Costco Beats Estimates in Fiscal Q2 as Profit, Comparable Sales Rise; CEO Pledges Tariff Refunds to Members

Costco Wholesale reported stronger-than-expected results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the 12-week period ended Feb. 15, 2026, and for the first 24 weeks of the fiscal year.

The company posted quarterly net profit of $2.04 billion, up from $1.79 billion a year earlier, and reported diluted earnings per share of $4.58, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of $4.55 and rising from $4.02 a year ago.

Costco also beat Wall Street estimates for comparable-store sales, helped by resilient holiday demand for affordable essentials as well as higher-margin "nice-to-have" items sold at its membership-only warehouses.

Higher membership fee revenue contributed to the stronger results, and the company said it continues to pursue refunds related to tariffs imposed under the Trump administration. CEO Ron Vachris said any tariff refund value received will be returned to members through lower prices and better values.

Stronger comparable-store sales during the holidays for both essentials and discretionary items, along with increased membership fee revenue, helped lift profit and earnings per share.

Costco posted $2.04 billion in quarterly net profit, up from $1.79 billion a year earlier, and reported diluted EPS of $4.58 versus $4.02 a year ago.

CEO Ron Vachris said the company is committed to returning any tariff refund value to members through lower prices and better values. Costco is among companies seeking refunds related to tariffs imposed under the previous administration.

GlobeNewsWire

ISSAQUAH, Wash., March 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today announced its operating results for the second quarter (twelve weeks) and the first 24 weeks of fiscal 2026, ended February 15, 2026.

Reuters

Costco Wholesale beat Wall Street estimates ‌for second-quarter comparable sales on Thursday, helped by resilient holiday-season ⁠demand for affordable essentials as well as "nice-to-have" items at its membership-only stores.

WSJ

The company posted a quarterly profit of $2.04 billion, up from $1.79 billion a year earlier.

Business Insider

Costco CEO Ron Vachris said the company is committed to returning tariff refund value to members. The company is one of hundreds suing the US government for refunds of Trump's IEEPA tariffs.

Zacks Investment Research

Costco (COST) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.58 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.55 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.02 per share a year ago.

Zacks Investment Research

While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Costco (COST) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended February 2026, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.

PYMNTS

Costco is seeing measurable benefits from its latest digital initiatives both in-store and online, Costco President, CEO and Director Ron Vachris said Thursday (March 5). “In digital, we continue to make strides with our roadmap to deliver a more seamless experience for members in warehouse and onli...

Seeking Alpha

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Seeking Alpha

Costco's Q2 shows resilient growth driven by traffic, ticket size, and booming e‑commerce. Membership income and a swelling cash position strengthen its subscription‑like model. In this article, I share how I am managing my shares and what I am expecting to see down the road.

Proactive Investors

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST, XETRA:CTO) has reported its financial results for the fiscal second quarter, beating Wall Street estimates for both revenue and profit. For the quarter ended February 15, the warehouse retailer posted revenue of $69.6 billion, above analysts' estimates of...

24/7 Wall Street

Costco (NASDAQ:COST) delivered a clean beat on both the top and bottom lines for its fiscal second quarter of 2026.

Zacks Investment Research

The beat marked the third such occurrence over the last four quarters.

The Motley Fool

Costco's comparable store sales remained strong in fiscal Q2, rising 7.4%. Membership trends and digitally-enabled sales growth remain key catalysts.

MarketBeat

Costco Wholesale NASDAQ: COST presents a buy-now, get-paid-later scenario, with its share price poised to move higher and the special dividend thesis remaining intact.

Zacks Investment Research

BJ's Q4 earnings and revenues beat estimates as record membership, 31% digital sales growth, and new club openings drive traffic and expansion momentum.

Zacks Investment Research

COST tops Q2 estimates as revenues rise 9.2%, driven by steady traffic, higher ticket sizes, strong digital sales and continued membership growth.

Investopedia

Costco Wholesale's (COST) latest earnings beat estimates, giving its stock a lift. But what's next for the retailer's shares, which haven't done much over the past year?

Zacks Investment Research

Costco (COST) has received quite a bit of attention from Zacks.com users lately. Therefore, it is wise to be aware of the facts that can impact the stock's prospects.

Zacks Investment Research

COST's February comps rose 7.9% and e-commerce jumped 21.8%, extending steady sales momentum that helps support the retailer???s premium valuation.

Seeking Alpha

Costco's reported Q2 came in ahead of expectations for both the top and bottom lines. Quarterly results also were stronger than its retail peers, such as Walmart. Shares in the company's stock are continuing to outperform the peer set and the broader markets.

The Motley Fool

Costco's objective isn't to maximize margins, but to sell as much volume as possible. The company's massive scale, with $68 billion in net sales in Q2 2026, supports its durability.

The Motley Fool

Walmart's e-commerce and high-margin advertising businesses are growing rapidly. Costco continues to deliver exceptional comparable sales and membership metrics, demanding a premium valuation.

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