Costco Reports December Sales of $29.9 Billion, Up 8.5% Year-Over-Year
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 09 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Sales Growth: Costco reported net sales of approximately $29.9 billion for December, reflecting an 8.5% year-over-year increase, indicating the company's sustained growth potential in the retail market despite economic uncertainties.
- Comparable Sales Improvement: U.S. comparable sales rose 7% in December, with adjusted comparable sales increasing by 6.3%, suggesting a potential rebound in consumer shopping habits that could further drive company performance.
- Digital Sales Acceleration: Costco's digitally enabled comparable sales surged 18.3% in December, up from 16.3% in November, highlighting the company's strong performance in e-commerce and enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Membership Revenue Growth: Membership fee income rose 14% year-over-year to $1.33 billion, demonstrating the effectiveness of Costco's low-priced membership model in continually attracting consumers and enhancing customer loyalty.
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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: 986.680
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
Current: 986.680
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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- Brand Loyalty Shifts: The survey indicates that Target, Walmart, and Amazon are viewed as companies losing support, while Costco, Apple, and Kroger gained favor due to their strong DEI policies, reflecting the direct impact of brand image on consumer behavior.
- Significant Economic Impact: The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce estimates that LGBTQ+ consumers represent over $1.7 trillion in economic spending power in the U.S., compelling businesses to take their diversity and inclusion policies seriously to maintain market share.
- Corporate Responses and Challenges: While Amazon claims to continue supporting its employees and diverse customer base, Target faced backlash from both political sides over its DEI policies, leading to reduced sales in summer 2023, illustrating how corporate stances on DEI can significantly affect sales performance.
See More
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- Brand Impact: The survey identifies Target, Walmart, Amazon, Chick-Fil-A, and Home Depot as the companies most frequently linked to reduced spending, indicating that shortcomings in diversity and inclusion policies can lead to customer attrition.
- Rewarding Supportive Brands: Nearly 70% of LGBTQ+ consumers report increasing spending on companies they view as supportive of diversity and inclusion, with Costco, Apple, Ben & Jerry's, Delta Air Lines, and Kroger cited as beneficiaries, demonstrating that corporate social responsibility can effectively enhance customer loyalty.
- Significant Market Potential: The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce estimates that LGBTQ+ consumers contribute over $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy, suggesting that investments in diversity and inclusion are not only a moral obligation but also a strategic move to capture a substantial market share.
See More
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- Unique Shopping Experience: Costco attracts high-income consumers with a shopping experience that, despite zero advertising spend, is showcased through numerous social media videos, indicating strong brand loyalty that may underpin future sales growth.
- Walmart's Market Adaptation: Walmart leverages its scale to attract customers with the lowest prices, with 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a store, and its e-commerce business has seen over 20% growth for five consecutive quarters, demonstrating resilience in competition.
- Valuation and Growth Expectations: Costco's stock trades at a high P/E ratio of 49, while analysts project only 9% to 10% annual earnings growth in the long term, potentially leading to disappointing returns for investors waiting for performance to align with its high valuation.
See More
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- Margin Differences: Alphabet consistently maintains a net profit margin above 30%, recently nearing 60%, while Amazon's net profit margin hovers around low double digits, highlighting Google's superior profitability and enhancing its flexibility for AI investments and stock buybacks.
- Investment Return Analysis: In Q1 2025, Amazon's net income included $16.8 billion from an early investment in Anthropic, while Google benefited from a $36.9 billion gain from its investment in SpaceX, illustrating differing investment strategies that impact financial performance.
- Market Performance Discrepancy: Over the past year, Amazon's stock rose by 12%, lagging behind the S&P 500, while Alphabet's stock more than doubled, showcasing a significant disparity in market performance that is likely to widen in future quarters.
See More
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- Margin Comparison: Alphabet's net profit margin typically reaches 30%, soaring to 60% this quarter due to early investments in SpaceX and Anthropic, while Amazon's net profit margin at 13.6% appears less impressive, highlighting Google's profitability advantage.
- Investment Flexibility: With a 46.3% operating margin, Alphabet can accelerate AI investments and stock buybacks faster than Amazon, which is constrained by lower margins, potentially impacting future growth prospects.
- Market Performance Gap: Over the past year, Amazon's stock rose 12%, trailing the S&P 500, while Alphabet's stock more than doubled, indicating a significant disparity in market performance that may widen in the future.
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