Costco net sales rise by 5% in December

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale’s net sales increased by 5% year over year to $13 billion during a five-week period ended Jan. 1. For the 18-week period ended Jan. 1, net sales rose to $43.18 billion versus $41.66 billion during the same period in 2015.

Comparable store sales rose by 3% in the United States in the five-week period, and a total of 1% during the 18-week period. Canadian stores were Costco’s shining star when looking at both periods, increasing 7% in the five-week period and 5% in the 18-week period.

On a total company basis, same-store sales rose by 3% in the five weeks ended Jan. 1 and 2% in the 18 weeks ended Jan. 1.

Wall Street rewarded the news in Thursday morning trading, with Costco shares rising by approximately 2%.

Costco operates 723 warehouses, including 506 in the United States and Puerto Rico and 94 in Canada.