COST · 10-Q · 2026Q2 · Full report
Warehouse Ancillary Growth
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW · 2026-06-03 · Importance 66 · Surprise 66 · In source text
Warehouse ancillary and other businesses grew sharply, with sales up 29% in the third quarter and 16% year-to-date, led by gasoline and pharmacy. Gasoline contributed materially to net sales through both higher volumes (volume up ~10% in the quarter, ~6% year-to-date) and higher average prices per gallon (average price +20% in the quarter, +5% year-to-date). Ancillary gains also improved gross-margin mix in parts of the business (pharmacy and e-commerce contributed positively to segment gross margin). The ancillary business is an important lever for traffic and sales despite typically lower gross-margin percentages than core merchandise.
Key facts
- Sales in warehouse ancillary and other businesses increased $3,468 or 29% in the third quarter of 2026. source
- Sales in warehouse ancillary and other businesses increased $5,510 or 16% in the first thirty-six weeks of 2026. source
- The volume of gasoline sold increased approximately 10% in the third quarter of 2026, positively impacting net sales by $662 or 107 basis points. source
- The volume of gasoline sold increased approximately 6% in the first thirty-six weeks of 2026, positively impacting net sales by $1,105 or 60 basis points. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| revenue | positive | realized | +7.8% | Sales in warehouse ancillary and other businesses increased $5,510 or 16% in the first thirty-six weeks of 2026. |
| revenue | positive | realized | +4.9% | Sales in warehouse ancillary and other businesses increased $3,468 or 29% in the third quarter of 2026. |
| revenue | positive | realized | +1.6% | The volume of gasoline sold increased approximately 6% in the first thirty-six weeks of 2026, positively impacting net sales by $1,105 or… |
| revenue | positive | realized | +0.9% | The volume of gasoline sold increased approximately 10% in the third quarter of 2026, positively impacting net sales by $662 or 107 basis… |