Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco Wholesale Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Costco) is an American company that operates a retail network of warehouse clubs with more than 760 facilities around the world. Founded in 1983, it has a global presence and operations in the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Australia, Spain, France, Iceland, and Taiwan. In addition, the company operates e-commerce websites, which account for 4% of total sales.

The company's strategy is aimed at offering its customers products of national and private brands at low prices in large volumes in several categories: food (packaged foods, meat, bakery products, snacks, candies, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, etc.), electronics, beauty and health products, garden equipment, clothing, etc. In addition, Costco has a pharmacy business and a retail network of more than 560 gas stations and provides a number of additional services.

Shopping at Costco warehouses requires a membership, which has an annual fee of $60 in the U.S. and Canada and varies in other countries. Today, the company has more than 94 thousand members of warehouse clubs.

Costco Wholesale Corporation generates a significant part of its revenue in the United States and Canada – 87% of sales. In the U.S., the bulk of operations take place in California – 30% of total sales. In the international market, including Canada, the company receives 28% of revenue.

Costco competes globally with global, national, and regional wholesalers and retailers, including supermarkets, shopping malls, online retailers, gas stations, discounters, department stores, and specialty stores. Major competitors are: Walmart Inc., Target Corporation, The Kroger Co., Amazon.com, Inc., BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. Costco competes based on years of experience and reputation, a significant retail network covering a significant territory, and value for money.

The company's ordinary shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

Share capital structure (largest institutional holders):

8,38% - Vanguard Group, Inc.
6,25% - Blackrock Inc.
4,14% - State Street Corporation.
2,48% - FMR, LLC.
2,32% - Capital Research Global Investors.
2,07% - Capital World Investors.
1,66% - Bank of America Corporation.
1,44% - Northern Trust Corporation.
1,38% - Wellington Management Company, LLP.
1,38% - Jennison Associates LLC.
68.5% - Other.