Costco Beats Q4 Earnings, Revenue Estimates As Comparable Sales Climb 5.7%

Group 1: Financial Performance - Costco reported fourth-quarter revenue of $86.16 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $86.12 billion [1] - Adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter were $5.87 per share, surpassing estimates of $5.80 per share [1] - Net sales for the fourth quarter increased by 8% year-over-year [2] Group 2: Comparable Sales and Membership Fees - Total comparable sales rose by 5.7% year-over-year, with regional breakdowns showing U.S. up 5.1%, Canada up 6.3%, and Other International up 8.6% [2][5] - Membership fees reached approximately $1.72 billion, up from $1.51 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - The company increased its annual membership fee by $5 in September 2024, marking the first hike since 2017 [2] Group 3: Operational Highlights - Costco operates 914 warehouses, including 629 in the U.S. [2] - The company ended the quarter with approximately $14.16 billion in cash and cash equivalents [3] - Costco shares were down 0.21% in after-hours trading, priced at $940 at the time of publication [3]