Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST, ETR:CTO) exceeded earnings expectations in Q4, reporting EPS of $5.29, above the estimated $5.08, and reflecting an 8.8% year-over-year (YoY) increase.
Revenue, however, came in slightly below forecasts at $79.7 billion, compared to the expected $79.93 billion.
Membership fees were $1.51 billion, below the estimated $1.6 billion.
Comparable sales saw strong growth, with total company sales up 5.4%, or 6.9% when adjusted for gas prices and foreign exchange. E-commerce was a standout, with a 19.5% YoY increase on an adjusted basis.
For the full year, Costco's net sales reached $249.6 billion, a 5.0% increase YoY, while net income surged 17.1% to $7.37 billion. The company expanded its global presence, operating 891 warehouses worldwide. However, cash and cash equivalents dropped to $9.91 billion, down from $13.7 billion last year.
CEO Ron Vachris highlighted strong sales growth and profitability, supported by high membership loyalty and international expansion.
Shares of Costco slipped around 0.8% in afterhours trading Thursday.