy.
- Inflation Data Watch: The U.S. is set to release its personal consumption expenditures price index on Thursday, a key inflation gauge for the Fed, with recent measures showing high consumer and producer prices due to rising energy costs, which could influence future monetary policy decisions.
- Japanese Monetary Policy Outlook: The Bank of Japan may hike rates for the first time next month, with markets increasingly certain of this move; economists forecast Tokyo's core consumer price index to rise to 1.5%, although government subsidies have muddied the data, yet high oil prices and a weak yen will continue to elevate import costs.
See More
