Costco’s U.S. Comps Climb 5%

April 8, 2010
SGB Executive
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Costco Wholesale Corp. said comparable stores rose 10% in March, buoyed by strong growth overseas. The warehouse club operator said its international sales at store open at least a year grew 28%, with U.S. results up 5%.

Excluding gasoline prices and a weaker dollar, sales at stores open at least a year increased 3 percent in March with overseas up 7% and U.S. results up 2%.

Total monthly sales climbed 12% to $7.14 billion.

One less sales day compared with the prior-year period — and a shift in the Easter holiday — pulled both total and same-store sales for March down by about 1% to 2%.

For the 31 weeks ended April 4, sales at stores open at least a year rose 7%. International results grew 21%, while U.S. same-store sales climbed 3%.

Excluding higher gasoline prices and a weaker dollar, combined same-store sales rose 3%. Overseas growth was 8% at sales at stores open at least a year, while the U.S. rise was 2%. Total sales for the period increased 9% to $45.2 billion.

Costco currently run 567 warehouses, including 414 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 77 in Canada, 21 in the U.K., seven in Korea, six in Taiwan, nine in Japan, one in Australia and 32 in Mexico.

Costco’s U.S. Comps Climb 5%

March 6, 2008
SGB Executive
by

Costco reported net sales of $5.11 billion for the four weeks ended March 2, an increase of 11% from $4.59 billion a year earlier. Total comps rose 7% with gains of 5% in the U.S. and 18% internationally.

The U.S. comparable sales figure includes, among other things, the effect of gasoline price inflation, with the average sales price per gallon of gasoline up 25% for the four-week month of February, as compared to the year-earlier February. Excluding gasoline price inflation, U.S. comparable sales would have been up 3%. In addition, foreign exchange rates, primarily in Canada, positively impacted international comparable sales results. On a local currency basis, international comparable sales increased 6% in February.

For the six-month retail reporting period through February, the company reported net sales of $34.77 billion, an increase of 12% from $31.03 billion. Total comps rose 8% with gains of 5% in the U.S. and 17% internationally.

Costco currently operates 534 warehouses, including 391 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 75 in Canada, 19 in the United Kingdom, six in Korea, five in Taiwan, seven in Japan and 31 in Mexico.

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