Costco July Sales Released: What Investors Must See
Costco’s Summer Sales Report: What Happened in July 2026 (Explained Simply)
Report Date: August 5, 2026
Company: Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST)
Period Covered: Four weeks ended August 2, 2026 (the retail month of July) + first 48 weeks of the fiscal year
The Big Picture in One Sentence
Costco had a really good July — selling $23.12 billion worth of stuff, which is 10.7% more than the same month last year.
Key Numbers at a Glance
| Metric | This Year | Last Year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| July Net Sales (4 weeks) | $23.12 billion | $20.89 billion | +10.7% |
| Year-to-Date Sales (48 weeks) | $273.55 billion | $248.35 billion | +10.1% |
What is "Net Sales"?
It’s the total money Costco collected from customers after returns and discounts. Think of it as "what actually went into the cash register."
How Different Regions Performed (Comparable Sales)
What are "Comparable Sales"?
This measures sales at warehouses open at least one year — so we’re comparing apples to apples (no new stores muddying the numbers).
Last 4 Weeks (July)
| Region | Sales Growth |
|---|---|
| United States | +10.3% |
| Canada | +4.2% |
| Other International | +6.0% |
| Total Company | +8.9% |
| Digitally-Enabled (Online + App) | +17.7% |
First 48 Weeks (Year-to-Date)
| Region | Sales Growth |
|---|---|
| United States | +8.1% |
| Canada | +8.1% |
| Other International | +9.8% |
| Total Company | +8.4% |
| Digitally-Enabled (Online + App) | +21.2% |
Wow Factor: Online/digital sales are growing way faster than in-store — ~18-21% vs ~8-9% overall!
"Clean" Numbers: Removing Gas Prices & Currency Swings
Gas prices and exchange rates (like USD vs CAD) can distort the real story. Here’s what growth looks like without those distractions:
Last 4 Weeks (Ex-Gas & FX)
| Region | Sales Growth |
|---|---|
| United States | +6.9% |
| Canada | +4.9% |
| Other International | +6.6% |
| Total Company | +6.6% |
| Digitally-Enabled | +18.2% |
First 48 Weeks (Ex-Gas & FX)
| Region | Sales Growth |
|---|---|
| United States | +6.7% |
| Canada | +7.0% |
| Other International | +6.5% |
| Total Company | +6.7% |
| Digitally-Enabled | +20.9% |
ELI5 Takeaway: Even stripping out gas and currency, Costco is growing ~6-7% in stores and ~18-21% online. That’s strong, steady growth.
Costco’s Global Footprint (As of This Report)
Costco operates 933 warehouses worldwide:
| Country / Region | # of Warehouses |
|---|---|
| United States & Puerto Rico | 641 |
| Canada | 115 |
| Mexico | 43 |
| Japan | 37 |
| United Kingdom | 29 |
| Korea | 20 |
| Australia | 15 |
| Taiwan | 14 |
| China | 7 |
| Spain | 5 |
| France | 3 |
| Sweden | 2 |
| Iceland | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| Total | 933 |
Online Shopping: Costco also runs e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and China.
Want More Details? Listen In!
Costco has a pre-recorded message with extra commentary:
- Where: investor.costco.com → Click "Events & Presentations"
- Available until: 4:00 p.m. PT, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Important Legal Note (The "Fine Print")
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
This report includes predictions about the future ("forward-looking statements"). These use words like anticipate, believe, expect, plan, project, will.Reality check: Actual results could differ due to things like:
- Economic conditions (inflation, exchange rates)
- Competition & regulation
- Cybersecurity / privacy breaches
- Real estate & supply chain issues
- Labor costs (wages, healthcare)
- Geopolitics (tariffs, conflicts)
- Public health events
Costco doesn’t promise to update these predictions unless legally required.
Also: Comparable sales are supplemental info — not a replacement for official GAAP net sales.
Contact Info (For Investors & Media)
| Name | Phone |
|---|---|
| Josh Dahmen | 425-313-8254 |
| Andrew Yoon | 425-313-6305 |
| Bryan Starnes | 425-427-7403 |
Summary: What You Need to Remember
| Key Takeaway | Details |
|---|---|
| July was strong | $23.12B in sales, +10.7% vs last year |
| Year-to-date is solid | $273.55B, +10.1% vs last year |
| U.S. leads growth | +10.3% in July (comparable stores) |
| Digital is booming | ~18-21% growth — way faster than stores |
| Core business healthy | Even ex-gas/FX, +6-7% store growth |
| Global giant | 933 warehouses across 14+ countries |
| Cautious outlook | Forward-looking statements = not guarantees |
FAQ: Your Questions, Answered Simply
1. Why are there two sets of comparable sales numbers?
One set includes everything (gas prices, currency changes). The second set removes those so you can see how the actual business is doing — like judging a runner’s speed without counting a tailwind.
2. What does "Digitally-Enabled" mean?
Sales from Costco’s website, app, and online pickup/delivery. It’s growing 2-3x faster than in-store — showing members love shopping online too.
3. Is Costco opening lots of new stores?
Not from this report. The 933 warehouse count is current. Comparable sales only count stores open 1+ years, so new stores don’t inflate the growth %.
4. Why does gas price matter?
Costco sells a lot of gasoline. When gas prices swing up/down, total sales dollars swing too — even if members buy the same gallons. Removing gas shows the real shopping trend.
5. Should I buy Costco stock based on this?
This article doesn’t give investment advice. This is a sales update, not a full earnings report. Always do your own research or talk to a financial advisor.
Final Thought: Costco’s July shows a healthy, growing business — especially online. Members keep coming back (and clicking "buy"), even when you strip out gas and currency noise.
