NASDAQ$COST

Costco Wholesale Corp · Q4 2020 earnings

Q4 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Costco's Q4 2020 earnings were released, showing an increase in net sales and net income compared to the previous year.

Costco reported a 12.5% increase in net sales for the quarter, reaching $52.28 billion. Net income for the quarter was $1.389 billion, or $3.13 per diluted share, compared to $1.097 billion, or $2.47 per diluted share last year.

  • Net sales increased by 12.5% to $52.28 billion.
  • Net income rose to $1.389 billion, or $3.13 per diluted share.
  • E-commerce sales surged with a comparable sales growth of 90.6%.
  • The company operates 795 warehouses worldwide.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$53.4B

Previous: $47.5B+12.4%
EPS (adj)

$3.13

Previous: $2.69+16.4%
US Comp Sales Ex-Gas/FX

13.6%

No prior period
Canada Comp Sales Ex-Gas/FX

12.6%

No prior period
Intl Comp Sales Ex-Gas/FX

18.8%

No prior period
Total Comp Sales Ex-Gas/FX

14.1%

No prior period
Adj Digital Comp Sales

91.3%

No prior period
Capital Expenditures

$852M

Previous: $1.01B-15.6%
Free Cash Flow

$3.39B

Previous: $1.28B+164.0%
Net Income

$1.39B

Previous: $1.1B+26.6%
Operating Income

$1.93B

Previous: $1.46B+31.9%
Gross Profit

$6.98B

Previous: $6.19B+12.8%
Cash & Equivalents

$12.3B

Previous: $8.38B+46.4%
Total Assets

$55.6B

Previous: $45.4B+22.4%
Stock-Based Comp

$111M

Previous: $113M-1.8%

Revenue & EPS history

Costco · Revenue · Quarterly

$53.4B

Q4 2020+12.4%vs Q4 2019
Beat estimate in 13 of 16 quarters(81%)
ActualEstimate

Forward guidance

The press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. The company does not undertake to update these statements except as required by law.

Tailwinds

  • Company expects activities, events, conditions or developments may occur in the future.
  • Company anticipates activities, events, conditions or developments may occur in the future.
  • Company believes activities, events, conditions or developments may occur in the future.
  • Company will continue activities, events, conditions or developments may occur in the future.
  • Company estimates activities, events, conditions or developments may occur in the future.

Headwinds

  • Domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates.
  • The effects of competition and regulation.
  • Uncertainties in the financial markets.
  • Consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels.
  • Breaches of security or privacy of member or business information.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 19 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2020

Historical avgQ4 2020

-0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.2%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.2%

Avg return

30 days after

56%

40 / 72 earnings

Positive

+7.0%

Q3 2022

Best reaction

-9.1%

Q1 2019

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q3 2027
Q2 2026+2.1%+1.0%+3.3%
Q1 2026-2.0%-2.5%+4.6%
Q4 2025-2.2%-2.8%-1.2%
Q3 2026+1.6%-2.8%-4.8%
Q3 2025+3.1%+4.3%-2.3%
Q2 2025-6.1%-9.7%-10.7%
Q1 2025-0.5%-1.3%-5.8%
Q4 2024-2.5%-3.4%-1.9%
Q3 2024+0.4%+2.6%+5.4%
Q2 2024-6.2%-4.7%-7.7%
Q1 2024+2.6%+5.6%+6.4%
Q4 2023+0.9%+1.1%-2.0%
Q3 2023+5.1%+5.2%+8.6%
Q2 2023-0.7%+1.4%+3.8%
Q1 2023+0.2%+1.3%+0.2%
Q4 2022-5.4%-3.0%-3.0%
Q3 2022+7.0%+5.9%+10.1%
Q2 2022-0.5%-0.9%+9.0%
Q1 2022+5.4%+2.9%+1.1%
Q4 2021+3.4%-1.1%+6.6%
Q3 2021-1.9%-1.9%+2.3%
Q2 2021-2.0%-1.6%+9.6%
Q1 2021+0.2%-0.6%-1.2%
Q4 2020-0.6%+2.2%+8.7%
Q3 2020+0.8%+0.4%-3.1%
Q2 2020-2.9%-3.5%-10.0%
Q1 2020-1.2%+0.1%+0.7%
Q4 2019+2.3%+2.4%+3.9%
Q3 2019-0.5%+2.0%+9.8%
Q2 2019+3.9%+6.3%+12.2%
Q1 2019-9.1%-10.9%-7.6%
Q4 2018-6.2%-3.9%-1.3%
Q3 2018-1.3%-0.9%+4.7%
Q2 2018-3.0%-1.1%-3.9%
Q1 2018+2.4%+0.0%+1.9%
Q4 2017-4.9%-5.0%+0.7%
Q3 2017+2.8%+3.4%-9.2%
Q2 2017-4.3%-6.1%-5.7%
Q1 2017+4.4%+6.2%+7.8%
Q4 2016+2.1%+0.7%+0.2%
Q3 2016+5.0%+4.6%+9.1%
Q2 2016+0.7%
Q1 2016-4.4%
Q4 2015+0.7%
Q3 2015+0.7%
Q2 2015+1.6%
Q1 2015-1.1%
Q4 2014+2.5%
Q3 2014+1.6%
Q2 2014-2.6%
Q1 2014-1.5%
Q4 2013+3.1%
Q3 2013-2.9%
Q2 2013+1.0%
Q1 2013-0.5%
Q4 2012-1.3%
Q3 2012+1.4%
Q2 2012+1.0%
Q1 2012-3.5%
Q4 2011+0.8%
Q3 2011-0.8%
Q2 2011+1.3%
Q1 2011+1.1%
Q4 2008-2.3%
Q4 2010-2.3%
Q3 2010+0.2%
Q3 2009+0.2%
Q2 2009+0.6%
Q2 2010+0.6%
Q4 2009+2.5%
Q1 2010+2.5%
Q1 2009+2.5%

Discussion

Share your read of this quarter. Sign-in carries your eToro identity.

Join the conversation

Sign in with eToro to post your read of this quarter and vote on others'.

Sign in with eToro