When Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) released its fiscal first-quarter financial results after the markets closed on Thursday, the company said that it had $2.01 in earnings per share (EPS) and $34.63 billion in revenue. That compared with consensus estimates of $1.69 in EPS and $35.67 billion in revenue, as well as the $1.59 per share and $32.99 billion posted in the same period of last year.
In the most recent quarter, total company comparable sales, excluding foreign exchange and gasoline prices, increased 4.6%. This consisted of a 5.7% increase in comparable sales in the United States and a 4.8% increase in Canada’s comparable sales.
E-commerce comparable sales totaled 24.2% for the quarter, while adjusted comparable sales only increased by 21.6%.
On the books, Costco cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $7.12 billion at the end of the quarter, up from $7.26 billion at the end of the previous fiscal year.
In the release management, commented:
February’s sales were negatively impacted approximately 1% by weather throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year occurred eleven days earlier in February this year, negatively impacting February’s Other International sales by approximately 4.5% and Total Company sales by approximately 0.5%.
Shares of Costco closed Thursday at $216.79, in a 52-week range of $180.83 to $245.16. The consensus price target is $238.13. Following the announcement, the stock was up about 4% at $226.03 in early trading indications Friday.
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