Costco Plans to Open 28 New Stores in 2026, Each Averaging $192 Million in Sales
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 28 2025
0mins
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Significant Membership Growth: Costco's membership base increased by 5.2% year-over-year to 81.4 million, demonstrating its strong customer loyalty and appeal in a competitive retail landscape.
- Sales Continue to Climb: In Q1 2026, Costco reported net sales of $65.98 billion, an 8.2% increase year-over-year, reflecting its ability to achieve stable growth amid economic uncertainty.
- New Store Opening Plans: The company plans to open 28 new stores in fiscal year 2026, which is significant given that newly opened stores averaged $192 million in sales last year, further enhancing its market share and profitability.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: Costco repurchased $2.18 billion of common stock in fiscal year 2025, demonstrating its commitment to shareholders while also laying the groundwork for future dividend growth.
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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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- Financial Sector Dominance: High ratings for Royal Bank of Canada (RY), Bank of Montreal (BMO), and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in upcoming earnings reflect supportive trends in diversified banking, potentially boosting investor confidence in the sector.
- Tech Sector Pressure: While tech names like Autodesk (ADSK) and Synopsys (SNPS) show strength, laggards like Pony AI (PONY) and Alarum Technologies (ALAR) signal ongoing pressure in software segments, suggesting challenges that may affect overall market sentiment.
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See More
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- Shift to Higher-Margin Businesses: Over the past five years, Walmart has transitioned towards higher-margin operations, with advertising revenue reaching $6.4 billion annually, and the expansion of membership and marketplace businesses enhancing overall profitability, as evidenced by a 10.8% increase in adjusted operating income in the fourth quarter, showcasing sustained operational leverage.
- Costco's Membership Model: In the first 24 weeks of fiscal 2026, Costco generated $2.68 billion in membership fee revenue, surpassing merchandise sales operating income by $134.2 billion, highlighting its high renewal rates (over 90%) that transform the business into a subscription-like model, significantly boosting customer retention.
- Market Positioning and Risks: Walmart and Costco address different customer needs, with Walmart serving as a broad-based retailer and Costco as a high-renewal-rate membership wholesaler; while both hold leadership positions in retail, risks remain from international expansion and market competition, particularly in Asia and Europe.
See More
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- Membership Growth Momentum: Costco's membership continues to rise, and despite overcrowding in high-density cities, the company plans to open at least 30 new stores annually to meet demand, thereby enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Innovative Property Development: The construction of its first mixed-use property in Los Angeles, combining apartments with warehouses, is expected to increase foot traffic and help the company expand in high-income areas, alleviating space constraints.
- International Market Expansion: With seven pilot stores in China laying the groundwork for future international growth, Costco's international sales have increased by 13% year-over-year, indicating strong expansion potential despite modest growth in the U.S. market.
- Stock Price Outlook: Although the current price-to-earnings ratio is nearly 56, indicating potential risks due to high stock prices, long-term investors can remain optimistic about Costco's brand value and ongoing growth potential, anticipating favorable stock performance in the future.
See More
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- Economic Impact Assessment: If the deal is reached, it is expected to stabilize international oil prices, as the Strait of Hormuz accounts for approximately 20% of global oil transport, and restoring passage would aid in the recovery and growth of the global energy market.
- Diplomatic Efforts Intensified: This statement indicates that U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East are making progress, potentially paving the way for more comprehensive negotiations in the future, thereby improving U.S.-Iran relations and reducing conflict risks.
- Regional Security Considerations: The achievement of an interim deal would not only help ensure navigation safety in the Strait but could also influence the security situation of neighboring countries, prompting all parties to reassess their military deployments and strategic collaborations.
See More
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- Tesla Buy Point Approaching: Tesla's stock is nearing a buy point, suggesting investor interest in its growth potential, which could lead to a short-term price increase and enhance overall market vitality.
- Strong AI Stock Performance: ASML and several AI-related stocks are performing well, reflecting ongoing market enthusiasm for technology stocks, potentially prompting more investors to focus on and invest in the tech sector.
- Weekend Negotiations Ongoing: Talks regarding the Iran deal continued over the weekend, and if a consensus is reached, it could further boost market sentiment and drive stock performance in related sectors, particularly energy and technology.
See More
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- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 index reached a record high above 7,500 in May after recovering from March lows, indicating strong market recovery, although it remains just below that record, reflecting optimistic investor sentiment.
- Declining Cash Holdings: A Bank of America Securities survey shows professional investors' cash levels dropped from 4.3% to 3.9%, nearing the 4.0% sell signal, indicating that investors are chasing the market rally but may soon face capital shortages.
- Increased Inflation Pressure: The upcoming personal consumption expenditures price index is expected to show core PCE rising to 3.4% year-over-year in April, up from 3.2% in March, potentially increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, which could affect market sentiment.
- Economic Data Impact: Next week will see several economic data releases and earnings reports from key tech companies that could significantly impact the markets, particularly consumer commentary from Costco and Dollar Tree, which may trigger market volatility.
See More
