On May 29, the American wholesale chain Costco released its financial results for the third quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, showcasing a solid increase in revenue. The company exceeded Wall Street analysts' forecasts, indicating strong operational performance and business resilience.

 Costco's total revenue for the reporting period, spanning the twelve weeks ending on May 10, reached an impressive $70.53 billion, representing a 11.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure was higher than the $69.81 billion expected by analysts.

 The profit figures are equally encouraging. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 15.2% to $4.93, fully matching the forecasts. It is important to note that adjusted earnings allow investors to more accurately assess the performance of the core business, excluding the impact of one-time or random factors.

 Growth driven by customer loyalty

 Costco's key success factor remains its high level of membership fees. Membership fees increased by 10.7% for the quarter, reaching $1.37 billion. The total number of paid members continues to grow, reaching 82.9 million, up 4.1% year-over-year.

 CEO Ron Vakris highlighted record fuel sales due to supply disruptions. He expressed confidence that "customers who use our gas stations tend to spend more in the stores themselves," emphasizing the positive impact on customer loyalty.

Overall comparable sales showed a solid 9.8% growth, while website and mobile app traffic saw an impressive 37% jump year-over-year.

 Expansion and successful launches

Despite the financial success, the company's stock saw a decline of around 9% after reaching an all-time high on May 19. However, this does not diminish Costco's strategic achievements.

The company opened four new stores last quarter, and twelve more are scheduled to launch by the end of the current fiscal year, bringing the total number of new outlets to 26.

The management also positively assessed the launch of the premium subscription level in China, which was a success. The membership renewal rate in the USA and Canada remains consistently high at 92.2%, which confirms the stability of the loyal customer base.

In conclusion, Costco continues to demonstrate the strength of its business model, relying on network expansion, growing membership, and effective operations management. Despite short-term fluctuations in the stock market, the company's fundamental indicators remain highly positive.