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Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2013 Operating Results and September Sales Results

ISSAQUAH, WA--(Marketwired - Oct 9, 2013) - Costco Wholesale Corporation ("Costco" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: COST) today announced its operating results for the 16-week fourth quarter and the 52-week fiscal year 2013 ended September 1, 2013, and its September sales results for the five weeks ended October 6, 2013.

Net sales for the 16-week fourth quarter were $31.77 billion, an increase of one percent from $31.52 billion in the 17-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 ended September 2, 2012. Net sales for the 52-week fiscal year 2013 were $102.87 billion, an increase of six percent from $97.06 billion in the prior 53-week fiscal year.

Comparable sales were as follows:

16 Weeks

52 Weeks

U.S.

5%

6%

International

4%

6%

Total Company

5%

6%

For the 16-week period, changes in foreign exchange rates had a negative impact on comparable sales. Excluding this impact, comparable sales were as follows:

16 Weeks

52 Weeks

U.S.

5%

6%

International

7%

6%

Total Company

5%

6%

Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 was $617 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, compared to $609 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

Net income for fiscal 2013 was $2.04 billion, or $4.63 per diluted share, compared to $1.71 billion, or $3.89 per diluted share, in fiscal year 2012. Net income for fiscal 2013 was positively impacted by a second quarter $62 million ($.14 per diluted share) tax benefit in connection with the portion of the special cash dividend paid in December 2012 to the Company 401(k) plan participants.

For the five-week reporting month of September, ended October 6, 2013, the Company reported net sales of $9.86 billion, an increase of six percent from $9.33 billion during the similar five-week period last year.

Comparable sales for the five-week period ended October 6, 2013, were as follows:

5 Weeks

U.S.

4%

International

0%

Total Company

3%

Comparable sales for the five-week period, excluding negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, were as follows:

5 Weeks

U.S.

5%

International

6%

Total Company

5%

Costco currently operates 638 warehouses, including 454 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 85 in Canada, 34 in Mexico, 25 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Japan, 10 in Taiwan, nine in Korea, and three in Australia. The Company plans to open up to an additional 11 new warehouses before the end of calendar year 2013. Costco also operates electronic commerce web sites, at www.costco.com (U.S.), www.costco.ca (Canada), and www.costco.co.uk (United Kingdom).