Costco Reports Strong December Sales with 8.5% Growth, Online Business Surges 18%

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) delivered robust December sales figures, with net sales climbing 8.5% year-over-year to $29.86 billion for the five weeks ended January 4. U.S. comparable sales ROSE 6.3%, while total company comps increased 7%, excluding gas and currency impacts. The warehouse retailer's online sales surged 18.3%, accelerating from November's 16.3% growth.

Customer traffic grew 2.7%, with the average ticket up 4.2% during the holiday period. Costco's stock rebounded sharply, jumping more than 3% on Thursday after the report, offsetting a 6% decline earlier in the year. The results underscore the company's resilience in a challenging retail environment.

E-commerce performance was particularly noteworthy, reflecting shifting consumer preferences toward digital channels. December sales accounted for approximately 40% of the retailer's quarterly revenue, making the strong performance critical for maintaining annual growth targets.