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24. Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale
Financials: Latest Results
Rank: 24 (Previous rank: 28)
CEO: W. Craig Jelinek
Was this company a 2011 top stock?

Even as the economy slowly recovers, many shoppers are sticking to the thrifty habits they acquired over the past few years. This spells good news for Costco. Bargain-hunting bulk shoppers bought $89 billion worth of food, electronics, and oversized miscellany at the company's 600 warehouses in 2011, a 14% jump from the previous year. Costco also reaped the benefits of rising gas prices, since it charges members less for gas than nearby competitors — a strategy that brings more bodies into its warehouses. The move brings more bodies into its warehouses.

While merchandise costs are rising for the wholesale giant, the company is keeping their product prices steady. In a sign of the times, Costco raised its membership fees in November 2011 by 10% for its U.S. and Canadian customers, the first such increase in five years. It doesn't seem to have affected it much, with 86% of their members renewing worldwide.

In another sign of changing times at Costco, co-founder Jim Sinegal stepped down from the CEO spot in January, handing over the reins to Craig Jelinek, who had been serving as president and COO and has been working at the company since 1984. Sinegal remains as an advisor and board member.

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Key financials $ millions % change
from 2010
Revenues 88,915.0 14.1
Profits 1,462.0 12.2
Assets 26,761.0
Stockholders' equity 12,002.0
Market value (3/29/2012) 38,988.1
Profits as % of  
Revenues 1.6
Assets 5.5
Stockholders' equity 12.2
Earnings per share  
2011 $ 3.30
% change from 2010 13.0
2001-2011 annual growth rate % 9.8
Total return to investors %
2011 16.8
2001-2011 annual rate 7.4
Rank Company 500
rank
Revenues
($ millions)
1 Costco Wholesale 24 88,915.0
2 Home Depot 35 70,395.0
3 Best Buy 53 50,272.0
4 Lowe's 54 50,208.0
5 Staples 114 25,022.2
6 Toys "R" Us 194 13,909.0
7 Office Depot 233 11,489.5
8 GameStop 273 9,550.5
9 Bed Bath & Beyond 294 8,758.5
10 AutoZone 320 8,073.0
11 TravelCenters of America 329 7,888.9
12 Pantry 347 7,271.8
13 OfficeMax 354 7,121.2
14 Barnes & Noble 360 6,998.6
15 Dollar Tree 373 6,630.5
16 Advance Auto Parts 392 6,170.5
17 PetSmart 400 6,113.3
18 O'Reilly Automotive 424 5,788.8
19 Dick's Sporting Goods 466 5,211.8
20 Big Lots 467 5,202.3
21 Casey's General Stores 473 5,140.2
22 Susser Holdings 486 4,873.8
Issue date: May 21, 2012
Figures are for fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2011.
Galleries and more
Headquarters
MAPS
Costco Wholesale
999 Lake Dr.
Issaquah, WA 98027
425-313-8100
www.costco.com
What do you think about Costco Wholesale?
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Fortune 500+
Want more on America's top companies? Get data on the full Fortune 1,000 list here. Fortune 500+

Rank # of Fortune 500 Companies
California 53
Texas 52
New York 50
Company Rank
Google 73
NetApp 474
NuStar Energy 377
Company 2011 $ (millions)
Exxon $41,060.0
Chevron $26,895.0
Apple $25,922.0
FAQ and methodology
Included in the survey are U.S. incorporated companies filing financial statements with a government agency. This includes private companies... More
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