Costco reports 14.5% May sales growth, digital sales jump 21.1%

Costco’s May sales surge was not just a top-line number. The company said net sales reached $24.01 billion for the four weeks ended May 31, 2026, up 14.5% from $20.97 billion a year earlier, while digitally enabled comparable sales jumped 21.1%. For warehouse crews, that kind of growth usually means more carts to ring, more pallets to break down, more members to move through the front end, and more pressure to keep shelves full while online demand keeps climbing.

The strength was broad-based. Comparable sales for May rose 12.5% overall, with U.S. comps up 13.7%, Canada up 9.2% and other international markets up 9.7%. Costco issued the sales update June 3 from Issaquah, Washington, after already reporting fiscal third-quarter results that showed net sales of $69.15 billion, up 11.6% from a year earlier, and net income of $2.19 billion, or $4.93 per diluted share.

The company’s scale keeps expanding the workload behind each sales report. Costco said it operated 931 warehouses and e-commerce sites across the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and China. Through the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2026, net sales reached $221.19 billion, up 10.0% from $201.02 billion a year earlier, and sales for the first 36 weeks stood at $203.37 billion, up 9.6%. In practical terms, that growth can mean more replenishment cycles, tighter timing on receiving, and less room for error when members expect fast checkout and fully stocked departments.

There were also signs of pressure outside the usual warehouse aisles. CNBC reported that Costco saw record-breaking gas volumes in its fiscal third quarter as fuel prices rose, adding another layer of activity around stations that already draw heavy traffic. Costco also said it had begun submitting tariff refund claims and expected to receive refunds on approved claims on a rolling basis, a reminder that even a sales beat can still hinge on supply costs and import rules.

The sales momentum came after Costco’s board approved a higher quarterly dividend on April 15, raising it from $1.30 to $1.47 per share, or $5.88 annualized, payable May 15 to shareholders of record as of May 1. For employees on the floor, though, the sharper question is simpler: whether the company’s revenue growth translated into enough labor, scheduling and support to match the pace of the business.