<div id="readability-page-1"><div> By Nicholas G. Miller <pre></pre> Costco Wholesale reported higher third-quarter sales as the retailer continues to draw inflation-weary consumers, including to its fuel pumps. The retailer on Thursday posted a mixed quarter, with sales exceeding expectations as customers flocked to its warehouses to seek out deals and to its gas stations for discounted fuel. However, margins were pinched in part by higher costs and investments the company made in lower prices on some everyday items, including eggs and beef. &#34;Against the backdrop of ongoing macro uncertainty, our focus on providing quality goods and services at the lowest possible price continues to resonate strongly with our members,&#34; Chief Executive Ron Vachris said. All three four-week periods of the quarter set successive company sales volume records, boosted in part by higher gas prices and volumes. &#34;The high consumer price sensitivity which fueled these record volumes also drove many members to use our gas stations for the very first time in the third quarter,&#34; Vachris said. The company said its gas business saw a significant uptick in traffic as consumers flocked to Costco amid a surge in gas prices from the war in Iran. It also said its members were allocating a larger percentage of their total spending to gas purchases. &#34;We saw it as an opportunity, recognizing that our members were dealing with higher gas prices to really invest in increasing value to the member, partly through the widening of our value in gas in the market to drive volume growth and more gallons and traffic to our gas stations,&#34; Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said. Costco said overall inflation increased in the quarter due to higher gas prices and that it expects further inflation in several non-food categories from higher resin costs. For its fiscal third quarter, the company posted net income of $2.19 billion, or $4.93 a share, compared with $1.9 billion, or $4.28 a share, the year prior. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $4.98 a share. Total revenue rose to $70.53 billion from $63.21 billion in the year-ago quarter. Wall Street expected $69.68 billion. Same-store sales grew 9.8% and rose 6.6% on an adjusted basis. Analysts expected 7.8%. <pre></pre> Write to Nicholas G. Miller at nicholas.miller@wsj.com. <pre></pre> (END) Dow Jones Newswires May 28, 2026 18:47 ET (22:47 GMT)Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones &amp; Company, Inc.</div></div>

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Costco Wholesale reported a rise in third-quarter sales, driven by inflation-sensitive consumers seeking value, particularly at gas stations. The company posted net income of $2.19 billion, up from $1.9 billion a year prior, with total revenue increasing to $70.53 billion. Despite record sales volumes, margins were affected by higher costs and investments in lower prices for everyday items. Same-store sales grew 9.8%, exceeding analyst expectations.

Costco 3Q Sales Rise as Value Offerings Draw Pressured Consumers — Update