Costco (NASDAQ: COST) Delivers Strong Q4 Earnings Amidst Revenue Miss

Font: Financial Modeling Prep  • Sep 24, 2026

• Earnings Beat: Costco exceeded analyst EPS estimates, reporting $6.75 against a $6.54 consensus, partly due to tariff refunds.
• Robust Sales Growth: Despite a slight revenue miss, net sales grew by 11.2 percent year-over-year, driven by strong comparable sales (9.4 percent overall, 10.7 percent in the U.S.) and significant digital sales growth (19.5 percent).
• Solid Financial Health: The company maintains a healthy financial position with a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.45 and a low Debt-to-Equity ratio of 0.13.

Costco (NASDAQ: COST) is a leading global retailer that operates a chain of membership-only warehouse clubs. Its successful business model focuses on offering a limited selection of brand-name merchandise in bulk quantities at low prices. This strategic approach aims to drive high sales volumes and attract a loyal customer base through annual membership fees, reinforcing its strong market position.

On September 24, 2026, Costco announced its impressive fourth-quarter earnings. The company reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $6.75, which was higher than the analyst consensus estimate of $6.54. This strong financial performance was partly due to tariff refunds, as highlighted by MarketWatch, and contributed to a substantial net income of $2.998 billion for the quarter.

Despite the earnings beat, the company's quarterly revenue of $93.87 billion fell just short of the $94.97 billion that analysts expected. However, as reported by GlobeNewswire, Costco's net sales for the quarter still showed significant growth. They increased by 11.2 percent from the $84.4 billion recorded in the same period last year, demonstrating robust market demand.

This impressive sales growth is further supported by strong comparable sales figures, which measure growth at existing stores. Total company comparable sales grew by 9.4 percent, with U.S. operations increasing by 10.7 percent. Digitally-enabled sales were particularly strong, showing a significant surge of 19.5 percent for the quarter, indicating a highly successful online strategy and e-commerce performance.

Looking at its financial health, Costco has a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.45. This key valuation ratio suggests what investors are willing to pay for each dollar of the company's earnings. Furthermore, its Debt-to-Equity ratio is 0.13, which points to a low level of debt compared to the equity held by its shareholders, indicating sound financial management.