ISSAQUAH, Washington, June 9, 2026, 09:05 PDT
Costco Wholesale dropped prices on some Kirkland Signature goods, knocking as much as $10 off frozen wings, chocolate almonds, golf balls and king-size sheets. The warehouse retailer again played up its value pitch, listing the reductions under “Lowering Everyday Low Prices” in its fiscal third-quarter materials.
Costco’s timing is key here, since its business runs on shoppers renewing paid memberships instead of just one-off purchases. Gold Star membership is $65 a year, while Executive membership is $130. At quarter’s end, Costco reported a U.S. and Canada renewal rate of 92.2%, with the global rate at 89.7%.
Costco’s Pensacola, Florida, gas station started up May 28. The warehouse at 225 E. Nine Mile Road is set to open June 25, according to the retailer’s location page. But on Costco’s new-locations page, Pensacola is listed for June 2026.
Kirkland Signature Crispy Wings dropped to $14.99 from $16.99, Milk Chocolate Almonds now $18.99, was $19.99. Golf Balls cut to $29.99 from $32.99, and King Size Sheets fell to $79.99 from $89.99. Costco didn’t cut prices across the board, just on these items.
Costco CEO Ron Vachris told analysts on the May 28 earnings call that the company’s price cuts are part of its usual approach. “Our goal is to be the first to lower prices and last to raise them,” Vachris said. The Motley Fool
Kirkland Signature, Costco’s in-house label, is getting more focus from management. CFO Gary Millerchip said the company is rolling out new Kirkland products that are supposed to save shoppers at least 15% to 20% compared to similar name brands and match or beat them on quality.
Costco posted third-quarter net sales of $69.15 billion, up 11.6% from last year. Net income was $2.19 billion, or $4.93 per share, compared with $1.90 billion, or $4.28 per share, in the same period a year ago. That gives the company room to make some price moves.
Costco shares hardly moved after the latest price-cut headlines. In U.S. trading, the stock was last at $973.50, off $1.25 from where it closed before.
Sam’s Club, owned by Walmart, is stepping up delivery speed as well as competing on price. The Financial Times said last month the retailer launched one-hour delivery in the U.S., going after Amazon and Costco. Costco told analysts its U.S. same-day delivery takes less than 45 minutes with third-party partners.
But there’s a ceiling to how far prices can fall. Costco pointed out in its annual filing that tariffs, higher commodity costs and its own pricing decisions could all hit sales and margins. UBS analyst Michael Lasser also asked management if they should keep expectations low for established-warehouse sales, since paid membership growth slipped to 4.1%—which he described as “the lowest level in some time.” Securities and Exchange Commission
JPMorgan’s Christopher Horvers asked if the pricing changes signaled a bigger market change or just an opportunistic play. Vachris said the moves were “strategic, not reactionary.” He said Costco looks to shift into cheaper inventory when costs drop and then cuts prices for members. The Motley Fool
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