Costco makes hundreds of millions on 24-karat gold bar sales
Costco has generated an estimated $100M to $200M per month in gold sales.
Costco may be known for exclusive pricing on everything from high-end spirits to food court hot dogs, but an influx of members are going for gold.
The big box retailer, which started selling 1-ounce nearly pure 24-karat gold bars priced at about $2,000 last fall, has seen a growing amount of consumer interest recently amid inflation and economic uncertainty.
"This is a currency that has been around for thousands of years. It is one thing that holds its value and increases its value over a duration of time," Hitha Herzog, retail analyst and chief research officer at H Squared Research, told ABC News.
![PHOTO: A Costco webpage featuring a one-ounce Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan, and a Costco membership card, are shown in this photo, in New York, Oct. 4, 2023.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/c9bf777d-d021-4fc0-ae98-e444ee5887b8/costco-gold-bar-ap-lv-240411_1712851294004_hpMain.jpg)
In a new equity research note from Wells Fargo, the bank estimated Costco has generated $100 million to $200 million per month in gold bar sales.
"We view the addition of gold/silver as a smart move for Costco, as it only reinforces its value position," the report stated. "That being said, pricing at that level and shipping costs suggests it's a very low-profit business at best."
While the price is not disclosed online to nonmembers, the product typically sells for nearly 2% above the spot price, which as of time of publication was around $2,354 per troy ounce, up more than $350 since 2023.
![PHOTO: One-ounce Costco Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan is seen in this image.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/c5eb690b-cc58-497d-a220-9e072cd5c9d1/costco-gold-bar-ht-lv-240411-2_1712853736939_hpEmbed_16x9.jpg)
![PHOTO: One-ounce Costco Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan is seen in this image.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/6557a0e2-886c-4a5d-bb70-2639253246ee/costco-gold-bar-ht-lv-240411_1712853736940_hpEmbed_16x9.jpg)
Personal finance content creator Humphrey Yang told ABC News he purchased one of the bars at Costco for $2,359.
"I think I'll hold on to it as long as I can and maybe I can pass it down to a future generation," he said.
Gold is not a guaranteed investment and has fluctuated before hitting today's record highs.
![PHOTO: One-ounce Costco Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan is seen in this image.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/ef3d5b7d-c5d0-48c0-9941-91e502d61863/costco-gold-bar-ht-lv-240411-3_1712853736892_hpEmbed_16x9.jpg)
"The idea of it is that gold holds its worth and that is why people want to have that as a potential investment in their portfolios," Herzog said.
Costco limits the amount of gold that members can purchase to just 5 ounces per customer.
For those looking to make a short term investment, with plans to sell, there is the possibility of a short term capital gains tax between 10% and 30%.