Costco Wholesale Q1 Comps., Sales Rise - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Membership warehouses operator Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) reported a 3 percent growth in comparable sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Quarterly net sales went up by five percent to $24.47 billion, from $23.2 billion last year. During the quarter, comparable sales grew by 3% in the U.S. and by 1% in the International segment.

Excluding negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, 12-week comparable sales for the total company went up by 5%.

Net income for the quarter advanced to $425 million, or $0.96 per share, from $416 million, or $0.95 per share, a year before.

Costco currently operates 648 warehouses, including 461 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 87 in Canada, 33 in Mexico, 25 in the UK, 18 in Japan, 10 in Taiwan, 9 in Korea and 5 in Australia.