Costco Wholesale stock eases as Costco Next shutdown follows strong fiscal 2026 sales
Published on 09/04/2026 at 07:13 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Costco Wholesale (ISIN US22160K1051) stock has slipped from recent highs, with shares trading around USD 928 as of September 3, 2026, while the warehouse retailer reports net sales of USD 23.70 billion for August 2026, up 9.9% year on year according to RTTNews and TipRanks data.
Sales momentum in August and fiscal 2026
According to figures reported by RTTNews on September 3, 2026, Costco generated net sales of USD 23.70 billion in the four-week retail month of August 2026, representing a 9.9% increase compared with USD 21.56 billion in the prior-year month.
RTTNews also notes that total comparable sales for August 2026 rose 8.4%, with digitally enabled comparable sales jumping 19.5% for the month, underscoring the strength of Costco's e-commerce and omnichannel offering relative to the prior year.
For the 16-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 ended August 30, 2026, Costco reported net sales of USD 93.9 billion, an 11.3% increase versus USD 84.4 billion in the prior-year fourth quarter, while total comparable sales for the quarter reached 9.4% according to the same RTTNews release.
TipRanks highlights that for the 52-week fiscal year 2026 ended August 30, 2026, Costco's net sales rose 10.2% to USD 297.3 billion from USD 269.9 billion in the prior fiscal year, with total comparable sales for the year up 8.4%, signaling consistent double-digit top-line growth over the latest year.
Earnings, margins and analyst views
Analyst commentary compiled by TipRanks indicates that based on Costco's latest reported quarter ended May 10, 2026, the company delivered quarterly revenue of USD 70.53 billion and net profit of USD 2.19 billion.
In comparison, the same quarter a year earlier saw revenue of USD 63.21 billion and net profit of USD 1.90 billion, meaning revenue increased by about 11.6% and net profit improved by roughly USD 0.29 billion over the year, reflecting both volume growth and margin resilience in Costco's core membership and merchandise businesses.
TipRanks notes that Evercore ISI analyst Greg Melich maintained a Buy rating on Costco with a price target of USD 1,100, while other houses such as Wells Fargo keep more neutral stances; the spread between the USD 1,100 target and a recent share price near USD 928 suggests upside potential in analysts' models if current sales and earnings trends continue.
A valuation overview on Simply Wall St points out that some models see a fair value for Costco Wholesale stock at USD 1,082.94 compared with a recent close around USD 928.48, implying that the stock trades at a discount to these intrinsic value estimates after a 7-day share price return of negative 2.9% and a 90-day return of negative 4.5%.
Costco Next shutdown and stock reaction
Recent commentary from TipRanks highlights that Costco shares closed in the red over the past two trading sessions, with the stock edging lower to around USD 928 per share early on September 3, 2026, following reports that the company has shut down Costco Next, its third-party discount platform.
The same article cites Mizuho analyst David Bellinger, who believes that winding down Costco Next could result in a slight profit margin loss for Costco, although the impact is expected to be modest given the scale of the overall business and its core warehouse operations.
Alabama-based outlet AL.com, referencing USA Today coverage, reports that the closure of Costco Next apparently took place on September 1, 2026, without prior public warning, and that access to Costco Next storefronts is no longer available according to notes on Costco's website.
A Chinese-language report on Sina Finance similarly states that the service has already been shut down with no advance notice, underscoring that Costco is re-evaluating its online marketplace strategy while maintaining its primary warehouse membership model.
German-speaking investor perspective and trading context
For German-speaking investors, Costco Wholesale is accessible primarily via its listing on Nasdaq under the ticker COST, and many regional brokers route orders to this U.S. venue rather than to a separate German exchange; the stock is therefore generally followed as a large-cap consumer retail name within global and U.S. indices rather than a DAX constituent.
Market data snapshots on Yahoo Finance as of September 3, 2026 show Costco Wholesale shares trading close to USD 929 with intraday moves that left the stock about 1.2% lower in the prior regular session, consistent with RTTNews' note that the shares closed 1.22% lower before a modest uptick in after-hours trading.
This places Costco below recent analyst fair value estimates and below the USD 1,100 price target from Evercore ISI, while still reflecting a substantial long-term rally given the company's strong revenue growth, high membership renewal rates and ongoing expansion in North America and international markets.
More on Costco Wholesale stock and fundamentals
Investors can explore additional news, filings and long-term performance data for Costco Wholesale stock, including detailed quarterly results and analyst assessments.
Membership model and key product categories
Costco Wholesale's core business is its membership-based warehouse club model, in which customers pay annual fees to access a curated range of bulk merchandise, private-label goods and services at large warehouse locations; membership income forms a significant portion of operating profit and underpins the company's recurring revenue profile.
Among Costco's key product and brand pillars is its Kirkland Signature private-label range, which spans grocery, household goods, apparel, consumer electronics and more, and is widely cited as a driver of customer loyalty and value perception across both warehouse and online channels.
Recent sales performance data showing double-digit growth in net sales and high single-digit to double-digit comparable sales in fiscal 2026 suggests that these product categories, combined with fresh food, health and wellness items and discretionary products, continue to resonate strongly with members despite a mixed macroeconomic backdrop.
Stock level, valuation and investor takeaway
Market data compiled by Simply Wall St and TipRanks as of early September 2026 indicate that Costco Wholesale stock recently closed around USD 928.48, with some intrinsic value models pointing to fair value estimates slightly above USD 1,080, and at least one major analyst price target at USD 1,100, illustrating that the current share price sits below the consensus of selected valuation frameworks.
For investors, the key focus now is how Costco balances growth and profitability after closing Costco Next, while maintaining strong membership renewal rates and leveraging its scale to keep everyday prices competitive; the recent fiscal 2026 sales and earnings figures show that revenue and profit continue to grow by double digits, even as the stock consolidates below its prior highs.
Costco Wholesale at a glance
- Company: Costco Wholesale Corporation
- ISIN: US22160K1051
- Ticker: COST
- Trading venue: NASDAQ
- Price (as of September 3, 2026): 928.48 USD
- Market capitalization: 411,000,000,000 USD (as of September 3, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Consumer Staples / Hypermarkets and Super Centers
- Index membership: S&P 500
- Next earnings date: September 24, 2026
