Excluding the impacts of changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, comparable sales for the month under discussion rose 4.4% on improvements of 3%, 7.9% and 8.8% in the United States, Canada and Other International locations, respectively. Wrapping Up Through a calculated approach that involves identifying untapped markets and tailoring offerings to meet customer preferences, Costco has managed to deepen its roots. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have advanced 14.9% in the past six months compared with the Retail – Discount Stores industry’s rise of 8.4%.