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Costco Wholesale

NASDAQ: COST · USD

Costco Wholesale cash flow and EPS99

Operating cash flow, capital investment, free cash flow and earnings per share.

Capital allocation

% of tracked cash uses

$1,597M
Costco Wholesale capital allocation. Quarterly values. Missing values are unavailable.
PeriodCapexAcquisitionsBuybacksDividendsDebt repaymentsTracked uses
FY 2010 Q173.3% · $313MUnavailable0% · $0M18.5% · $79M8.2% · $35M100% · $427M
FY 2010 Q295.07% · $193MUnavailable2.96% · $6M0% · $0M1.97% · $4M100% · $203M
FY 2010 Q3UnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable
FY 2010 Q440.02% · $411MUnavailable42.36% · $435M17.53% · $180M0.1% · $1M100% · $1,027M
FY 2011 Q156.67% · $306MUnavailable26.85% · $145M16.48% · $89M0% · $0M100% · $540M
FY 2011 Q271.34% · $234MUnavailable28.66% · $94M0% · $0M0% · $0M100% · $328M
FY 2011 Q358.4% · $278MUnavailable22.69% · $108M18.91% · $90M0% · $0M100% · $476M
FY 2011 Q449.22% · $472MUnavailable28.88% · $277M21.9% · $210M0% · $0M100% · $959M
FY 2012 Q167.79% · $343MUnavailable32.21% · $163M0% · $0MUnavailable100% · $506M
FY 2012 Q253.22% · $289MUnavailable27.44% · $149M19.34% · $105MUnavailable100% · $543M
FY 2012 Q352.34% · $268MUnavailable27.34% · $140M20.31% · $104MUnavailable100% · $512M
FY 2012 Q458.17% · $580MUnavailable18.05% · $180M23.77% · $237M0% · $0M100% · $997M
FY 2013 Q193.13% · $488MUnavailable6.87% · $36MUnavailableUnavailable100% · $524M
FY 2013 Q2100% · $455MUnavailable0% · $0MUnavailableUnavailable100% · $455M
FY 2013 Q378.42% · $436MUnavailable0% · $0M21.58% · $120MUnavailable100% · $556M
FY 2013 Q472.21% · $704MUnavailable0% · $0M27.79% · $271M0% · $0M100% · $975M
FY 2014 Q1100% · $574MUnavailable0% · $0MUnavailableUnavailable100% · $574M
FY 2014 Q2100% · $447MUnavailable0% · $0MUnavailableUnavailable100% · $447M
FY 2014 Q356.88% · $405MUnavailable24.02% · $171M19.1% · $136MUnavailable100% · $712M
FY 2014 Q454.47% · $567MUnavailable15.66% · $163M29.88% · $311MUnavailable100% · $1,041M
FY 2015 Q196.86% · $555MUnavailable3.14% · $18MUnavailableUnavailable100% · $573M
FY 2015 Q220.04% · $612MUnavailable2.75% · $84M77.21% · $2,358MUnavailable100% · $3,054M
FY 2015 Q314.51% · $421MUnavailable4.24% · $123M81.25% · $2,358M0% · $0M100% · $2,902M
FY 2015 Q457.01% · $805MUnavailable18.13% · $256M24.86% · $351MUnavailable100% · $1,412M
FY 2016 Q183.43% · $715MUnavailable16.57% · $142M0% · $0MUnavailable100% · $857M
FY 2016 Q271.64% · $624MUnavailable8.15% · $71M20.21% · $176MUnavailable100% · $871M
FY 2016 Q359.56% · $461MUnavailable17.7% · $137M22.74% · $176M0% · $0M100% · $774M
FY 2016 Q457.87% · $849MUnavailable9.27% · $136M26.86% · $394M6% · $88M100% · $1,467M
FY 2017 Q167.58% · $667MUnavailable12.36% · $122M20.06% · $198M0% · $0M100% · $987M
FY 2017 Q288.36% · $516MUnavailable11.64% · $68M0% · $0M0% · $0M100% · $584M
FY 2017 Q328.66% · $540MUnavailable2.44% · $46M10.51% · $198M58.39% · $1,100M100% · $1,884M
FY 2017 Q413.86% · $779MUnavailable4.15% · $233M62.42% · $3,508M19.57% · $1,100M100% · $5,620M
FY 2018 Q181.84% · $820MUnavailable12.38% · $124M0% · $0M5.79% · $58M100% · $1,002M
FY 2018 Q264.47% · $508MUnavailable7.61% · $60M27.92% · $220M0% · $0M100% · $788M
FY 2018 Q368.18% · $585MUnavailable6.29% · $54M25.52% · $219M0% · $0M100% · $858M
FY 2018 Q474.16% · $1,056MUnavailable6.32% · $90M17.56% · $250M1.97% · $28M100% · $1,424M
FY 2019 Q153.99% · $730MUnavailable2.37% · $32M37.06% · $501M6.58% · $89M100% · $1,352M
FY 2019 Q283.38% · $587MUnavailable16.62% · $117M0% · $0M0% · $0M100% · $704M
FY 2019 Q369.35% · $672MUnavailable4.75% · $46M25.9% · $251M0% · $0M100% · $969M
FY 2019 Q474.91% · $1,009MUnavailable3.86% · $52M21.23% · $286M0% · $0M100% · $1,347M
FY 2020 Q154.25% · $715MUnavailable2.28% · $30M43.47% · $573M0% · $0M100% · $1,318M
FY 2020 Q230.41% · $545MUnavailable2.62% · $47M0% · $0M66.96% · $1,200M100% · $1,792M
FY 2020 Q345.95% · $698MUnavailable2.24% · $34M18.89% · $287M32.92% · $500M100% · $1,519M
FY 2020 Q427.88% · $852MUnavailable2.78% · $85M20.26% · $619M49.08% · $1,500M100% · $3,056M
FY 2021 Q169.6% · $893MUnavailable6.24% · $80M24.16% · $310MUnavailable100% · $1,283M
FY 2021 Q211.22% · $573MUnavailable2.07% · $106M86.71% · $4,430MUnavailable100% · $5,109M
FY 2021 Q367.68% · $1,028MUnavailable11.92% · $181M20.41% · $310M0% · $0M100% · $1,519M
FY 2021 Q454.29% · $1,094MUnavailable6.4% · $129M34.64% · $698M4.67% · $94M100% · $2,015M
FY 2022 Q173.16% · $1,055MUnavailable2.57% · $37M24.27% · $350MUnavailable100% · $1,442M
FY 2022 Q290.26% · $723MUnavailable9.74% · $78M0% · $0MUnavailable100% · $801M
FY 2022 Q363.54% · $854MUnavailable10.34% · $139M26.12% · $351M0% · $0M100% · $1,344M
FY 2022 Q487.19% · $1,259MUnavailable12.81% · $185MUnavailable0% · $0M100% · $1,444M
FY 2023 Q166.15% · $1,057MUnavailable8.82% · $141M25.03% · $400MUnavailable100% · $1,598M
FY 2023 Q286.16% · $890MUnavailable13.84% · $143M0% · $0MUnavailable100% · $1,033M
FY 2023 Q356.32% · $820MUnavailable11.13% · $162M27.4% · $399M5.15% · $75M100% · $1,456M
FY 2023 Q487.12% · $1,556MUnavailable12.88% · $230MUnavailable0% · $0M100% · $1,786M
FY 2024 Q149.36% · $1,040MUnavailable7.69% · $162M42.95% · $905MUnavailable100% · $2,107M
FY 2024 Q212.42% · $1,031MUnavailable1.93% · $160M85.65% · $7,107MUnavailable100% · $8,298M
FY 2024 Q361.07% · $1,062MUnavailable9.32% · $162M29.61% · $515MUnavailable100% · $1,739M
FY 2024 Q454.95% · $1,577MUnavailable7.53% · $216MUnavailable37.53% · $1,077M100% · $2,870M
FY 2025 Q163.65% · $1,264MUnavailable10.42% · $207M25.93% · $515MUnavailable100% · $1,986M
FY 2025 Q284.72% · $1,137MUnavailable15.28% · $205M0% · $0MUnavailable100% · $1,342M
FY 2025 Q360.9% · $1,131MUnavailable11.36% · $211M27.73% · $515MUnavailable100% · $1,857M
FY 2025 Q483.7% · $1,966MUnavailable11.92% · $280MUnavailable4.38% · $103M100% · $2,349M
FY 2026 Q165.97% · $1,526MUnavailable9.08% · $210M24.95% · $577MUnavailable100% · $2,313M
FY 2026 Q262.12% · $1,289MUnavailable10.07% · $209M27.81% · $577MUnavailable100% · $2,075M
FY 2026 Q388.48% · $1,413MUnavailable11.52% · $184M0% · $0MUnavailable100% · $1,597M
Nov 22, 2009 through May 10, 2026

Latest period omits acquisitions, debt repayments. Percentages cover tracked uses. SBC is noncash and excluded.

Operating cash flow

USD millions

$3,449M

Capital expenditures

USD millions

$1,413M

Free cash flow

USD millions

$2,036M

Stock-based compensation

USD millions

$119M

SBC / free cash flow

% · FCF before SBC deduction

5.84%

SBC / operating cash flow

%

3.45%

Software & intangible investment

USD millions

—

Separately disclosed software and intangible investment is unavailable in the extracted statements for this period.

Diluted EPS

USD per share

$4.93

Quarterly data

Costco Wholesale cash-flow history. Each metric has its own unit. A dash means inputs are missing or the calculation is undefined.
Fiscal periodEndedOperating cash flowUSD millionsCapital expendituresUSD millionsFree cash flowUSD millionsStock-based compensationUSD millionsSBC / free cash flow%SBC / operating cash flow%Software & intangible investmentUSD millionsDiluted EPSUSD per share
FY 2026 Q3May 10, 20263,4491,4132,0361195.84%3.45%—$4.93
FY 2026 Q2Feb 15, 20262,9961,2891,7071669.72%5.54%—$4.58
FY 2026 Q1Nov 23, 20254,6881,5263,16248615.37%10.37%—$4.5
FY 2025 Q4Aug 31, 20253,8671,9661,9011407.36%3.62%——
FY 2025 Q3May 11, 20253,4601,1312,3291064.55%3.06%—$4.28
FY 2025 Q2Feb 16, 20252,7481,1371,6111519.37%5.49%—$4.02
FY 2025 Q1Nov 24, 20243,2601,2641,99646323.2%14.2%—$4.04
FY 2024 Q4Sep 1, 20242,9581,5771,3811329.56%4.46%——
FY 2024 Q3May 12, 20242,9991,0621,9371065.47%3.53%—$3.78
FY 2024 Q2Feb 18, 20247311,031-300136—18.6%—$3.92
FY 2024 Q1Nov 26, 20234,6511,0403,61144412.3%9.55%—$3.58
FY 2023 Q4Sep 3, 20233,7251,5562,1691316.04%3.52%——
FY 2023 Q3May 7, 20231,5418207219413.04%6.1%—$2.93
FY 2023 Q2Feb 12, 20233,1928902,3021476.39%4.61%—$3.3
FY 2023 Q1Nov 20, 20222,6101,0571,55340225.89%15.4%—$3.07
FY 2022 Q4Aug 28, 20222,5061,2591,2471189.46%4.71%——
FY 2022 Q3May 8, 20221,2278543739024.13%7.33%—$3.04
FY 2022 Q2Feb 13, 2022401723-322128—31.92%—$2.92
FY 2022 Q1Nov 21, 20213,2581,0552,20338817.61%11.91%—$2.98
FY 2021 Q4Aug 29, 20212,9401,0941,8461156.23%3.91%——
FY 2021 Q3May 9, 20213,3331,0282,305873.77%2.61%—$2.75
FY 2021 Q2Feb 14, 202138573-535122—321.05%—$2.14
FY 2021 Q1Nov 22, 20202,6478931,75434119.44%12.88%—$2.62
FY 2020 Q4Aug 30, 20204,2428523,3901113.27%2.62%—$3.13
FY 2020 Q3May 10, 20201,8986981,200887.33%4.64%—$1.89
FY 2020 Q2Feb 16, 202061954574118159.46%19.06%—$2.1
FY 2020 Q1Nov 24, 20192,1027151,38730121.7%14.32%—$1.9
FY 2019 Q4Sep 1, 20192,2931,0091,2841138.8%4.93%—$2.47
FY 2019 Q3May 12, 20192,1056721,433936.49%4.42%—$2.05
FY 2019 Q2Feb 17, 2019-219587-806119———$2.01
FY 2019 Q1Nov 25, 20182,1777301,44727018.66%12.4%—$1.73
FY 2018 Q4Sep 2, 20181,5541,05649811322.69%7.27%—$2.36
FY 2018 Q3May 13, 20182,1055851,520855.59%4.04%—$1.7
FY 2018 Q2Feb 18, 2018109508-399112—102.75%—$1.59
FY 2018 Q1Nov 26, 20172,0068201,18623419.73%11.67%—$1.45
FY 2017 Q4Sep 3, 20171,8347791,05511010.43%6%—$2.08
FY 2017 Q3May 7, 20171,6065401,066827.69%5.11%—$1.59
FY 2017 Q2Feb 12, 2017493516-23111—22.52%—$1.17
FY 2017 Q1Nov 20, 20162,7936672,1262119.92%7.55%—$1.24
FY 2016 Q4Aug 28, 2016-169849-1,01897———$1.77
FY 2016 Q3May 8, 20161,8594611,398755.36%4.03%—$1.24
FY 2016 Q2Feb 14, 201679162416710160.48%12.77%—$1.24
FY 2016 Q1Nov 22, 201581171596186193.75%22.93%—$1.09
FY 2015 Q4Aug 30, 20151,0288052239341.7%9.05%—$1.73
FY 2015 Q3May 10, 20151,229421808658.04%5.29%—$1.17
FY 2015 Q2Feb 15, 20159006122888629.86%9.56%—$1.35
FY 2015 Q1Nov 23, 20141,12855557315026.18%13.3%—$1.12
FY 2014 Q4Aug 31, 20148425672757627.64%9.03%—$1.58
FY 2014 Q3May 11, 20141,4904051,085666.08%4.43%—$1.07
FY 2014 Q2Feb 16, 20147134472667327.44%10.24%—$1.05
FY 2014 Q1Nov 24, 201393957436511230.68%11.93%—$0.96
FY 2013 Q4Sep 1, 2013563704-14175—13.32%—$1.4
FY 2013 Q3May 12, 20131,349436913515.59%3.78%—$1.04
FY 2013 Q2Feb 17, 2013423455-3266—15.6%—$1.24
FY 2013 Q1Nov 25, 20121,1024886149315.15%8.44%—$0.95
FY 2012 Q4Sep 2, 20127305801506241.33%8.49%—$1.39
FY 2012 Q3May 6, 20121,083268815455.52%4.16%—$0.88
FY 2012 Q2Feb 12, 20125802892915819.93%10%—$0.9
FY 2012 Q1Nov 20, 20116643433217623.68%11.45%—$0.73
FY 2011 Q4Aug 28, 20119414724695511.73%5.84%—$1.08
FY 2011 Q3May 8, 2011811278533438.07%5.3%—$0.73
FY 2011 Q2Feb 13, 20117262344925210.57%7.16%—$0.79
FY 2011 Q1Nov 21, 20107203064145713.77%7.92%—$0.71
FY 2010 Q4Aug 29, 20106114112005125.5%8.35%—$0.97
FY 2010 Q3May 9, 2010———————$0.68
FY 2010 Q2Feb 14, 20106091934164811.54%7.88%—$0.67
FY 2010 Q1Nov 22, 20097513134385211.87%6.92%—$0.6
Sources and calculations

Financial inputs from company filings. Last checked Oct 18, 2026. A dash means missing inputs or an undefined calculation.

Period changes use the preceding fiscal quarter or year. Percentage changes divide by the absolute prior value; a zero or missing baseline has no percentage change. Percentage metrics show changes in percentage points.

FCF subtracts reported cash capital investment. PPE purchases are preferred; the productive-assets fallback also includes software and intangibles. Acquisitions and noncash lease additions are excluded. EPS and weighted shares are not summed across quarters. Annual figures use annual reports.

SBC / FCF always uses FCF before SBC deduction; both SBC ratios compare amounts from the same period. A zero or negative cash-flow denominator is undefined, and values above 100% are retained.

Each reported nonnegative cash use / sum of available tracked nonnegative cash uses × 100. Missing categories are omitted, never set to zero. This is the composition of tracked uses, not a complete cash-flow reconciliation or a percentage of OCF. SBC is noncash and excluded. Negative amounts are excluded as reversals or net receipts; they are not converted to spending. Annual bars use reported annual amounts. Turning off a category hides its share without changing the denominator. Debt repayments prefer a reported aggregate, with long-term or convertible-only scope identified in the tooltip. Acquisitions are net of cash acquired. Dividend payments use the aggregate where reported, including dividend equivalents when part of that concept.

The SBC option subtracts reported share-based compensation from FCF as an economic-cost scenario. Missing SBC never becomes zero.

Market prices: Yahoo Finance · COST, USD. Latest completed close Sep 25, 2026. Price data retrieved Sep 28, 2026.

Operating cash flow
Reported net cash provided by or used in operating activities.
Capital expenditures
Reported cash capital investment. Uses purchases of property, plant and equipment where disclosed; otherwise purchases of productive assets, which can also include software and intangibles. Excludes acquisitions and noncash lease additions.
Free cash flow
Operating cash flow − reported cash capital investment. PPE purchases are preferred; the productive-assets fallback also includes software and intangibles. Reflects the SBC option and can differ from issuer-defined FCF.
Stock-based compensation
Reported share-based compensation addback in the cash-flow statement. Missing disclosure is not treated as zero.
SBC / free cash flow
Reported share-based compensation / (operating cash flow − cash capital investment) × 100, for the same fiscal period. Always uses FCF before SBC deduction. Zero or negative FCF is undefined; values above 100% are retained.
SBC / operating cash flow
Reported share-based compensation / reported operating cash flow × 100, for the same fiscal period. Zero or negative operating cash flow is undefined. Unaffected by the SBC deduction scenario.
Software & intangible investment
Separately tagged payments for capitalized software under US GAAP, or purchases of intangible assets under IFRS. This optional disclosure is not inferred from total capex or deducted a second time from FCF.
Diluted EPS
Reported diluted earnings per share, normalized for recorded subsequent stock splits. Quarterly EPS is never subtracted from annual or YTD EPS.