For the quarter ended February 2026, Costco (COST) reported revenue of $69.6 billion, up 9.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $4.58, compared to $4.02 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $69.24 billion, representing a surprise of +0.52%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +0.74%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.55.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Costco performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Changes in comparable sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign-currency and gasoline prices - Total Company: 6.7% compared to the 5.8% average estimate based on seven analysts.
- Comparable sales - Total Company: 7.4% versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 6.5%.
- Number of warehouses - Total worldwide: 924 versus the six-analyst average estimate of 928.
- Comparable sales - U.S.: 5.9% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 5.8%.
- Total paid members: 82,100 compared to the 82,875 average estimate based on four analysts.
- Changes in comparable sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign-currency and gasoline prices - Other International: 7.1% versus 5.2% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Changes in comparable sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign-currency and gasoline prices - Canada: 7.6% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 6.7%.
- Changes in comparable sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign-currency and gasoline prices - U.S.: 6.4% versus 5.7% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Number of warehouses - United States and Puerto Rico: 634 compared to the 638 average estimate based on four analysts.
- Comparable sales - Other International: 13% compared to the 7.2% average estimate based on three analysts.
- Membership fees: $1.36 billion compared to the $1.33 billion average estimate based on eight analysts. The reported number represents a change of +13.6% year over year.
- Net Sales: $68.24 billion versus $68.24 billion estimated by eight analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9.1% change.
View all Key Company Metrics for Costco here>>>
Shares of Costco have returned +2.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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