How to Trade Costco After Fiscal Q3 2026 Earnings
June 22, 2026 15:58
Headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) runs an international chain of membership warehouses, selling goods typically at prices well below those of conventional wholesalers and retailers. The warehouses are built to help small and medium-sized businesses cut their purchasing costs, though individuals can shop for their personal needs too.
Costco operates 931 warehouses, most of them in the United States, along with e-commerce sites in nine countries.
The company recently reported its results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. Here is a closer look at its performance and what analysts are forecasting for the stock.
The information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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Costco's Fiscal Q3 2026 Earnings Performance Summary
Key Takeaways
- Total revenue rose 11.6% year-on-year to $70.53 billion, up from $63.21 billion, with higher sales across its US, Canadian and international warehouses. Net sales, which exclude membership fees, also rose 11.6%, reaching $69.15 billion.
- Operating income, the profit a company makes from its core business before interest, taxes and other non-operating items, rose 11.3% YoY to $2.82 billion. Net income increased 15.2% to $2.19 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to $4.93, from $4.28 a year earlier.
- Membership fee income, the recurring fees members pay to shop at Costco's warehouses, grew 10.7% YoY to $1.37 billion.
- Comparable sales, which track growth at warehouses open at least a year, rose 9.8% company-wide, but only 6.6% once the impact of gasoline prices and foreign exchange is excluded. In the US, reported comparable sales rose 9.4% but only 6.8% on that adjusted basis, with the gap reflecting a surge in fuel sales during the quarter.
- Record gasoline volumes were a notable feature of the quarter. On the earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris said the final five weeks were Costco's top five fuel-volume weeks ever, as customers looked for cheaper gas amid the conflict in the Middle East. Vachris also said the company has begun submitting tariff refund claims and expects refunds on approved claims on a rolling basis.
Source: Costco Wholesale Corporation Fiscal Q3 2026 Press Release and CNBC report.
Costco’s 12-Month Analyst Stock Price Forecast
According to 23 Wall Street analysts, polled by TipRanks, offering a 12-month stock price forecast for Costco over the past 3 months:
- Buy Ratings: 16
- Hold Ratings: 6
- Sell Ratings: 1
- Average Price Target: $1,113.52
- High Price Target: $1,315.00
- Low Price Target: $781.00
Trading Strategy Example: Costco Wholesale Corporation
The following trading examples are for educational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Investors should conduct independent research before making trading decisions. An example trading idea for the Costco share price could be as follows:
Remember, markets are volatile, and Costco's share price can fluctuate and may even trend lower. Costco reported record gasoline volumes during the quarter, as customers searched for cheaper gas during the war in the Middle East. Excluding fuel and currency effects, comparable sales grew more slowly than the headline figures. Fuel prices are outside Costco's control, and the boost they gave this quarter may not be repeated in future ones.
More broadly, factors such as shifts in consumer spending, inflation, competition, and geopolitical developments could weigh on the business and its share price going forward.
How to Buy Costco Stock in 4 Steps
- Open an account with Admirals and complete the onboarding process to access the dashboard.
- Click on Trade or Invest on one of your live or demo accounts to open the web platform.
- Search for your stock in the search window at the top.
- Input your entry, stop-loss and take profit levels in the trading ticket.
Do You See the Costco Stock Price Moving Differently?
If you believe there is a higher chance that the share price of Costco will move lower, then you can also trade short using CFDs (Contracts for Difference). However, these have higher associated risks and are not suitable for all investors. Learn more about CFDs in this How to Trade CFDs article.
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