Costco Wholesale sales accelerated in April, confirming the strength of the US retail giant's membership model. The American group closed the retail month ending May 3, 2026, with net revenues of $23,92 billion, up 13% from $21,18 billion in the same period the previous year.
In the first 35 weeks of the fiscal year, total revenue reached $197,18 billion, a 9,5% increase from $180,05 billion a year ago. This result confirms the chain's ability to continue growing even in a context characterized by inflation, consumer volatility, and international geopolitical tensions.
Comparable sales performance was particularly notable, growing 11,6% in the four weeks of April and 7,8% since the start of the fiscal year. In the United States, sales increased by 11,7%, while Canada and international markets both recorded increases of 11,5%.
Adjusted for gasoline prices and currency exchange rates, the group's comparable sales grew 7,8% in the month and 6,5% in the first 35 weeks. In the U.S., adjusted sales increased 8%, while Canada posted a 7,6% increase and other international markets a 6,5%.
The digital channel further drove performance. Digitally enabled sales increased 18,8% in April and 21,6% since the beginning of the year, confirming the increasingly central role of e-commerce and omnichannel services in the retailer's strategy.
Costco also noted that April benefited from an additional shopping day compared to the previous year, due to the shift in the Easter calendar. According to the company, this effect contributed approximately 1,5% to 2% to total comparable sales.
The group's growth comes at a time when consumers continue to reward retailers focused on value and convenience. The Costco model, based on competitive prices, warehouse formats, and annual memberships, continues to prove resilient even amid pressure on household budgets.
On the international front, the company continues to expand its global network. Costco currently operates 928 warehouses worldwide, including 637 in the United States and Puerto Rico. Its international presence also includes 115 stores in Canada, 42 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, and seven in China, a market in which the retailer continues to invest heavily. At the same time, e-commerce development continues, now active in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.
In its investor report, however, Costco drew attention to macroeconomic risks that could impact future performance, including inflation, energy costs, tariffs, global conflicts, consumer volatility, and rising labor costs. Despite these uncertainties, the April results strengthen the group's position among the best-performing global retailers currently.
