Costco warehouse visits increased more than 18% between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2026. Data from market research firm Placer.ai shows consumers are increasingly seeking value at the warehouse club as prices rise.
Traffic trends at competitors Walmart and Target remained mostly flat during this same period. This surge in foot traffic has prompted Costco to adopt new technologies to manage in-store crowding.
The company is implementing membership card scanners and employee-assisted mobile checkout systems. While fundamentals are strong, some analysts caution that Costco’s high stock valuation may already reflect its recent success.