Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

Costco Wholesale Corp., consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in millions

3 months ended:	Feb 15, 2026	Nov 23, 2025	Aug 31, 2025	May 11, 2025	Feb 16, 2025	Nov 24, 2024	Sep 1, 2024	May 12, 2024	Feb 18, 2024	Nov 26, 2023	Sep 3, 2023	May 7, 2023	Feb 12, 2023	Nov 20, 2022	Aug 28, 2022	May 8, 2022	Feb 13, 2022	Nov 21, 2021	Aug 29, 2021	May 9, 2021	Feb 14, 2021	Nov 22, 2020	Aug 30, 2020	May 10, 2020	Feb 16, 2020	Nov 24, 2019
Net income including noncontrolling interests	2,035)	2,001)	2,610)	1,903)	1,788)	1,798)	2,354)	1,681)	1,743)	1,589)	2,160)	1,302)	1,466)	1,364)	1,878)	1,372)	1,320)	1,345)	1,694)	1,233)	971)	1,181)	1,404)	852)	947)	856)
Depreciation and amortization	597)	597)	774)	552)	552)	548)	706)	516)	514)	501)	688)	472)	470)	447)	594)	438)	436)	432)	559)	402)	416)	404)	505)	382)	389)	369)
Non-cash lease expense	74)	75)	95)	71)	65)	72)	95)	72)	74)	74)	112)	84)	105)	111)	137)	95)	73)	72)	97)	65)	61)	63)	78)	39)	38)	39)
Stock-based compensation	166)	486)	140)	106)	151)	463)	132)	106)	136)	444)	131)	94)	147)	402)	118)	90)	128)	388)	115)	87)	122)	341)	111)	89)	118)	301)
Other non-cash operating activities, net	71)	(5)	(102)	64)	(7)	(72)	26)	(28)	(50)	43)	54)	296)	24)	121)	(8)	(42)	(20)	109)	141)	30)	(16)	(11)	174)	(43)	(6)	21)
Merchandise inventories	2,374)	(3,157)	584)	337)	2,179)	(2,541)	(1,237)	(406)	959)	(1,384)	(368)	(253)	2,586)	(737)	(370)	(1,311)	438)	(2,760)	(361)	(51)	1,100)	(2,580)	(1,056)	659)	1,990)	(2,384)
Accounts payable	(3,087)	3,818)	(200)	1,062)	(3,059)	2,601)	558)	1,376)	(2,850)	2,854)	490)	545)	(1,904)	487)	125)	796)	(2,419)	3,389)	582)	1,065)	(2,594)	2,785)	2,832)	(34)	(3,201)	2,664)
Other operating assets and liabilities, net	766)	873)	(34)	(635)	1,079)	391)	324)	(318)	205)	530)	458)	(999)	298)	415)	32)	(211)	445)	283)	113)	502)	(22)	464)	194)	(46)	344)	236)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	53)	1,534)	350)	764)	199)	451)	(355)	652)	(1,686)	2,000)	580)	(707)	980)	165)	(213)	(726)	(1,536)	912)	334)	1,516)	(1,516)	669)	1,970)	579)	(867)	516)
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities	961)	2,687)	1,257)	1,557)	960)	1,462)	604)	1,318)	(1,012)	3,062)	1,565)	239)	1,726)	1,246)	628)	(145)	(919)	1,913)	1,246)	2,100)	(933)	1,466)	2,838)	1,046)	(328)	1,246)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,996)	4,688)	3,867)	3,460)	2,748)	3,260)	2,958)	2,999)	731)	4,651)	3,725)	1,541)	3,192)	2,610)	2,506)	1,227)	401)	3,258)	2,940)	3,333)	38)	2,647)	4,242)	1,898)	619)	2,102)
Additions to property and equipment	(1,289)	(1,526)	(1,966)	(1,131)	(1,137)	(1,264)	(1,577)	(1,062)	(1,031)	(1,040)	(1,556)	(820)	(890)	(1,057)	(1,259)	(854)	(723)	(1,055)	(1,094)	(1,028)	(573)	(893)	(852)	(698)	(545)	(715)
Purchases of short-term investments	(55)	(195)	(455)	(228)	(98)	(247)	(463)	(288)	(519)	(200)	(675)	(551)	(143)	(253)	(533)	(263)	(67)	(258)	(529)	(418)	(111)	(273)	(592)	(398)	(315)	(321)
Maturities of short-term investments	170)	340)	355)	34)	211)	541)	349)	412)	151)	878)	343)	82)	238)	274)	305)	87)	309)	444)	491)	132)	339)	484)	529)	372)	380)	397)
Acquisitions	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(30)	(1,133)	—)	—)
Other investing activities, net	4)	(17)	98)	(11)	2)	(15)	(12)	(16)	13)	(4)	63)	7)	(13)	(21)	—)	(5)	—)	(43)	(23)	(29)	(10)	—)	4)	7)	10)	9)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,170)	(1,398)	(1,968)	(1,336)	(1,022)	(985)	(1,703)	(954)	(1,386)	(366)	(1,825)	(1,282)	(808)	(1,057)	(1,487)	(1,035)	(481)	(912)	(1,155)	(1,343)	(355)	(682)	(941)	(1,850)	(470)	(630)
Repayments of short-term borrowings	(65)	—)	(227)	(246)	(195)	(194)	(283)	(228)	(236)	(173)	(237)	(178)	(443)	(77)	189)	(108)	(87)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	136)	—)	200)	246)	237)	133)	300)	245)	239)	144)	250)	188)	450)	29)	(122)	95)	80)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Repayments of long-term debt	—)	—)	(103)	—)	—)	—)	(1,077)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(75)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(760)	(40)	(94)	—)	—)	—)	(1,500)	(500)	(1,200)	—)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	498)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	3,992)	—)	—)
Tax withholdings on stock-based awards	(1)	(357)	(1)	(2)	(1)	(389)	(2)	(21)	—)	(292)	(1)	—)	(1)	(301)	(3)	(1)	(4)	(355)	—)	(1)	—)	(311)	(2)	(1)	(1)	(326)
Repurchases of common stock	(209)	(210)	(280)	(211)	(205)	(207)	(216)	(162)	(160)	(162)	(230)	(162)	(143)	(141)	(185)	(139)	(78)	(37)	(129)	(181)	(106)	(80)	(85)	(34)	(47)	(30)
Cash dividend payments	(577)	(577)	(1,153)	(515)	—)	(515)	(514)	(515)	(7,107)	(905)	(452)	(399)	—)	(400)	(797)	(351)	—)	(350)	(698)	(310)	(4,430)	(310)	(619)	(287)	—)	(573)
Financing lease payments and other financing activities, net	(14)	(23)	(29)	(20)	(77)	(21)	(24)	(17)	(12)	(84)	6)	(109)	(215)	27)	28)	(172)	21)	(57)	202)	73)	(114)	1)	288)	(171)	(144)	93)
Dividend to noncontrolling interest	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(208)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(842)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(730)	(1,167)	(1,593)	(748)	(241)	(1,193)	(1,816)	(698)	(7,276)	(974)	(664)	(735)	(352)	(863)	(1,940)	(676)	(828)	(839)	(719)	(419)	(4,650)	(700)	(1,918)	2,999)	(1,392)	(836)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	70)	(67)	19)	104)	(36)	(81)	63)	(38)	15)	—)	(29)	(1)	82)	(37)	(69)	(142)	(24)	(14)	(34)	18)	14)	48)	68)	(7)	2)	7)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	1,166)	2,056)	325)	1,480)	1,449)	1,001)	(498)	1,309)	(7,916)	3,311)	1,207)	(477)	2,114)	653)	(990)	(626)	(932)	1,493)	1,032)	1,589)	(4,953)	1,313)	1,451)	3,040)	(1,241)	643)

The provided financial information details cash flow activity over a multi-year quarterly period. Overall, the company demonstrates fluctuating, but generally positive, net cash provided by operating activities. However, significant variability exists within each component of the cash flow statement, particularly in investing and financing activities, leading to substantial swings in the net change in cash and cash equivalents.

Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities generally increased over the observed period, with notable peaks in May 2021, August 2021, and May 2024. However, there were periods of lower cash flow, most notably in February 2021 and February 2024. Net income, a primary driver of operating cash flow, also exhibited variability, peaking in September 2023. Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities were consistently positive and substantial, indicating significant non-cash items impacting cash flow. Merchandise inventories showed large fluctuations, often negative, suggesting efficient inventory management or rapid sales, but also periods of substantial build-up. Accounts payable also demonstrated significant quarterly changes, often correlating inversely with inventory movements. Other operating assets and liabilities, net, contributed to volatility, with both positive and negative adjustments observed throughout the period.
Investing Activities: Net cash used in investing activities was consistently negative, reflecting ongoing investments in the business. Additions to property and equipment were a major outflow, with a general upward trend in investment amounts over time. Purchases of short-term investments also represented a significant cash outflow, though maturities of those investments partially offset this. A large acquisition occurred in May 2020, representing a substantial use of cash. Other investing activities were relatively small but fluctuated between positive and negative values.
Financing Activities: Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities exhibited the most dramatic fluctuations. Significant negative cash flow was observed in several quarters, particularly in February 2021 and February 2024, largely driven by substantial repurchases of common stock and cash dividend payments. In some periods, proceeds from short-term and long-term borrowings provided offsetting inflows. Repayments of long-term debt were also a consistent outflow. Tax withholdings on stock-based awards consistently represented a cash outflow. The dividend to noncontrolling interest and acquisition of noncontrolling interest in August 2022 also contributed to cash outflows.
Overall Cash Position: The net change in cash and cash equivalents varied considerably. Periods of strong operating cash flow were sometimes offset by significant cash outflows from investing and financing activities. The largest increases in cash occurred in May 2020, May 2021, and September 2023. The largest decreases occurred in February 2021 and February 2024. Exchange rate changes had a relatively minor impact on cash and cash equivalents, with both positive and negative adjustments observed.

In summary, the company generates substantial cash from operations, but its overall cash position is heavily influenced by strategic decisions related to investments, debt management, and shareholder returns. The significant fluctuations in financing activities, particularly related to share repurchases and dividends, demonstrate a commitment to returning capital to shareholders, but also create volatility in the company’s cash flow profile.

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Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST)

Cash Flow Statement Quarterly Data

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data