Yes — Costco is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, trades on Nasdaq, and runs its warehouse-club business from American soil.
The Short Answer
Yes. Costco Wholesale Corp is an American company, headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, and listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker COST. Its warehouse-club business began in the United States and remains anchored here, even as it has grown into a company with operations across multiple countries.
Where Costco Calls Home
Costco's corporate headquarters sits in Issaquah, a city just east of Seattle. That's where the company's leadership and administrative operations are based, and it's the address tied to its public filings and investor communications.
A Public Company Since 1982
Costco has been a publicly traded company since its IPO in March 1982, and it trades on the Nasdaq exchange. Being listed on a major U.S. exchange under U.S. securities regulations is one of the clearest markers of an American corporate identity, alongside its physical headquarters.
What Costco Actually Does
Founded in 1983, Costco operates a global chain of membership-based warehouse clubs built around a simple idea: sell high-quality goods and services at consistently low prices. Shoppers pay a membership fee for access, and in return get bulk goods, groceries, electronics, and more at prices the company keeps tight through its low-margin business model.
Scale of the Business
As of its most recent fiscal year, Costco operated approximately 910 warehouses and served more than 80 million members worldwide. That scale makes it one of the more recognizable names in American retail, with a footprint that reaches well beyond its home base.
The American Segment of the Business
Costco organizes its operations into three geographic segments, and the numbers show just how central the U.S. market is to the company. Costco US accounts for approximately 73% of total revenue, by far the largest share. Costco Canada contributes 13%, and Costco International makes up the remaining 14%.
Loyal Members, Strong Renewals
Costco's core value proposition — quality products at unbeatable prices — has translated into consistently strong member renewal rates: 93% in the US and Canada and nearly 90% internationally. That kind of repeat business, concentrated heavily in the American market, underscores how deeply the company's model is rooted in U.S. shopping habits.
Workforce and Financial Footprint
Costco employs approximately 341,000 people, a workforce spread across its warehouses and corporate operations. On the financial side, the company reported revenue of $275.2B and net income of $8.1B for fiscal year 2025, with total assets of $77.1B. Its market capitalization stands at $431.0B, reflecting its position as one of the larger publicly traded retailers on U.S. exchanges.
Listed in the Directory of U.S. Companies
Costco Wholesale Corp is included in the americancompanies.com directory of US-based companies, a designation that reflects its headquarters, incorporation, and stock listing all pointing back to the United States. Between its Issaquah headquarters, its Nasdaq listing dating back to 1982, and a business that draws nearly three-quarters of its revenue from U.S. operations, Costco fits squarely into the category of American company — even as its warehouses and membership base extend around the world.
