Costco reported net sales of $29.86 billion for the five weeks ended January 4, marking an 8.5% year-over-year increase. Excluding fluctuations from fuel prices and foreign exchange, comparable sales at stores open at least one year rose 6.3% in the U.S. and 6.2% companywide. These gains outstripped market expectations, as many analysts had forecast same-store growth in the 3–5% range.

The retailer’s online channel delivered an 18.3% jump in digitally-enabled sales during December, building on a nearly 19.4% increase over the prior 18-week period. This acceleration reflects both expanded e-commerce offerings and improved in-warehouse digital services—drivers that management highlights as key to capturing share from pure-play online competitors.

Costco now operates 923 warehouses globally, including 633 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and significant footprints in Canada, Europe and Asia. Its membership model—supported by a recent fee increase—continues to underpin repeat traffic and durable margins. Wall Street analysts remain broadly bullish: the consensus price target implies roughly a mid-teens percentage upside from recent trading levels. Bullish firms note that strong food-and-beverage categories, along with non-food segments such as jewelry and small appliances, powered the December comp gains and reinforce confidence in the company’s long-term growth trajectory.