News Release

Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Operating Results
ISSAQUAH, WA, Dec 08, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
Costco Wholesale Corporation ("Costco" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: COST) announced today its operating results for the first quarter (twelve weeks) of fiscal 2012, ended November 20, 2011.
Net sales for the quarter increased thirteen percent to $21.18 billion from $18.82 billion during the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Comparable sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were as follows:
12 Weeks ----------- U.S. 10% International 11% Total Company 10% ===========
Inflation in gasoline prices and strengthening foreign currencies had a positive impact on comparable sales. Excluding these effects, comparable sales for the twelve-week period were as follows:
12 Weeks ----------- U.S. 6% International 10% Total Company 7% ===========
Net income for the quarter was $320 million, or $.73 per diluted share, compared to $312 million, or $.71 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. First quarter results were negatively impacted by a $24 million charge relating to the settlement of an income tax audit of the Company's 50% owned Mexico joint venture. The impact on net income attributable to Costco was $12 million, or $.03 per diluted share. Also negatively impacting this year's results was a $17 million charge, or $.04 per diluted share, for contributions to the Yes on 1183 Coalition in support of an initiative reforming alcoholic beverage laws in Washington State. (The initiative was approved by a 59% to 41% margin.) These contributions were not tax deductible under U.S. tax laws.
Costco currently operates 596 warehouses, including 433 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 82 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, nine in Japan, eight in Taiwan, seven in Korea and three in Australia. The Company also operates Costco Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.costco.com and at www.costco.ca in Canada. The Company plans to open two additional warehouses in Japan prior to the end of calendar year 2011.
A conference call to discuss these fiscal 2012 first quarter results is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. (PT) today, December 8, 2011, and is available via a webcast on www.costco.com (click on Investor Relations and "Play Webcast").
Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For these purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (including health care costs), energy, and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions and other risks identified from time to time in the Company's public statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (dollars in millions, except per share data) (unaudited) 12 Weeks Ended -------------------------- November 20, November 21, 2011 2010 ------------ ------------ REVENUE Net sales $ 21,181 $ 18,823 Membership fees 447 416 ------------ ------------ Total revenue 21,628 19,239 OPERATING EXPENSES Merchandise costs 18,931 16,757 Selling, general and administrative 2,145 1,941 Preopening expenses 10 12 Provision for impaired assets and closing costs, net (1) 4 ------------ ------------ Operating income 543 525 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) Interest expense (27) (26) Interest income and other, net 37 5 ------------ ------------ INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 553 504 Provision for income taxes 225 172 ------------ ------------ Net income including noncontrolling interests 328 332 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (8) (20) ------------ ------------ NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO $ 320 $ 312 ============ ============ NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO: Basic $ 0.74 $ 0.72 ============ ============ Diluted $ 0.73 $ 0.71 ============ ============ Shares used in calculation (000's) Basic 434,222 434,099 Diluted 440,615 441,360 Dividends per share $ 0.240 $ 0.205 COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (dollars in millions) (unaudited) Subject to Reclassifications November 20, August 28, 2011 2011 ------------ ------------ ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,319 $ 4,009 Short-term investments 1,596 1,604 Receivables, net 982 965 Merchandise inventories 7,618 6,638 Deferred income taxes and other current assets 478 490 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 14,993 13,706 Property and equipment, net 12,381 12,432 Other assets 630 623 ------------ ------------ TOTAL ASSETS $ 28,004 $ 26,761 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Short-term borrowings and current portion of long- term debt $ 934 $ 900 Accounts payable 7,576 6,544 Other current liabilities 4,801 4,606 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 13,311 12,050 Long-term debt, excluding current portion 1,330 1,253 Deferred income taxes and other liabilities 916 885 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 15,557 14,188 ------------ ------------ Total Costco stockholders' equity 11,909 12,002 Noncontrolling interests 538 571 ------------ ------------ Total equity 12,447 12,573 ------------ ------------ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 28,004 $ 26,761 ============ ============
CONTACTS: Costco Wholesale Corporation Richard Galanti 425/313-8203 Bob Nelson 425/313-8255 Jeff Elliott 425/313-8264
SOURCE: Costco