COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP NEW
For the period ended Feb 16, 2025. Filed Mar 13, 2025.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Feb 16, 2025 · Filed Mar 13, 2025
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in millions, except share, per share, and warehouse count data)
(unaudited)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco or the Company), a Washington corporation, and its subsidiaries operate membership warehouses based on the concept that offering members low prices on a limited selection of nationally-branded and private-label products in a wide range of merchandise categories will produce high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover. At February 16, 2025, Costco operated 897 warehouses worldwide:617 in the United States (U.S.) located in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico,109 in Canada,41 in Mexico,36 in Japan,29 in the United Kingdom (U.K.),19 in Korea,15 in Australia,14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, andone each in Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. The Company operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Costco and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material inter-company transactions among the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q for interim financial reporting pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While these statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for fair presentation of the results of the interim period, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) for complete financial statements. Therefore, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 1, 2024.
Fiscal Year End
The Company operates on a 52/53 week fiscal year basis, with the fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to August 31. Fiscal 2025 is a 52-week year ending on August 31, 2025. References to the second quarter of 2025 and 2024 relate to the 12-week fiscal quarters ended February 16, 2025, and February 18, 2024. References to the first half of 2025 and 2024 relate to the 24 weeks ended February 16, 2025, and February 18, 2024.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect; the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates and assumptions take into account historical and forward-looking factors that the Company believes are reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
Reclassification
Reclassifications were made to the condensed consolidated balance sheet for 2024 and to the statement of cash flows for the first half of 2024. These changes were made to conform with the current year presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted By The Company
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, which is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily about significant segment expenses. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, which requires public business entities on an annual basis to disclose specific categories in the income-tax rate reconciliation, provide information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold, and disclose certain information about income taxes paid. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, which requires disaggregated disclosures of certain costs and expenses on the income statement on an annual and interim basis. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted.
The Company is evaluating these standards.
Note 2—Investments
The Company's investments were as follows:
| February 16, 2025: | CostBasis | UnrealizedLosses, Net | RecordedBasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available-for-sale: | |||
| Government and agency securities | $759 | $(11) | $748 |
| Held-to-maturity: | |||
| Certificates of deposit | 54 | — | 54 |
| Total short-term investments | $813 | $(11) | $802 |
| September 1, 2024: | CostBasis | UnrealizedLosses, Net | RecordedBasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available-for-sale: | |||
| Government and agency securities | $689 | $(1) | $688 |
| Held-to-maturity: | |||
| Certificates of deposit | 550 | — | 550 |
| Total short-term investments | $1,239 | $(1) | $1,238 |
Gross unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities were not material for the periods ended February 16, 2025, or September 1, 2024. At those dates, there were no available-for-sale securities in a material continuous unrealized-loss position. There were no sales of available-for-sale securities during the first half of 2025 or 2024.
The maturities of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities at February 16, 2025, are as follows:
| Available-For-Sale · Held-To-Maturity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Basis · Fair Value | |||
| Due in one year or less | $133 | $133 | $54 |
| Due after one year through five years | 455 | 448 | — |
| Due after five years | 171 | 167 | — |
| Total | $759 | $748 | $54 |
Note 3—Fair Value Measurement
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The table below presents information regarding the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicates the level within the hierarchy reflecting the valuation techniques utilized.
| Level 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| February 16,2025 | September 1,2024 | |
| Investment in government and agency securities | $748 | $688 |
| Forward foreign-exchange contracts, in asset position(1) | 14 | 1 |
| Forward foreign-exchange contracts, in (liability) position(1) | (4) | (28) |
| Total | $758 | $661 |
(1)The asset and liability values are included in other current assets and other current liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
On February 16, 2025, and September 1, 2024, the Company did not hold any Level 1 or 3 financial assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers between levels during the first half of 2025 or 2024.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Assets and liabilities recognized and disclosed at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include items such as financial assets measured at amortized cost and long-lived nonfinancial assets. These assets are measured at fair value if determined to be impaired. There were no fair value adjustments to these items during the first half of 2025 and no material fair value adjustments in 2024.
Note 4—Debt
The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following:
| February 16,2025 | September 1,2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.000% Senior Notes due May 2027 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| 1.375% Senior Notes due June 2027 | 1,250 | 1,250 |
| 1.600% Senior Notes due April 2030 | 1,750 | 1,750 |
| 1.750% Senior Notes due April 2032 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Other long-term debt | 872 | 919 |
| Total long-term debt | 5,872 | 5,919 |
| Less unamortized debt discounts and issuance costs | 19 | 22 |
| Less current portion(1) | 98 | 103 |
| Long-term debt, excluding current portion | $5,755 | $5,794 |
(1)Net of unamortized debt discounts and issuance costs.
The fair value of the Senior Notes is estimated using Level 2 inputs. Other long-term debt consists of Guaranteed Senior Notes issued by the Company's Japan subsidiary, valued using Level 3 inputs. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt, including the current portion, was approximately $5,312 and $5,412 at February 16, 2025, and September 1, 2024.
Note 5—Equity
Dividends
A quarterly cash dividend of $1.16 per share was declared on January 23, 2025, and paid on February 21, 2025. During the second quarter of 2024, the quarterly dividend was $1.02 per share and an aggregate payment of approximately $6,655 was made in connection with a special cash dividend of $15.00 per share.
Stock Repurchase Programs
The Company's stock repurchase program is conducted under a $4,000 authorization by the Board of Directors, which expires in January 2027. At February 16, 2025, the remaining amount available under the program was $2,452. The following table summarizes the repurchase activity:
| Shares Repurchased (000s) | Average Price per Share | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second quarter of 2025 | 213 | $967.29 | $207 |
| First half of 2025 | 443 | $932.03 | $413 |
| Second quarter of 2024 | 240 | $664.02 | $160 |
| First half of 2024 | 528 | $609.51 | $322 |
These amounts may differ from the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows due to changes in unsettled stock repurchases at the end of each quarter. Purchases are made from time to time, as conditions warrant, in the open market or in block purchases and pursuant to plans under SEC Rule 10b5-1.
Note 6—Stock-Based Compensation
The 2019 Incentive Plan authorizes the issuance of up to a maximum of 15,885,000 RSUs. To preserve the value of outstanding awards, the number of RSUs that may be granted under this Plan is subject to adjustments from changes in capital structure. The Company issues new shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs. Shares for vested RSUs are generally delivered to participants annually, net of shares withheld for taxes.
Summary of Restricted Stock Unit Activity
At February 16, 2025,6,232,000 shares were available to be granted as RSUs, and the following awards were outstanding:
2,241,000 time-based RSUs, which vest upon continued employment over specified periods and accelerate upon achievement of a long-service term;
51,000 performance-based RSUs granted to executive officers, for which the performance targets have been met. The awards vest upon continued employment over specified periods of time and upon achievement of a long-service term; and
70,000 performance-based RSUs granted to executive officers, subject to achievement of performance targets for 2025, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors after the end of the fiscal year. These awards are included in the table below. The Company recognized compensation expense for these awards in the second quarter of 2025, as it is currently deemed probable that the targets will be achieved.
The following table summarizes RSU transactions during the first half of 2025:
| Number ofUnits (in 000s) | Weighted-AverageGrant Date Fair Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding at September 1, 2024 | 2,799 | $463.24 |
| Granted | 1,095 | 883.46 |
| Vested and delivered | (1,483) | 557.86 |
| Forfeited | (49) | 549.46 |
| Outstanding at February 16, 2025 | 2,362 | $596.80 |
The remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs unvested at February 16, 2025, was $1,175, and the weighted-average period over which this cost will be recognized is 1.8 years.
Summary of Stock-Based Compensation
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense and the related tax benefits:
| 12 Weeks Ended | 24 Weeks Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 16,2025 | February 18,2024 | February 16,2025 | February 18,2024 | |
| Stock-based compensation expense | $151 | $136 | $614 | $580 |
| Less recognized income tax benefits | 28 | 25 | 129 | 120 |
| Stock-based compensation expense, net | $123 | $111 | $485 | $460 |
Note 7—Net Income per Common and Common Equivalent Share
The following table shows the amounts used in computing net income per share and the weighted average number of shares of basic and of potentially dilutive common shares outstanding (shares in 000s):
| 12 Weeks Ended | 24 Weeks Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 16,2025 | February 18,2024 | February 16,2025 | February 18,2024 | |
| Net income | $1,788 | $1,743 | $3,586 | $3,332 |
| Weighted average basic shares | 443,982 | 443,892 | 443,985 | 443,859 |
| RSUs | 904 | 862 | 903 | 720 |
| Weighted average diluted shares | 444,886 | 444,754 | 444,888 | 444,579 |
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the dilutive effect of RSUs using the treasury stock method.
Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in many claims, proceedings and litigations arising from its business and property ownership. In accordance with accounting guidance, the Company establishes an accrual for legal proceedings if and when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. There may be actual losses in excess of amounts accrued. The Company monitors those matters for developments that would affect the likelihood of a loss (taking into account where applicable indemnification arrangements concerning suppliers and insurers) and the accrued amount, if any, thereof, and adjusts the amount as appropriate. The Company has recorded an immaterial accrual with respect to some matters described below, in addition to other immaterial accruals for matters not described below. If the loss contingency at issue is not both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company does not establish an accrual, but monitors for developments that make the contingency both probable and reasonably estimable. In each case, there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, including a loss in excess of the applicable accrual. For matters where no accrual has been recorded, the possible loss or range of loss (including any loss in excess of the accrual) cannot, in the Company's view, be reasonably estimated because, among other things: the remedies or penalties sought are indeterminate or unspecified; the legal and/or factual theories are not well developed; and/or the matters involve complex or novel legal theories or a large number of parties.
In November 2023, a former employee filed a class action against the Company alleging claims under California law for failure to pay minimum wage, failure to pay overtime, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, failure to provide accurate wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses, failure to pay wages when due, and failure to pay sick pay. Martin Reyes v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, Sacramento County Superior Court (No. 23cv011351), removed to federal court, No. 2:24-cv-00300 (E.D. Cal.). A second amended complaint was filed, which the Company has moved to dismiss. In January 2024, the same plaintiff filed a related Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) representative action, seeking civil penalties and asserting the same alleged underlying Labor Code violations and an additional suitable seating claim. In May 2024, the plaintiff filed an amended PAGA complaint; the Company has denied the material allegations of the complaint and filed a motion to stay the action. The motion was granted on December 18, 2024.
In August 2024, an employee filed an action under PAGA against the Company, alleging claims for penalties for alleged violations of the California Labor Code regarding: off-the-clock work, incorrect and untimely payment of wages. Nader v. Costco (No. CV-24-006198; Stanislaus County Superior Court). An amended complaint was filed in November 2024. In February 2025 the court granted the Company’s motion to strike portions of the complaint; the plaintiff has permission to file a further amended complaint.
Beginning in December 2017, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated numerous cases concerning the impacts of opioid abuses filed against various defendants by counties, cities, hospitals, Native American tribes, third-party payors, and others. In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804) (N.D. Ohio). Included are cases filed against the Company by counties and cities in Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia and South Carolina, a third-party payor in Ohio, and a hospital in Texas, class actions filed on behalf of infants born with opioid-related medical conditions in 40 states, and class actions and individual actions filed on behalf of individuals seeking to recover alleged increased insurance costs associated with opioid abuse in 43 states and American Samoa. Claims against the Company filed in federal court outside the MDL by one county in Georgia are pending, and claims filed by certain cities and counties in New York are pending in state court, as are claims by certain county district attorneys in Pennsylvania. Claims against the Company in state courts in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah, and Arizona have been dismissed. Claims against the Company in federal court in Georgia and Florida have been dismissed. The Company is defending all of the pending matters except for a small number being resolved for immaterial amounts.
Between September 25 and October 31, 2023, five class action suits were filed against the Company alleging privacy law violations stemming from pixel trackers on Costco.com: Birdwell v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. T23-1405, Contra Costa County Superior Court; and Scott v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 2:23-cv-08808 (C.D. Cal.), now consolidated with R.S. v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 2:23-cv-01628 (W.D. Wash.); Groves, et ano., v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 2:23-cv-01662 (W.D. Wash.), and Castillo v. Costco Wholesale Corp., under No. 2:34-cv-01548 (W.D. Wash.). The Castillo plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on January 26, 2024, which seeks damages, equitable relief and attorneys’ fees under various statutes, including the Washington Consumer Protection Act, Washington Privacy Act, Washington Uniform Health Care Information Act, Electronic Communications Privacy Act, California Invasion of Privacy Act, and California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act. The consolidated complaint also alleges breach of implied contract, invasion of privacy, conversion, and unjust enrichment. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the Castillo complaint on March 11, 2024. In November 2024 the court denied the motion to dismiss in substantial part. On May 16, 2024, the parties stipulated to stay Birdwell pending resolution of Castillo. On January 2, and August 22, 2024, the Company received related civil investigative demands from the Washington Attorney General's Office. On January 3, 2024, the Company received a related pre-litigation letter from the Los Angeles Office of the County Counsel. The Company is in the process of responding to both agencies.
On June 20, 2024, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the Company and Nice-Pak Products, Inc., alleging that Kirkland Signature Fragrance Free Baby Wipes contain 3.7 parts per billion of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The complaint alleges that the label claim that the wipes are “made with naturally derived ingredients” thus violates various state consumer protection and false advertising laws. The complaint seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages, as well as equitable relief and attorneys' fees and costs. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss on August 9, 2024. Bullard, et ano., v. Costco Wholesale Corp., et ano., No. 3:24-cv-03714 (N.D. Cal.). On February 14, 2025, the court granted this motion; plaintiffs have permission to file an amended complaint.
The Company has been served in over seventy product liability cases in California and Oregon related to its alleged sale of artificial and natural stone countertops. These lawsuits allege strict liability, negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, and failure to warn claims on the grounds that the fabricators and cutters of the stone slabs used to fabricate countertops offered for sale by Costco are exposed to silica particulates in the air while performing such work, allegedly causing lung diseases, including, but not limited to, silicosis. The defendants in these cases include the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The Company denied all claims, has filed cross-claims pertaining to indemnity and contribution, and otherwise sought indemnity from responsible parties and has now been dismissed from nearly all of these cases.
In January 2023 the Company received a Civil Investigative Demand from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, requesting documents. The government is conducting a False Claims Act investigation concerning whether the Company presented or caused to be presented to the federal government for payment false claims relating to prescription medications.
In May 2024 the Company received a Notice of Intent to File Administrative Complaint for Violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA is seeking administrative fines for importation, sale and distribution of misbranded devices and unregistered products the government asserts are pesticides under FIFRA.
The Company does not believe that any pending claim, proceeding or litigation, either alone or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows; it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual fiscal quarter or year.
Note 9—Segment Reporting
The Company is principally engaged in the operation of membership warehouses through wholly owned subsidiaries in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, the U.K., Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. Reportable segments are largely based on management’s organization of the operating segments for operational decisions and assessments of financial performance, which consider geographic locations. The material accounting policies of the segments are as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 1, 2024, and Note 1 above. Inter-segment net sales and expenses have been eliminated in calculating total revenue and operating income.
The following table provides information for the Company's reportable segments:
| United States | Canada | OtherInternational | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | $46,413 | $8,296 | $9,014 | $63,723 |
| Operating income | 1,515 | 403 | 398 | 2,316 |
| Total revenue | $41,952 | $7,874 | $8,616 | $58,442 |
| Operating income | 1,294 | 390 | 378 | 2,062 |
| Total revenue | $91,501 | $16,700 | $17,673 | $125,874 |
| Operating income | 3,013 | 765 | 734 | 4,512 |
| Total revenue | $83,785 | $15,775 | $16,681 | $116,241 |
| Operating income | 2,652 | 715 | 679 | 4,046 |
| Total revenue | $184,143 | $34,874 | $35,436 | $254,453 |
| Operating income | 6,217 | 1,648 | 1,420 | 9,285 |
Disaggregated Revenue
The following table summarizes net sales by merchandise category; sales from e-commerce sites and business centers have been allocated to the applicable merchandise categories:
| 12 Weeks Ended | 24 Weeks Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 16,2025 | February 18,2024 | February 16,2025 | February 18,2024 | |
| Foods and Sundries | $25,112 | $23,675 | $50,174 | $46,699 |
| Non-Foods | 17,526 | 15,017 | 33,697 | 29,783 |
| Fresh Foods | 8,836 | 7,996 | 17,054 | 15,324 |
| Warehouse Ancillary and Other Businesses | 11,056 | 10,643 | 22,590 | 22,242 |
| Total net sales | $62,530 | $57,331 | $123,515 | $114,048 |
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