Costco (COST) Stock Jumps as Online Sales Growth Reaches 18% in December

TLDR

• December 2025 net sales reached $29.86 billion, up 8.5% from December 2024
• Comparable store sales grew 7% companywide and 6.3% in the U.S. market
• E-commerce sales jumped 18.3% as online shopping accelerated
• Traffic rose 2.7% while average transaction value increased 4.2%
• COST stock gained 3% on Thursday following the monthly sales release

Costco reported December 2025 sales of $29.86 billion on Wednesday. The figure represents an 8.5% increase from the same period in 2024.

Costco Wholesale Corporation, COST

The warehouse retailer’s comparable store sales grew 7% companywide. U.S. comparable sales rose 6.3% when excluding gas prices and currency fluctuations.

COST stock climbed more than 3% on Thursday. Shares reached $915.56 by market close after rising as high as 5.6% during the session.

The December performance marks an acceleration from November’s 6.9% comparable sales growth. This matters because December accounted for 40% of sales in the fiscal second quarter last year.

Strong Online Sales Growth

E-commerce delivered standout results. Digitally-enabled sales surged 18.3% on a comparable basis.

The online channel growth accelerated from 16.3% in November. More members are choosing delivery and pickup options.

Customer traffic increased 2.7% during the five-week period ending January 4. Average ticket value rose 4.2%.

All merchandise departments posted positive comparable sales. Both essential items and discretionary purchases showed growth.

Value Pricing Attracts Shoppers

Costco’s low-price strategy continues working. Shoppers seeking deals are choosing warehouse clubs over traditional retailers.

The company’s bulk buying power enables competitive pricing. This creates customer loyalty and repeat visits.

Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom called the results a springboard for the stock. COST shares fell 6% in 2025 while the S&P 500 gained double digits.

William Blair analyst Phillip Blee raised earnings estimates after the report. He said the data eases concerns about second quarter performance.

Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh rates COST a top pick with a $1,050 target. He cited potential for a special dividend or stock split.

The stock trades at 41 times forward earnings. This valuation has dropped from over 50 times previously.

Costco’s December comparable sales held up well against tough prior-year comparisons. The company averaged over 9% comp growth in early 2024.

The retailer operates on a membership model that generates steady fee income. Product sales drive volume while memberships provide profit stability.

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