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Costco Sustains Sturdy Comps Run With 5.4% Rise in June

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Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) reported decent comparable sales (comps) number for the month of June, in spite of operating in a fast-changing retail landscape. Certainly, better price management, strong membership trends and increasing penetration of e-commerce business have been playing a crucial role in the healthy comps run.

The operator of membership warehouses highlighted that comps for the five-week period ended Jul 7, 2019 rose 5.4% following an increase of 4.2% in May, 5.4% in April, 5.7% in March, 3.5% in February and 5.2% in January. Comps for June reflect an increase of 6.3% in the United States, 2.8% in Canada and 3.1% in Other International locations, respectively.

Excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, gasoline prices and accounting change concerning revenue recognition (ASC 606), comps for the month rose 5.1%, while the same advanced 5.3%, 4.3% and 5.5% in the United States, Canada and Other International locations, respectively.

Meanwhile, net sales improved 7.5% to $14.57 billion in the month under review, following an increase of 5.9%, 7.3%, 7.4%, 5% and 8% in May, April, March, February and January, respectively.

For the 44 weeks ended Jul 7, 2019, net sales came in at $126.13 billion, up about 8% from $116.81 billion reported in the year-ago period. Comps for the period grew 6.2%, while the same increased 8%, 1.1% and 2.1% in the United States, Canada and Other International locations, respectively.

Costco is also steadily expanding e-commerce capabilities in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea and Taiwan. E-commerce comparable sales surged 15.7% in the month of June, following an increase of 20.2, 23.6%, 20.6%, 24.2% and 22.1%, in the months of May, April, March, February and January, respectively.

 

 

Wrapping Up

Costco, which shares space with Walmart (WMT - Free Report) , Target (TGT - Free Report) and Ross Stores (ROST - Free Report) , continues to be one of the dominant warehouse retailers based on the breadth and quality of merchandise offered. In fact, its strategy of selling products at heavily discounted prices has helped it to remain on growth trajectory. In the past six months, shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have increased 29.9% outperforming the industry’s growth of 21.8%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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