BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, July 4, 2026, 09:04 CDT
- Sam’s Club, part of Walmart, posted July 4 store hours as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Plus members and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Club members. Costco said Independence Day is one of seven days its U.S. warehouses are closed.
- Sam’s is dropping first-year Club memberships to $15 and Plus to $50, deal runs through July 5.
- Walmart said Sam’s Club U.S. membership fee revenue climbed 5.6% last quarter. Costco reported a 92.2% renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada.
Walmart Inc’s NASDAQ:WMT Sam’s Club is staying open on July 4, but Costco Wholesale Corp NASDAQ:COST will be closed. That means Walmart gets a shot at one day’s extra traffic and a chance to pitch cheap memberships. The story for investors is if Sam’s Club can turn Costco shoppers into new members while the rival is shut.
TheStreet said July 3 that Sam’s Club and Costco are taking different approaches for July 4. Sam’s Club shows just four full-day holiday closures, and says its clubs will open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Plus members and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Club members on Independence Day. Costco is closing seven U.S. locations for holidays, including July 4. Costco’s full closures are 75% higher than Sam’s, based on the companies’ own lists.
Sam’s has a new-member deal through July 5. First-year Club membership is $15, Plus is $50, both much lower than the usual $60 and $120 rates. Costco’s Gold Star membership is $65, Executive is $130, per its customer service page.
| July 4 data point | Sam’s Club | Costco |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse access on July 4 | Plus open 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Club 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | Closed |
| Full annual U.S. holiday closures | 4 | 7 |
| Entry membership price | $60, but $15 for new signups before July 5 | $65 Gold Star |
| Premium membership price | $120, or $50 first year before July 5 | $130 Executive |
Walmart CFO John Rainey told investors in May that Sam’s Club U.S. membership revenue increased as members used more of its omnichannel and fuel savings features. Rainey also said recurring subscription revenue is a buffer when fuel prices go up.
The numbers give some scale to the story about holiday hours and Sam’s Club push for more paid members. For the quarter ended May 1, Sam’s Club U.S. net sales were up 6.1% to $23.4 billion. Comparable sales, minus fuel, gained 3.9%. Transactions added 6.2%. E-commerce sales jumped 23%. Membership and other income was up 11% to $674 million, while membership fee revenue was up 5.6%.
Walmart said millennials and Gen Z made up roughly half of new Sam’s Club members for the quarter. Sam’s e-commerce came in at 20% of net sales, not counting fuel. Delivery from Club jumped over 90%, the company said.
| Latest reported metric | Sam’s Club U.S. / Walmart | Costco |
|---|---|---|
| Latest quarterly net sales | $23.4 bln, up 6.1% | $69.15 bln, up 11.6% |
| Comparable sales | Up 3.9% ex fuel | Up 6.6% adjusted, total company |
| Digital sales | E-commerce rose 23% | Digitally enabled sales increased 21.5% |
| Membership metric | Fee revenue climbed 5.6% | Membership fees $1.37 bln, up 10.7% |
| Loyalty marker | Walmart points to Plus membership growth | Renewal rate in U.S./Canada 92.2% |
Costco’s net sales climbed 11.6% to $69.15 billion in its fiscal third quarter. May sales jumped 14.5% to $24.01 billion. Quarterly membership fees came to $1.37 billion. Paid memberships increased 4.1% to 82.9 million. Renewal rates in the U.S. and Canada stayed at 92.2%.
Costco CEO Ron Vachris told investors in May that shoppers who buy gas at Costco stations “typically spend more with us in the warehouse.” That’s part of why Costco can stick to a shorter holiday calendar and keep its membership setup. The Motley Fool
U.S. stocks didn’t trade Friday, July 3, because of the Independence Day holiday. Markets reopen Monday, July 6, at 9:30 a.m. ET, according to CBS News. That day will be the first trading session for the July 4 membership push.
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