Company: COST
Filing Date: 2025-10-08
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000909832-25-000101
Chunk: 52

Company: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW
Filing Date: 2025-10-08
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 52
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 member sign-ups and membership fee increases. At the end of 2025, our member renewal rates were 92.3% in the U.S. and Canada and 89.8% worldwide. Renewal rates were negatively impacted by a higher number of memberships sold online, 

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including through digital promotions, entering the renewal rate calculation. These members renew at a slightly lower rate on average.

As previously reported, we increased our annual membership fees in the U.S. and Canada, effective September 1, 2024. We account for membership fee revenue on a deferred basis, recognized ratably over the one-year membership period. The fee income increase accounted for approximately 40% of membership income growth during 2025.

Gross Margin

202520242023Net sales$269,912$249,625$237,710Less merchandise costs239,886222,358212,586Gross margin$30,026$27,267$25,124Gross margin percentage11.12 %10.92 %10.57 %

Gross margin percentage increased 20 basis points. Excluding the impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales, gross margin percentage was 11.03%, an increase of 11 basis points. This increase was positively impacted by 19 basis points in our core merchandise categories, primarily due to fresh foods and our co-branded credit card program. Gross margin percentage was negatively impacted by seven basis points due to a LIFO charge in 2025 for higher merchandise costs and one basis point in warehouse ancillary and other businesses. Changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar negatively impacted gross margin by approximately $224, attributable to our Other International and Canadian operations.

The gross margin in core merchandise categories, when expressed as a percentage of core merchandise sales (rather than total net sales), increased 16 basis points. The increase was primarily due to fresh foods and foods and sundries, partially offset by non-foods. This measure eliminates the impact of changes in sales penetration and gross margin from our warehouse ancillary and other businesses.

Gross margin on a segment basis, when expressed as a percentage of the segment's own sales and excluding the impact of changes in gasoline prices on net sales (segment gross margin percentage), increased in our U.S. segment, which performed similarly to the consolidated results above. Our Canadian and Other International segments gross margin increased, primarily due to increases in core merchandise categories and warehouse ancillary and other businesses.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses