Costco (COST) 2Q16 Results: Complicated but Decent Quarter, Solid Comps ex Gas, Foreign Exchange

Executive Summary

• Costco reported fiscal 2Q16 revenue of $28.2 billion, up 2.6% year over year and slightly below the consensus estimate of $28.6 billion. EPS was $1.24, missing the consensus estimate by four cents. The reported EPS figure includes items that hurt EPS by $0.11 per share.
• Comps were up 1% for the total company: they were up 3% in the US, down 7% in Canada and down 3% in other international divisions. Excluding gasoline sales and foreign exchange, total comps were up 5%: they were up 4% in the US, up 10% in Canada and up 6% in other international.
• Consensus estimates are for revenues of $121.6 billion (up 6.9%) and EPS of $5.47 (up 1.9%) in 2016.