Who Owns Costco Gasoline?
Costco Gasoline is owned and operated by Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), headquartered in Issaquah, Washington. Costco opened its first gas station in 1995 and operated 747 locations worldwide at the end of fiscal 2025. Fuel sales represent about 10% of Costco's net sales, or roughly $27 billion per year.
Parent Company
Founded
1995
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Costco Gasoline Timeline
Who Owns Costco Gasoline?
- Parent Company: Costco Wholesale Corporation
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: COST
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Gasoline | Costco Wholesale Corporation | Brand division |
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Costco Gasoline on AmazonHistory of Costco Gasoline
- Founded: 1995
- Founders: Costco Wholesale Corporation (internal development)
Costco opened its first gas station in 1995, in Tucson, Arizona. The idea followed the warehouse club's core logic: sell a high-volume commodity at a thin margin to pull members through the door. Fuel worked the same way as the $1.50 hot dog and the rotisserie chicken, turning the trip to Costco into a routine errand rather than an occasional stock-up.
Growth was steady but disciplined. Costco operated 508 gas stations in fiscal 2016 and added stations at roughly a 4% annual pace, reaching 593 by 2019, 636 by 2021, 692 by 2023, 719 by 2024, and 747 by the end of fiscal 2025. Nearly every new warehouse is built with a fuel station, and the company retrofits older sites where zoning allows.
The scale became material to the whole company. By fiscal 2025, gasoline represented about 10% of net sales, an estimated $27 billion line of business that rivals the revenue of many standalone fuel chains. When fuel prices spiked in 2025, Costco reported record gallon volumes, with CEO Ron Vachris noting that many members used the stations for the first time.
In 2026, Costco pushed the format further. It extended station hours, opened new fueling sites, reached two of its highest-gallon weeks in April, and had about 60 stations in some phase of expansion. Most notably, Costco opened its first standalone gas station in Mission Viejo, California, a roughly 40-pump site unattached to any warehouse, with a second standalone planned for Honolulu. The standalone concept is aimed at relieving congestion at busy warehouse lots while capturing fuel demand beyond the membership halo.
About Costco Wholesale Corporation
What does Costco own?
Costco Wholesale Corporation owns and operates 923 membership warehouse locations worldwide and owns the Kirkland Signature private label brand. The company also operates Costco Pharmacy, Costco Optical, Costco Travel, Costco Auto Program, and Costco Gasoline as service businesses within its warehouses. Costco's e-commerce platform extends its product offering beyond what is available in warehouses. Kirkland Signature generates approximately $50 billion in estimated annual sales.
Is Costco publicly traded?
Yes, Costco Wholesale Corporation is listed on NASDAQ under ticker COST. The company has been publicly traded since December 1985. Costco has no single controlling shareholder, with major institutional holders including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. The company has a single class of common stock with equal voting rights per share. Co-founder James Sinegal reduced his stake significantly after retiring as CEO in 2012.
Who founded Costco?
Costco was founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle, Washington. Sinegal had previously worked at Price Club, the pioneer of the membership warehouse club concept founded by Sol Price in San Diego in 1976. The first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle in September 1983. Costco merged with Price Club in 1993 to form PriceCostco, which was later renamed Costco Wholesale Corporation.
Where is Costco headquartered?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, USA, a suburb of Seattle. The company was originally headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, which is the origin of the Kirkland Signature brand name. Costco operates 939 warehouse locations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, China, and other countries as of September 2026.
How many warehouses does Costco operate?
As of September 2026, Costco operates 939 warehouse locations worldwide, including 647 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, 43 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, 7 in China, 5 in Spain, 3 in France, 2 in Sweden, and one each in Iceland and New Zealand. Costco typically opens 25 to 30 new warehouses per year as part of its ongoing expansion program.
Who is the CEO of Costco?
Ron Vachris serves as President and CEO of Costco Wholesale Corporation, having succeeded Craig Jelinek in January 2024. Vachris joined Costco in 1986 and spent his entire career at the company. He served as President from 2011 until becoming CEO. Jelinek had led the company since 2012, succeeding co-founder James Sinegal.
What is Costco's annual revenue?
Costco reported net sales of approximately $254.0 billion for fiscal year 2025 (ended September 1, 2025), up approximately 8% from FY2024. Q1 FY2026 (ended November 24, 2025) net sales were $65.98 billion, up 8.2% year-over-year. Membership fees account for approximately 7% of total revenue but a much larger share of operating income, as the merchandise business operates on very thin margins.
- Founded: 1983
- Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: COST
- Revenue: $254.0B (FY2025)
- Employees: ~316,000
Where Is Costco Gasoline Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia
Costco Gasoline Categories & Tags
Costco Gasoline Recalls & Controversies
Costco's fuel business has faced limited formal controversy. The most common criticisms are practical rather than legal: long queues at high-volume stations create congestion in warehouse parking lots and surrounding streets, which is the stated rationale behind the standalone station test in Mission Viejo.
The Mission Viejo standalone project drew local debate over traffic impacts before city approval. As with any large fuel retailer, expansion of gasoline infrastructure attracts environmental scrutiny from residents and local officials concerned about tank storage and vehicle emissions. Costco has addressed these mainly through site design and traffic studies rather than changes to the business model.
Brands Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Retail EcommerceCostco Business Center
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Business Center is Costco Wholesale's business-focused warehouse format, stocking mostly business merchandise across roughly 40 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
wholesalebusiness-supplieswarehouse-club
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsCostco Optical
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Optical is Costco Wholesale's in-warehouse vision care business, with more than 600 U.S. departments offering eye exams, prescription eyewear, and contact lenses.
opticaleyewearvision-care
Food BeverageKirkland Coffee
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label coffee brand offering whole bean, ground, K-Cup, and cold brew products exclusively to Costco members under the Kirkland Signature label.
coffeeprivate-labelcostco
SportsKirkland Golf
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label golf equipment line under Kirkland Signature, offering golf balls, putters, gloves, and accessories exclusively to Costco members.
golfgolf-ballsputters
AutomotiveKirkland Signature Motor Oil
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label motor oil under Kirkland Signature, manufactured by Warren Distribution and sold exclusively to Costco members in full synthetic and conventional formulations.
motor-oilprivate-labelsynthetic-oil
Food BeverageKirkland Signature
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label brand spanning hundreds of product categories, from food and beverages to household goods, health products, and automotive supplies. Sold exclusively to Costco members.
private-labelcostcoconsumer-goods
Costco Gasoline Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Consistent price leadership drives member traffic and renewal rates
- +747 stations and growing, with about 60 expansion projects underway as of 2026
- +Fuel margin is secondary because membership fees carry the profit model
- +Standalone stations open a new growth channel beyond warehouse real estate
- +Scale purchasing keeps supply costs low across regions
Considerations
- -Fuel revenue is volume-heavy but margin-thin, about 10% of sales at minimal margin
- -Members-only model limits addressable customers in most markets
- -Long lines and congestion create friction at peak times
- -Standalone stations expose the format to direct competition with conventional fuel retail
- -Long-term gasoline demand faces structural pressure from electric vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions About Costco Gasoline
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Costco Gasoline
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valero Energy | USA | 1947 | Value | United states | Unisex | |
| Chevron | USA | 1930 | Mass market | United states | Unisex | |
| Valero Energy | USA | 1967 | Mass market | United states | Unisex | |
| Valero Energy | USA | 1980 | Mass market | United states | Unisex |
Learn More About Competitors
Energy UtilitiesBeacon
Owned by Valero Energy Corporation
Value-priced gasoline brand owned by Valero Energy, used by independent retailers primarily in California and the western United States as a low-cost fuel option.
gas-stationfuel-retaildiscount-fuel
Energy UtilitiesChevron
Owned by Chevron Corporation
American fuel retail brand operating more than 7,000 gas stations across the United States, known for gasoline with Techron additive and ExtraMile convenience stores.
gas-stationfuel-retailtechron
Energy UtilitiesDiamond Shamrock
Owned by Valero Energy Corporation
Heritage American fuel brand dating to 1967, retained by Valero Energy as a secondary station banner primarily in Texas and the West.
gas-stationfuel-retailheritage-brand
Energy UtilitiesValero
Owned by Valero Energy Corporation
Fuel retail brand of Valero Energy operating approximately 4,500 branded gas stations across 35 US states plus international sites in the UK and Ireland.
gas-stationfuel-retailgasoline
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Costco Gasoline competes with 4 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to Costco Gasoline
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
AutomotiveIronman Tires
Owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company
Budget tire brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, offering affordable tires for passenger vehicles, light trucks, and commercial vehicles.
tiresbudget-tiresautomotive
Privately Owned
Ironman Tires is privately owned, unlike Costco Gasoline which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveHyundai
Owned by Hyundai Motor Group
South Korean automobile manufacturer known for its value proposition, quality improvements, and stylish designs in the global automotive market.
korean-carvalue-brandglobal-automaker
Privately Owned
Hyundai is privately owned, unlike Costco Gasoline which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveInterstate Batteries
Owned by Interstate Battery System of America
American battery distributor founded in 1952, specializing in automotive, commercial, and consumer batteries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
batteriesautomotive-batterieslead-acid-batteries
Privately Owned
Interstate Batteries is privately owned, unlike Costco Gasoline which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveKia
Owned by Hyundai Motor Group
South Korean automobile manufacturer known for sporty design and value positioning, part of Hyundai Motor Group.
korean-carvalue-brandsporty-design
Privately Owned
Kia is privately owned, unlike Costco Gasoline which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveAutoNation
Owned by AutoNation, Inc.
America's largest single-brand automotive retailer, operating new-vehicle franchises, collision centers, and service operations under one national banner.
automotive-retailcar-dealershipsautonation
Publicly Traded
AutoNation operates independently without a large parent corporation.
AutomotiveDefender
Owned by Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC
British off-road vehicle brand produced by Jaguar Land Rover, a subsidiary of Tata Motors. Originally launched in 1948 as the Land Rover, reintroduced as the modern Defender in 2020.
utility-vehiclesoff-roadsuv
Privately Owned
Defender is privately owned, unlike Costco Gasoline which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Costco Wholesale Corporation Stock Information
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