Costco Wholesale SG&A decreased by 1.0% to $6.27B in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 10.8%, from $5.66B to $6.27B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), SG&A shows an upward trend with a 7.7% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ1 2014
Last reportedQ2 2026Mar 11, 2026
How to read this metric
A rising ratio of SG&A to revenue may indicate inefficiency or aggressive expansion, while a falling ratio suggests improved operating leverage.
Detailed definition
Selling, general, and administrative expenses encompass the costs associated with the day-to-day operation of the busine...
Peer comparison
Standard operating expense category; peers with larger global sales forces typically show higher absolute SG&A levels.
Metric ID:
selling_general_and_administrativeHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | Q2 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $4.20B | $5.67B | $4.72B | $4.58B | $4.45B | $6.04B | $4.92B | $4.94B | $4.79B | $6.94B | $5.36B | $5.24B | $5.15B | $7.07B | $5.85B | $5.66B | $5.68B | $7.78B | $6.33B | $6.27B |
| QoQ Change | — | +35.0% | -16.7% | -3.0% | -2.7% | +35.6% | -18.5% | +0.5% | -3.0% | +44.7% | -22.8% | -2.2% | -1.8% | +37.4% | -17.3% | -3.1% | +0.3% | +37.0% | -18.6% | -1.0% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +6.0% | +6.5% | +4.2% | +8.0% | +7.7% | +15.0% | +9.0% | +6.1% | +7.3% | +1.8% | +9.1% | +8.1% | +10.4% | +10.1% | +8.3% | +10.8% |
Range$4.20B – $7.78B
CAGR+8.8%
Avg YoY Growth+8.0%
Median YoY Growth+8.0%
Current Streak2 quarters decline
SG&A at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Costco Wholesale's sg&a?
- Costco Wholesale (COST) reported sg&a of $6.27B in Q4 2025.
- How has Costco Wholesale's sg&a changed year-over-year?
- Costco Wholesale's sg&a increased by 10.8% year-over-year, from $5.66B to $6.27B.
- What is the long-term trend for Costco Wholesale's sg&a?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Costco Wholesale's sg&a has grown at a 7.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $18.54B to $24.97B.
- What does sg&a mean?
- The overhead costs of running the business, including sales, marketing, and general corporate expenses.