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24. Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale
Get Quote: COST
Financials: Latest Results
Rank: 24 (Previous rank: 29)
Compare tool: Costco Wholesale vs. Top 10
CEO: James D. Sinegal
Address: 999 Lake Dr.
Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: 425-313-8100
Website: www.costco.com
The recession has been kinder to Costco than it has to most retailers. While sales of big-ticket items have suffered, Costco has done well with its low-priced clothing and food, especially its in-house Kirkland brand (and those cheap and addictive roast chickens).

CEO Jim Sinegal is taking advantage of the down market to acquire real estate at better prices and in better locations than was possible before the bust. Costco has more than 550 locations and plans to add 25 to 30 in 2009. Still, the competition including Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club will be doing the same, and the recession could dampen consumer spending even further. - M.C.

  $ millions % change from 2007
Revenues 72,483.0 12.6
Profits 1,282.7 18.5
Assets 20,682.3 —
Stockholders' equity 9,192.1 —
Market value (3/27/2009) 20,535.8 —
Profits as % of  
Revenues 1.8
Assets 6.2
Stockholders' equity 14.0
Earnings per share  
2008 $ 2.89
% change from 2007 21.9
1998-2008 annual growth rate % 11.0
Total return to investors %
2008 -24.0
1998-2008 annual rate 4.3
Rank Company 500
rank		 Revenues
($ millions)
1 Costco Wholesale 24 72,483.0
2 Home Depot 25 71,288.0
3 Lowe's 47 48,230.0
4 Best Buy 56 40,023.0
5 Staples 109 23,083.8
6 TJX 131 19,147.5
7 Gap 178 14,526.0
8 Office Depot 179 14,495.5
9 Toys "R" Us 192 13,724.0
10 Circuit City Stores 228 11,743.7
11 BJ's Wholesale Club 269 10,027.4
12 Limited Brands 290 9,043.0
13 GameStop 296 8,805.9
14 OfficeMax 313 8,267.0
15 Pantry 317 8,088.6
16 TravelCenters of America 332 7,658.4
17 Bed Bath & Beyond 355 7,048.9
18 AutoZone 380 6,522.7
19 Ross Stores 384 6,486.1
20 Blockbuster 450 5,287.9
21 Foot Locker 454 5,237.0
22 Barnes & Noble 455 5,235.3
23 Advance Auto Parts 461 5,142.3
24 PetSmart 468 5,065.3
25 Big Lots 498 4,645.3
26 Dollar Tree 499 4,644.9
27 Neiman Marcus 504 4,600.5
28 Casey's General Stores 516 4,429.3
29 RadioShack 534 4,224.5
30 Dick's Sporting Goods 541 4,130.1
31 Susser Holdings 558 3,966.4
32 Michaels Stores 571 3,817.0
33 O'Reilly Automotive 602 3,576.6
34 Abercrombie & Fitch 607 3,540.3
35 Collective Brands 620 3,442.0
36 Burlington Coat Factory 624 3,424.0
37 Williams-Sonoma 637 3,361.5
38 Borders Group 639 3,356.2
39 Coach 661 3,180.9
40 Systemax 683 3,033.0
41 Tractor Supply 684 3,007.9
42 American Eagle Outfitters 690 2,988.9
43 Rent A Center 706 2,884.2
44 Tiffany & Co 709 2,860.0
45 HSN 714 2,823.6
46 Regis 730 2,738.9
47 Sally Beauty Holdings 742 2,648.2
48 Charming Shoppes 747 2,630.7
49 Cabela's 764 2,552.7
50 Fastenal 813 2,340.4
51 Brown Shoe 828 2,276.4
52 Zale 845 2,194.6
53 AnnTaylor Stores 846 2,194.6
54 Men's Wearhouse 905 1,972.4
55 Pep Boys 917 1,927.8
56 Jo-Ann Stores 922 1,901.1
57 Aéropostale 929 1,885.5
58 Urban Outfitters 953 1,834.6
59 Children's Place Retail Stores 981 1,759.5
60 PC Connection 985 1,753.7
Issue date: May 4, 2009
Figures are for fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2008.
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