Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) stock — is it a good business?

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) stock — is it a good business? — InspectStocks

How it makes money

Foods and sundries, including groceries, candy and liquor38%
Non-foods, including appliances, electronics, clothing and tires25%
Fresh foods, including meat, produce, deli and bakery14%
Membership fees2%

Shares of revenue are estimates for quarter ended 2026-04-30, not figures from a filing.

Competes with

What it sells5

Warehouse and online shopping memberships
Annual memberships let individuals and businesses shop at Costco warehouses and e-commerce sites. Executive members can earn a reward on eligible purchases.
Foods and sundries
Groceries and other everyday goods, including dry groceries, candy, refrigerated and frozen foods, liquor and tobacco.
Non-foods
Goods such as appliances, electronics, health and beauty products, hardware, sporting goods, tires, clothing, furniture and housewares.

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Fresh foods
Meat, produce, deli items and bakery goods.
Warehouse services
Services available at or near warehouses include gasoline, pharmacy, optical care, a food court, hearing aids and tire installation.

Who buys it3

Individuals who pay for Gold Star memberships and shop in warehouses or online.
Businesses that buy Business memberships and shop at warehouses or online.
Food-service businesses, convenience stores and offices that shop at Costco business centers or arrange deliveries.

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

1The business depends on members joining, renewing and continuing to shop; annual membership fees are an important source of revenue.
2The company says its financial performance depends heavily on its United States and Canadian operations.
3Costco relies on suppliers to provide quality merchandise at competitive prices and on its depots, warehouses and other distribution arrangements to move goods to members.

What could go wrong

1Costco identifies its dependence on the financial performance of its United States and Canadian operations as a risk to its results.
2If Costco fails to maintain membership growth, member loyalty and renewals, it could affect sales and membership-fee revenue.
3Disruptions to merchandise supply, distribution or processing could prevent Costco from having goods available for sale and affect member satisfaction.

Full financial statements →

About Costco Wholesale Corp.

Customers pay an annual fee to shop at Costco warehouses and online. Costco buys many goods directly from suppliers and sells them in bulk, alongside services such as gasoline, pharmacy, optical care and travel. It also sells its Kirkland Signature private-label products.

Head office: Issaquah, Washington, United States
Founded: 1983
Employees: 341,000 (2025-08-31, high)
Listed on: NASDAQ Global Select Market
Financial year ends: The Sunday closest to August 31

Built from Costco Wholesale Corp.’s own filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Figures are as reported, with per-share history restated onto today’s share basis. This describes a business — it is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell anything.

Keep exploring

The themes Costco Wholesale is part of, the highest-graded companies in its industry, and the companies in its sector whose grade rose recently.

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Discount Stores

Graded A or B and worth $2B or more: A first, then the largest.

All 9 graded companies in its industry

Grade rose recently in Consumer Staples

Rose to A or B on a filing in the last 90 days, worth $2B or more: largest first.

All grade rises