CO
COST
Latest · May 10, 2026
Quarter ended May 10, 2026 · FY2026 Q3

Costco Wholesale Corporation stock research

Costco Wholesale (COST) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended May 10, 2026

Revenue rose compared to both the prior quarter and the same period last year. Free cash flow and its margin improved sequentially but weakened relative to the year-ago quarter.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

Revenue rose compared to both the prior quarter and the same period last year. Free cash flow and its margin improved sequentially but weakened relative to the year-ago quarter.

  • Operating cash flow was higher than the previous quarter but lower than the same quarter last year. Capital expenditure increased, resulting in free cash flow that improved sequentially but declined year-over-year; the margin followed the same mixed pattern.
  • Sequentially, revenue and operating cash flow improved, while capital expenditure also rose, leading to higher free cash flow and margin. Compared to the same quarter last year, revenue was higher but operating cash flow was lower, capital expenditure was higher, and free cash flow and margin were lower.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$9.2B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$2.0B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$3.4B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$1.4B

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

2.9%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

2.3%

TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2025-05-11$63.2B$3.5B$1.1B$2.3B3.7%
2025-11-23$67.3B$4.7B$1.5B$3.2B4.7%
2026-02-15$69.6B$3.0B$1.3B$1.7B2.5%
2026-05-10$70.5B$3.4B$1.4B$2.0B2.9%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income92.9%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.0%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash$13.3BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Supportive

Higher revenue

Revenue increased compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter one year earlier.

The revenue increase was the most prominent change among the reported cash flow metrics.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Operating cash flow was higher than the previous quarter but lower than the same quarter last year. Capital expenditure increased, resulting in free cash flow that improved sequentially but declined year-over-year; the margin followed the same mixed pattern.

Sequentially, revenue and operating cash flow improved, while capital expenditure also rose, leading to higher free cash flow and margin. Compared to the same quarter last year, revenue was higher but operating cash flow was lower, capital expenditure was higher, and free cash flow and margin were lower.

Monitor the level of unsettled credit and debit card receivables, which settle within days and are a material component of reported cash equivalents.

Valuation context

A cash-flow page should show how much investors are paying for the cash stream, without turning into a full DCF.

Market capitalization$408.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield2.3%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF42.8xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.

CO
COST

Costco Wholesale Corporation

FCF margin

2.9%

FCF yield

2.3%