COSTCO

ISSAQUAH, Wash. —  Costco declared a special cash dividend on Costco common stock of $7 per share, payable May 26, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 10. The aggregate payment will be approximately $3.1 billion.

The nation’s leading warehouse club operator continues to push into new markets with a determined expansion program both in the United States and internationally. In the process, Costco Wholesale also is extending its reach into the market for pharmacy and preventive health services, surging past the 500 mark in total pharmacies operating in the United States and expanding its menu of health screenings, immunizations and clinical-care offerings.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale reported net sales of $11.64 billion for the month of March — the five weeks ended April 2, 2017 — an increase of 9% from $10.71 billion during the similar period last year. This year’s total reflects one additional sales day due to the timing of Easter, which positively impacted net and comparable sales by an estimated 1% to 1.5%.

TAMPA, Fla. — Costco is entering the grocery delivery game via a partnership with online grocery marketplace Shipt. Beginning Tuesday, customers in the Tampa, Fla., region were able to receive home delivery of Costco products.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco announced Thursday it will increase its membership fee by $5 to $60 annually for its U.S. and Canada Goldstar individual, business and business add-on members. This change will take effect June 1.

Also effective June 1, annual fees for Executive memberships in the U.S. and Canada will increase by $10 to $120. Both moves will impact a total of about 35 million members, stated Costco.

However, the maximum annual 2% reward associated with the executive membership will increase from $750 to $1,000.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco and EnvisionRx, the pharmacy benefit management division of EnvisionRxOptions, have partnered to expand Rx90, intended to improve care and reduce costs for people with chronic conditions.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale reported net sales of $9.08 billion for the month of January, an increase of 9% compared to $8.32 billion in sales during the same period in 2016.

U.S. comparable-store sales for the four week period ended Jan. 29 increased 6% year over year. When excluding impacts from gasoline prices and foreign exchange, U.S. comparable-store sales increased 5% year over year. For the total company, comp-store sales rose 7%.