Companies /Consumer Defensive

Costco Wholesale Corp

NASDAQ: COST Discount Stores
$945.47
â–² $10.81 (+1.16%) today
Markets closed · 7:08pm ET

Q2 2025 Earnings

Reported Mar 6, 2025, 4:21pm ET · SEC source
$4.02
Miss −2.13%
EPS · est. $4.11
$63.7B
Beat +1.02%
Revenue · est. $63.1B
+8.0%
Beating market
COST vs S&P since report
5 quarters
Consecutive EPS beats

Market Reaction

% change · around the report
−6%−3%0Mar 6Mar 7report 4:21pm ETearnings+0.1%−5.1%
−6%−3%0Mar 6Mar 7earnings+0.1%−5.1%
COST −5.1%S&P 500 +0.1%
−6%−3%0Mar 6Mar 7report 4:21pm ETearnings+0.0%−5.1%
−6%−3%0Mar 6Mar 7earnings+0.0%−5.1%
COST −5.1%NASDAQ +0.0%
−10%−5%0Mar 5Mar 14report 4:21pm ETearnings−2.2%−11.4%
−10%−5%0Mar 5Mar 14earnings−2.2%−11.4%
COST −11.4%S&P 500 −2.2%
−10%−5%0Mar 5Mar 14report 4:21pm ETearnings−2.4%−11.4%
−10%−5%0Mar 5Mar 14earnings−2.4%−11.4%
COST −11.4%NASDAQ −2.4%
−6.07%
Day of report
−3.10%
Next session
−6.26%
One week
−5.76%
30 days

S&P 500 over the same 30 days: −13.79%.

Did COST Beat Earnings? Q2 2025 Results

Costco Wholesale delivered solid but slightly disappointing fiscal second-quarter results for the twelve weeks ended February 16, 2025, posting earnings of $4.02 per diluted share against Wall Street's estimate of $4.11, sending shares lower after the report. Total revenue reached $63.72 billion as net sales climbed 9.1% to $62.53 billion, with the quarter's headline growth partially obscured by a $0.21 per diluted share tax benefit embedded in the year-ago period — strip that out, and both net income and EPS grew 8.4%. The clearest engine behind the results was e-commerce, where comparable sales surged 20.9%, fueled by strong demand in gold and jewelry, home furnishings, and small electrics. Membership metrics held firm, with paid memberships rising 6.8% to 78.4 million and the U.S.-Canada renewal rate steady at 93.0%. Looking ahead, Costco plans to open roughly 18 additional warehouses before fiscal year-end, targeting approximately 915 locations globally, even as management cautioned that tariff uncertainty and inflation could temper <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/05/29/costco-cost-earnings-stock-split-buzz-builds-as-shares-test-record-highs/">consumer spending in coming quarters</a>.

Key Takeaways
  • 9.1% adjusted comparable sales growth excluding gas and FX impacts
  • 5.7% comparable traffic growth across all segments
  • E-commerce comparable sales growth of 20.9% (22.2% adjusted for FX)
  • Strong membership metrics with 90.5% worldwide renewal rate
  • Gross margin improvement of 5 basis points to 10.85%
  • SG&A expense improvement of 8 basis points to 9.06%
  • Executive membership penetration at 73.8% of sales
  • Membership fee income growth of 7.4% (9.4% ex-FX)

Forward Guidance & Outlook

Costco estimates opening approximately 18 new warehouses in the remainder of fiscal 2025, bringing the total to an estimated 915 warehouses by fiscal year-end. The company continues to invest in lowering everyday low prices across key Kirkland Signature products and expanding its e-commerce and logistics capabilities.

COST YoY Financials

Revenue$63.7B
Gross Profit$8.0B
Operating Income$2.3B
Net Income$1.8B

COST Revenue by Segment

Net Sales$62.5B+9.1%
Membership Fees$1.2B+7.4%

Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.