Costco is set to open 28 new warehouses in fiscal 2026, targeting underserved markets and accelerating its average annual openings to over 30 units. This aggressive rollout aims to drive membership growth, increase same-store sales, and capture incremental market share in both domestic and international regions.

Rising diesel prices, pushing gasoline toward the $5-per-gallon threshold, are expected to elevate freight expenses that flow through Costco’s supply chain. Management anticipates these higher logistics costs could compress gross margins over the next one to two quarters if oil prices remain elevated.

Costco’s fuel stations, known for offering gasoline at deep discounts, serve as a traffic driver that encourages in-store cross-shopping and higher average basket sizes. This value-based fuel offering helps offset consumer wallet pressures, particularly for price-sensitive shoppers.