10-Q 1 cost10q21416.htm 10-Q
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

ý | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended February 14, 2016
or

¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 0-20355
Costco Wholesale Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Washington |  | 91-1223280
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (425) 313-8100
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ý NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES ý NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ý |  | Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |  | Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO ý
The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's common stock as of March 2, 2016 was 439,035,055.

Table of Contents
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

|  | Page
PART I | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Financial Statements | 3
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | 3
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income | 4
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | 5
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | 6
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 7
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 19
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 29
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 29
PART II | OTHER INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 30
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 30
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 30
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 30
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 30
Item 5. | Other Information | 30
Item 6. | Exhibits | 31
| Signatures | 32

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1—Financial Statements
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in millions, except par value and share data)
(unaudited)

| February 14, 2016 |  | August 30, 2015
ASSETS |  |  |
CURRENT ASSETS |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,633 |  |  | $ | 4,801 |
Short-term investments | 1,222 |  |  | 1,618 |
Receivables, net | 1,453 |  |  | 1,224 |
Merchandise inventories | 8,908 |  |  | 8,908 |
Other current assets | 313 |  |  | 228 |
Total current assets | 15,529 |  |  | 16,779 |
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT |  |  |
Land | 5,140 |  |  | 4,961 |
Buildings and improvements | 13,212 |  |  | 12,618 |
Equipment and fixtures | 5,623 |  |  | 5,274 |
Construction in progress | 727 |  |  | 811 |
| 24,702 |  |  | 23,664 |
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | (8,637 | ) |  | (8,263 | )
Net property and equipment | 16,065 |  |  | 15,401 |
OTHER ASSETS | 794 |  |  | 837 |
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 32,388 |  |  | $ | 33,017 |
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |  |  |
CURRENT LIABILITIES |  |  |
Accounts payable | $ | 8,222 |  |  | $ | 9,011 |
Current portion of long-term debt | 89 |  |  | 1,283 |
Accrued salaries and benefits | 2,619 |  |  | 2,468 |
Accrued member rewards | 846 |  |  | 813 |
Deferred membership fees | 1,377 |  |  | 1,269 |
Other current liabilities | 2,280 |  |  | 1,695 |
Total current liabilities | 15,433 |  |  | 16,539 |
LONG-TERM DEBT, excluding current portion | 4,886 |  |  | 4,852 |
OTHER LIABILITIES | 835 |  |  | 783 |
Total liabilities | 21,154 |  |  | 22,174 |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |  |  |  |  |
EQUITY |  |  |
Preferred stock $.005 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | 0 |  |  | 0 |
Common stock $.005 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 439,256,000 and 437,952,000 shares issued and outstanding | 2 |  |  | 2 |
Additional paid-in capital | 5,341 |  |  | 5,218 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,344 | ) |  | (1,121 | )
Retained earnings | 7,001 |  |  | 6,518 |
Total Costco stockholders’ equity | 11,000 |  |  | 10,617 |
Noncontrolling interests | 234 |  |  | 226 |
Total equity | 11,234 |  |  | 10,843 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 32,388 |  |  | $ | 33,017 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(amounts in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
REVENUE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 27,567 |  |  | $ | 26,872 |  |  | $ | 54,194 |  |  | $ | 53,156 |
Membership fees | 603 |  |  | 582 |  |  | 1,196 |  |  | 1,164 |
Total revenue | 28,170 |  |  | 27,454 |  |  | 55,390 |  |  | 54,320 |
OPERATING EXPENSES |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merchandise costs | 24,469 |  |  | 23,897 |  |  | 48,090 |  |  | 47,282 |
Selling, general and administrative | 2,835 |  |  | 2,671 |  |  | 5,641 |  |  | 5,367 |
Preopening expenses | 10 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 36 |  |  | 24 |
Operating income | 856 |  |  | 877 |  |  | 1,623 |  |  | 1,647 |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense | (31 | ) |  | (27 | ) |  | (64 | ) |  | (53 | )
Interest income and other, net | 16 |  |  | 20 |  |  | 44 |  |  | 55 |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 841 |  |  | 870 |  |  | 1,603 |  |  | 1,649 |
Provision for income taxes | 286 |  |  | 263 |  |  | 561 |  |  | 537 |
Net income including noncontrolling interests | 555 |  |  | 607 |  |  | 1,042 |  |  | 1,112 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (9 | ) |  | (9 | ) |  | (16 | ) |  | (18 | )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO | $ | 546 |  |  | $ | 598 |  |  | $ | 1,026 |  |  | $ | 1,094 |
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | $ | 1.24 |  |  | $ | 1.36 |  |  | $ | 2.34 |  |  | $ | 2.49 |
Diluted | $ | 1.24 |  |  | $ | 1.35 |  |  | $ | 2.32 |  |  | $ | 2.47 |
Shares used in calculation (000’s): |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | 439,648 |  |  | 440,384 |  |  | 438,990 |  |  | 439,567 |
Diluted | 441,559 |  |  | 442,896 |  |  | 441,457 |  |  | 442,522 |
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE | $ | 0.40 |  |  | $ | 5.355 |  |  | $ | 0.80 |  |  | $ | 5.710 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(amounts in millions)
(unaudited)

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
NET INCOME INCLUDING NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS | $ | 555 |  |  | $ | 607 |  |  | $ | 1,042 |  |  | $ | 1,112 |
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net | (244 | ) |  | (410 | ) |  | (229 | ) |  | (732 | )
Comprehensive income | 311 |  |  | 197 |  |  | 813 |  |  | 380 |
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 4 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 10 |  |  | 7 |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO | $ | 307 |  |  | $ | 189 |  |  | $ | 803 |  |  | $ | 373 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in millions)
(unaudited)

| 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Net income including noncontrolling interests | $ | 1,042 |  |  | $ | 1,112 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization | 556 |  |  | 514 |
Stock-based compensation | 287 |  |  | 236 |
Excess tax benefits on stock-based awards | (74 | ) |  | (72 | )
Other non-cash operating activities, net | (10 | ) |  | (17 | )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |
Increase in merchandise inventories | (98 | ) |  | (395 | )
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable | (482 | ) |  | 237 |
Other operating assets and liabilities, net | 381 |  |  | 413 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 1,602 |  |  | 2,028 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Purchases of short-term investments | (499 | ) |  | (657 | )
Maturities and sales of short-term investments | 886 |  |  | 637 |
Additions to property and equipment | (1,339 | ) |  | (1,167 | )
Other investing activities, net | 0 |  |  | 7 |
Net cash used in investing activities | (952 | ) |  | (1,180 | )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Change in bank checks outstanding | (146 | ) |  | (115 | )
Proceeds from short-term borrowings | 99 |  |  | 53 |
Repayments of long-term debt | (1,200 | ) |  | (8 | )
Minimum tax withholdings on stock-based awards | (219 | ) |  | (177 | )
Excess tax benefits on stock-based awards | 74 |  |  | 72 |
Repurchases of common stock | (213 | ) |  | (102 | )
Cash dividend payments | (176 | ) |  | (156 | )
Other financing activities, net | (6 | ) |  | 60 |
Net cash used in financing activities | (1,787 | ) |  | (373 | )
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (31 | ) |  | (347 | )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (1,168 | ) |  | 128 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BEGINNING OF YEAR | 4,801 |  |  | 5,738 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS END OF PERIOD | $ | 3,633 |  |  | $ | 5,866 |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: |  |  |
Cash paid during the first half of year for: |  |  |
Interest (reduced by $8 and $5 interest capitalized in 2016 and 2015, respectively) | $ | 52 |  |  | $ | 56 |
Income taxes, net | $ | 447 |  |  | $ | 432 |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |
Cash dividend declared, but not yet paid | $ | 176 |  |  | $ | 2,358 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(amounts in millions, except share, per share, and warehouse count data)
(unaudited)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco or the Company), a Washington corporation, and its subsidiaries operate membership warehouses based on the concept that offering members low prices on a limited selection of nationally branded and select private-label products in a wide range of merchandise categories will produce high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover. At February 14, 2016, Costco operated 698 warehouses worldwide: 488 United States (U.S.) locations (in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico), 90 Canada locations, 36 Mexico locations, 27 United Kingdom (U.K.) locations, 24 Japan locations, 12 Korea locations, 11 Taiwan locations, eight Australia locations and two Spain locations. The Company's online business operates websites in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Mexico, Korea, and Taiwan.
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Costco, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. The Company reports noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. All material inter-company transactions between and among the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s net income excludes income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Taiwan and Korea. Unless otherwise noted, references to net income relate to net income attributable to Costco.
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q for interim financial reporting pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While these statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for fair presentation of the results of the interim period, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) for complete financial statements. Therefore, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2015.
Fiscal Year End
The Company operates on a 52/53 week fiscal year basis, with the fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to August 31. References to the second quarters of 2016 and 2015 relate to the 12-week fiscal quarters ended February 14, 2016, and February 15, 2015, respectively. References to the first half of 2016 and 2015 relate to the twenty-four weeks ended February 14, 2016, and February 15, 2015, respectively.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company accounts for certain assets and liabilities at fair value. The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable, approximate
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Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
fair value due to their short-term nature or variable interest rates. See Notes 2, 3, and 4 for the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s investments, derivative instruments, and fixed-rate debt, respectively.
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is estimated by applying a fair value hierarchy, which requires maximizing the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs are:
Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
The Company’s current financial liabilities have fair values that approximate their carrying values. The Company’s long-term financial liabilities consist of long-term debt, which is recorded on the balance sheet at issuance price and adjusted for any applicable unamortized discounts or premiums and debt issuance costs. There have been no material changes to the valuation techniques utilized in the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities as disclosed in the Company's 2015 Form 10-K.
Merchandise Inventories
Merchandise inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, as determined primarily by the retail inventory method, and are stated using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for substantially all U.S. merchandise inventories. Merchandise inventories for all foreign operations are primarily valued by the retail inventory method and are stated using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company believes the LIFO method more fairly presents the results of operations by more closely matching current costs with current revenues. The Company records an adjustment each quarter, if necessary, for the projected annual effect of inflation or deflation, and these estimates are adjusted to actual results determined at year-end, after actual inflation rates and inventory levels for the year have been determined.
Due to overall net deflationary trends in the second quarter and first half of 2016, a benefit of $15 and $20 was recorded to merchandise costs, respectively, to reduce the cumulative LIFO valuation on merchandise inventories. An immaterial benefit was recorded to merchandise costs in the second quarter and first half of 2015, respectively. At February 14, 2016, and August 30, 2015, the cumulative impact of the LIFO valuation on merchandise inventories was $62 and $82, respectively.
Derivatives
The Company is exposed to foreign-currency exchange-rate fluctuations in the normal course of business. It manages these fluctuations, in part, through the use of forward foreign-exchange contracts, seeking to economically hedge the impact of fluctuations of foreign exchange on known future expenditures denominated in a non-functional foreign-currency. The contracts relate primarily to U.S. dollar merchandise inventory expenditures made by the Company’s international subsidiaries, whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. Currently, these contracts do not qualify for derivative hedge accounting. The Company seeks to mitigate risk with the use of these contracts and does not intend to engage in speculative transactions. These contracts do not contain any credit-risk-related contingent features. The aggregate notional amounts of open, unsettled forward foreign-exchange contracts were $715 and $889 at February 14, 2016, and August 30, 2015, respectively.
While the Company seeks to manage counterparty risk associated with these contracts by limiting transactions to counterparties with which the Company has an established banking relationship, there can be no assurance that this practice is effective. The contracts are limited to less than one year in duration. See Note 3 for information on the fair value of unsettled forward foreign-exchange contracts as of February 14, 2016, and August 30, 2015.
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Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
The unrealized gains or losses recognized in interest income and other, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income relating to the net changes in the fair value of unsettled forward foreign-exchange contracts were immaterial in the second quarter and first half of 2016, as compared to a net loss of $12 and net gain of $11 for the second quarter and first half of 2015, respectively.
The Company is exposed to fluctuations in prices for the energy it consumes, particularly electricity and natural gas, which it seeks to partially mitigate through the use of fixed-price contracts for certain of its warehouses and other facilities, primarily in the U.S. and Canada. The Company also enters into variable-priced contracts for some purchases of natural gas, in addition to fuel for its gas stations, on an index basis. These contracts meet the characteristics of derivative instruments, but generally qualify for the “normal purchases or normal sales” exception under authoritative guidance and thus require no mark-to-market adjustment.
Foreign Currency
The Company recognizes foreign-currency transaction gains and losses related to revaluing or settling monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency in interest income and other, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Generally, this includes the U.S. dollar cash and cash equivalents and the U.S. dollar payables of consolidated subsidiaries revalued to their functional currency. Also included are realized foreign-currency gains or losses from settlements of forward foreign-exchange contracts. These items resulted in a net gain of $11 and $30 in the second quarter and first half of 2016, respectively, as compared to a net gain of $14 and $12 in the second quarter and first half of 2015, respectively.
Stock Repurchase Programs
Repurchased shares of common stock are retired, in accordance with the Washington Business Corporation Act. The par value of repurchased shares is deducted from common stock and the excess repurchase price over par value is deducted by allocation to both additional paid-in capital and retained earnings. The amount allocated to additional paid-in capital is calculated as the current value of additional paid-in capital per share outstanding and is applied to the number of shares repurchased. Any remaining amount is allocated to retained earnings. See Note 5 for additional information.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on the presentation of deferred tax assets and liabilities by jurisdiction, along with any related valuation allowance. The guidance requires companies to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current on the balance sheet on either a prospective or retrospective basis. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the guidance at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 on a retrospective basis and reclassified deferred tax assets and liabilities from current to non-current. The reclassifications reduced other current assets and other liabilities by $520 and $410, respectively, increased other assets by $109, and had a nominal impact on other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet for the prior fiscal year ended August 30, 2015. Adoption of this guidance also had a nominal impact on the total assets by segment as disclosed in Note 9.
In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs by recording deferred debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the guidance at the beginning of its first quarter of fiscal year 2016 on a retrospective basis. The Company reclassified deferred issuance costs from other assets to the respective debt liability. Adoption of this guidance and prior fiscal year reclassifications did not have a material impact on the Company's previously reported consolidated financial statements.
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Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance converges the requirements for reporting revenue in addition to requiring disclosures sufficient to describe the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from these contracts. Companies can transition to the standard either retrospectively or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The new standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company plans to adopt this guidance at the beginning of its first quarter of fiscal year 2019.
In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on accounting for leases, which will require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by all leases with terms greater than twelve months. The standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted.
The Company is evaluating the impact of these standards on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Note 2—Investments
Major categories of investments have not materially changed from the annual reporting period ended August 30, 2015. The Company’s investments were as follows:

February 14, 2016: | Cost Basis |  | Unrealized Gains, Net |  | Recorded Basis
Available-for-sale: |  |  |  |  |
Government and agency securities | $ | 928 |  |  | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 936 |
Asset and mortgage-backed securities | 4 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 4 |
Total available-for-sale | 932 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 940 |
Held-to-maturity: |  |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 272 |  |  |  |  | 272 |
Bankers' acceptances | 10 |  |  |  |  | 10 |
Total held-to-maturity | 282 |  |  |  |  | 282 |
Total short-term investments | $ | 1,214 |  |  | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 1,222 |

August 30, 2015: | Cost Basis |  | Unrealized Gains, Net |  | Recorded Basis
Available-for-sale: |  |  |  |  |
Government and agency securities | $ | 1,394 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 1,398 |
Asset and mortgage-backed securities | 5 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 5 |
Total available-for-sale | 1,399 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 1,403 |
Held-to-maturity: |  |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 215 |  |  |  |  | 215 |
Total short-term investments | $ | 1,614 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 1,618 |

At February 14, 2016, there were no available-for-sale securities with continuous unrealized-loss positions. At August 30, 2015, available-for-sale securities that were in continuous unrealized-loss positions were not material. During the second quarter and first half of 2016 and 2015, there were no unrealized gains and losses on cash and cash equivalents.
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Note 2—Investments (Continued)
The proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities were $139 and $50 during the second quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $189 and $67 during the first half of 2016 and 2015, respectively. Gross realized gains or losses from sales of available-for-sale securities during the second quarter and first half of 2016 and 2015 were not material.
The maturities of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities at February 14, 2016, were as follows:

| Available-For-Sale |  | Held-To-Maturity
| Cost Basis |  | Fair Value |
Due in one year or less | $ | 230 |  |  | $ | 230 |  |  | $ | 282 |
Due after one year through five years | 644 |  |  | 650 |  |  | 0 |
Due after five years | 58 |  |  | 60 |  |  | 0 |
| $ | 932 |  |  | $ | 940 |  |  | $ | 282 |

Note 3—Fair Value Measurement
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The tables below present information regarding financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level within the fair value hierarchy reflecting the valuation techniques utilized to determine fair value.

February 14, 2016: | Level 1 |  | Level 2
Money market mutual funds(1) | $ | 181 |  |  | $ | 0 |
Investment in government and agency securities | 0 |  |  | 936 |
Investment in asset and mortgage-backed securities | 0 |  |  | 4 |
Forward foreign-exchange contracts, in asset position(2) | 0 |  |  | 11 |
Forward foreign-exchange contracts, in (liability) position(2) | 0 |  |  | (8 | )
Total | $ | 181 |  |  | $ | 943 |

August 30, 2015: | Level 1 |  | Level 2
Money market mutual funds(1) | $ | 306 |  |  | $ | 0 |
Investment in government and agency securities | 0 |  |  | 1,398 |
Investment in asset and mortgage-backed securities | 0 |  |  | 5 |
Forward foreign-exchange contracts, in asset position(2) | 0 |  |  | 16 |
Forward foreign-exchange contracts, in (liability) position(2) | 0 |  |  | (4 | )
Total | $ | 306 |  |  | $ | 1,415 |

_______________

(1) | Included in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(2) | The asset and the liability values are included in other current assets and other current liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 1 for additional information on derivative instruments.

At February 14, 2016, and August 30, 2015, the Company did not hold any Level 3 financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no financial assets or liabilities measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) and there were no transfers in or out of Level 1, 2, or 3 during the second quarter or first half of 2016 or 2015.
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Note 3—Fair Value Measurement (Continued)
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include held-to-maturity investments that are carried at amortized cost and are not remeasured to fair value on a recurring basis. There were no fair value adjustments to these financial assets during the second quarter or first half of 2016 or 2015.
Nonfinancial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include items such as long-lived assets that are measured at fair value resulting from an impairment, if deemed necessary. There were no fair value adjustments to nonfinancial assets during the second quarter or first half of 2016. There were no fair value adjustments to nonfinancial assets during the second quarter of 2015 and these adjustments were immaterial during the first half of 2015.
Note 4—Debt
The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt is based primarily on reported market values, recently completed market transactions, and estimates based upon interest rates, maturities, and credit risk. Substantially all of the Company's long-term debt is valued using Level 2 inputs.
The carrying and estimated fair values of the Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following:

| February 14, 2016 |  | August 30, 2015
| Carrying Value |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Value |  | Fair Value
0.65% Senior Notes due December 2015 | $ | 0 |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  | $ | 1,200 |  |  | $ | 1,201 |
5.5% Senior Notes due March 2017 | 1,099 |  |  | 1,155 |  |  | 1,099 |  |  | 1,171 |
1.125% Senior Notes due December 2017 | 1,098 |  |  | 1,104 |  |  | 1,098 |  |  | 1,097 |
1.7% Senior Notes due December 2019 | 1,196 |  |  | 1,212 |  |  | 1,195 |  |  | 1,186 |
1.75% Senior Notes due February 2020 | 497 |  |  | 502 |  |  | 497 |  |  | 494 |
2.25% Senior Notes due February 2022 | 496 |  |  | 507 |  |  | 496 |  |  | 484 |
Other long-term debt | 589 |  |  | 613 |  |  | 550 |  |  | 555 |
Total long-term debt | 4,975 |  |  | 5,093 |  |  | 6,135 |  |  | 6,188 |
Less current portion | 89 |  |  | 89 |  |  | 1,283 |  |  | 1,284 |
Long-term debt, excluding current portion | $ | 4,886 |  |  | $ | 5,004 |  |  | $ | 4,852 |  |  | $ | 4,904 |

On December 7, 2015, the Company paid the outstanding principal balance and interest on the 0.65% Senior Notes with existing sources of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Note 5—Equity and Comprehensive Income
Dividends
The Company’s current quarterly dividend rate is $0.40 per share, compared to $0.355 per share in the second quarter of 2015. On January 29, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.40 per share, which was paid subsequent to the end of the second quarter on February 26, 2016.
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Note 5—Equity and Comprehensive Income (Continued)
Stock Repurchase Programs
Stock repurchase activity during the second quarter and first half of 2016 and 2015 is summarized below:

| Shares Repurchased (000's) |  | Average Price per Share |  | Total Cost
Second quarter of 2016 | 531 |  |  | $ | 150.02 |  |  | $ | 80 |
First half of 2016 | 1,429 |  |  | $ | 146.79 |  |  | $ | 210 |
Second quarter of 2015 | 642 |  |  | $ | 143.21 |  |  | $ | 92 |
First half of 2015 | 781 |  |  | $ | 140.23 |  |  | $ | 110 |

The remaining amount available for stock repurchases under our approved plan, which expires in April 2019, was $3,489 at February 14, 2016. These amounts may differ from the stock repurchase balances in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows due to changes in unsettled stock repurchases at the end of a quarter. Purchases are made from time-to-time, as conditions warrant, in the open market or in block purchases, and pursuant to plans under SEC Rule 10b5-1.
Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income
The following tables show the changes in equity attributable to Costco and the noncontrolling interests of consolidated subsidiaries:

| Attributable to Costco |  | Noncontrolling Interests |  | Total Equity
Equity at August 30, 2015 | $ | 10,617 |  |  | $ | 226 |  |  | $ | 10,843 |
Comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 1,026 |  |  | 16 |  |  | 1,042 |
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net | (223 | ) |  | (6 | ) |  | (229 | )
Comprehensive income | 803 |  |  | 10 |  |  | 813 |
Stock-based compensation | 287 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 287 |
Release of vested restricted stock units (RSUs), including tax effects | (145 | ) |  | 0 |  |  | (145 | )
Repurchases of common stock | (210 | ) |  | 0 |  |  | (210 | )
Cash dividends declared | (352 | ) |  | 0 |  |  | (352 | )
Distribution to noncontrolling interest | 0 |  |  | (2 | ) |  | (2 | )
Equity at February 14, 2016 | $ | 11,000 |  |  | $ | 234 |  |  | $ | 11,234 |

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Note 5—Equity and Comprehensive Income (Continued)

| Attributable to Costco |  | Noncontrolling Interests |  | Total Equity
Equity at August 31, 2014 | $ | 12,303 |  |  | $ | 212 |  |  | $ | 12,515 |
Comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 1,094 |  |  | 18 |  |  | 1,112 |
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net | (721 | ) |  | (11 | ) |  | (732 | )
Comprehensive income | 373 |  |  | 7 |  |  | 380 |
Stock-based compensation | 236 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 236 |
Stock options exercised, including tax effects | 39 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 39 |
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects | (121 | ) |  | 0 |  |  | (121 | )
Repurchases of common stock | (110 | ) |  | 0 |  |  | (110 | )
Cash dividends declared | (2,514 | ) |  | 0 |  |  | (2,514 | )
Equity at February 15, 2015 | $ | 10,206 |  |  | $ | 219 |  |  | $ | 10,425 |

Note 6—Stock-Based Compensation
The Seventh Restated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (Seventh Plan) authorized the issuance of 23,500,000 shares (13,429,000 RSUs) of common stock for future grants in addition to the shares authorized under the previous plan. The Company issues new shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs. Shares for vested RSUs are generally delivered to participants annually, net of shares equal to the minimum statutory withholding taxes.
Summary of Restricted Stock Unit Activity
At February 14, 2016, 14,943,000 shares were available to be granted as RSUs and the following awards were outstanding:

• | 8,030,000 time-based RSUs, which vest upon continued employment over specified periods of time;

• | 212,000 performance-based RSUs, granted to certain executive officers of the Company, for which the performance targets have been met. The awards vest upon continued employment over specified periods of time; and

• | 236,000 performance-based RSUs, granted to executive officers of the Company, subject to achievement of performance targets for fiscal 2016, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors after the end of the fiscal year. These awards are included in the table below and the Company recognized compensation expense for these awards as it is currently deemed probable that the targets will be achieved.

The following table summarizes RSU transactions during the first half of 2016:

| Number of Units (in 000’s) |  | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at August 30, 2015 | 9,233 |  |  | $ | 99.72 |
Granted | 3,521 |  |  | 153.46 |
Vested and delivered | (4,120 | ) |  | 102.40 |
Forfeited | (156 | ) |  | 112.18 |
Outstanding at February 14, 2016 | 8,478 |  |  | $ | 120.51 |

The remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested RSUs at February 14, 2016 was $879, and the weighted-average period over which this cost will be recognized is 1.8 years.
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Note 6—Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)
Summary of Stock-Based Compensation
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense and the related tax benefits under the Company’s plans:

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Stock-based compensation expense before income taxes | $ | 101 |  |  | $ | 86 |  |  | $ | 287 |  |  | $ | 236 |
Less recognized income tax benefit | (34 | ) |  | (29 | ) |  | (97 | ) |  | (80 | )
Stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes | $ | 67 |  |  | $ | 57 |  |  | $ | 190 |  |  | $ | 156 |

Note 7—Net Income per Common and Common Equivalent Share
The following table shows the amounts used in computing net income per share and the effect on net income and the weighted average number of shares of potentially dilutive common shares outstanding (shares in 000’s):

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Net income available to common stockholders after assumed conversions of dilutive securities | $ | 546 |  |  | $ | 598 |  |  | $ | 1,026 |  |  | $ | 1,094 |
Weighted average number of common shares used in basic net income per common share | 439,648 |  |  | 440,384 |  |  | 438,990 |  |  | 439,567 |
RSUs | 1,900 |  |  | 2,500 |  |  | 2,456 |  |  | 2,943 |
Conversion of convertible notes | 11 |  |  | 12 |  |  | 11 |  |  | 12 |
Weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential of common stock used in diluted net income per share | 441,559 |  |  | 442,896 |  |  | 441,457 |  |  | 442,522 |

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Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in a number of claims, proceedings and litigation arising from its business and property ownership. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company establishes an accrual for legal proceedings if and when those matters reach a stage where they present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. There may be exposure to loss in excess of any amounts accrued. The Company monitors those matters for developments that would affect the likelihood of a loss (taking into account where applicable indemnification arrangements concerning suppliers and insurers) and the accrued amount, if any, thereof, and adjusts the amount as appropriate. As of the date of this Report, the Company has recorded an immaterial accrual with respect to one matter described below. If the loss contingency at issue is not both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company does not establish an accrual, but will continue to monitor the matter for developments that will make the loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable. In each case, there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, including a loss in excess of the applicable accrual. For matters where no accrual has been recorded, the possible loss or range of loss (including any loss in excess of the accrual) cannot in our view be reasonably estimated because, among other things: (i) the remedies or penalties sought are indeterminate or unspecified; (ii) the legal and/or factual theories are not well developed; and/or (iii) the matters involve complex or novel legal theories or a large number of parties.
The Company is a defendant in the following matters, among others:
Numerous putative class actions have been brought around the United States against motor fuel retailers, including the Company, alleging that they have been overcharging consumers by selling gasoline or diesel that is warmer than 60 degrees without adjusting the volume sold to compensate for heat-related expansion or disclosing the effect of such expansion on the energy equivalent received by the consumer. The Company is named in the following actions: Raphael Sagalyn, et al., v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al., Case No. 07-430 (D. Md.); Phyllis Lerner, et al., v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, et al., Case No. 07-1216 (C.D. Cal.); Linda A. Williams, et al., v. BP Corporation North America, Inc., et al., Case No. 07-179 (M.D. Ala.); James Graham, et al. v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 07-193 (E.D. Va.); Betty A. Delgado, et al., v. Allsups, Convenience Stores, Inc., et al., Case No. 07-202 (D.N.M.); Gary Kohut, et al. v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al., Case No. 07-285 (D. Nev.); Mark Rushing, et al., v. Alon USA, Inc., et al., Case No. 06-7621 (N.D. Cal.); James Vanderbilt, et al., v. BP Corporation North America, Inc., et al., Case No. 06-1052 (W.D. Mo.); Zachary Wilson, et al., v. Ampride, Inc., et al., Case No. 06-2582 (D.Kan.); Diane Foster, et al., v. BP North America Petroleum, Inc., et al., Case No. 07-02059 (W.D. Tenn.); Mara Redstone, et al., v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al., Case No. 07-20751 (S.D. Fla.); Fred Aguirre, et al. v. BP West Coast Products LLC, et al., Case No. 07-1534 (N.D. Cal.); J.C. Wash, et al., v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al.; Case No. 4:07cv37 (E.D. Mo.); Jonathan Charles Conlin, et al., v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al.; Case No. 07 0317 (M.D. Tenn.); William Barker, et al. v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al.; Case No. 07-cv-00293 (D.N.M.); Melissa J. Couch, et al. v. BP Products North America, Inc., et al., Case No. 07cv291 (E.D. Tex.); S. Garrett Cook, Jr., et al., v. Hess Corporation, et al., Case No. 07cv750 (M.D. Ala.); Jeff Jenkins, et al. v. Amoco Oil Company, et al., Case No. 07-cv-00661 (D. Utah); and Mark Wyatt, et al., v. B. P. America Corp., et al., Case No. 07-1754 (S.D. Cal.). On June 18, 2007, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation assigned the action, entitled In re Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practices Litigation, MDL Docket No 1840, to Judge Kathryn Vratil in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. On April 12, 2009, the Company agreed to settle the actions in which it is named as a defendant. Under the settlement, which was subject to final approval by the court, the Company agreed, to the extent allowed by law and subject to other terms and conditions in the agreement, to install over five years from the effective date of the settlement temperature-correcting dispensers in the States of Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Other than payments to class representatives, the settlement does not provide for cash payments to class members. On September 22, 2011, the court preliminarily approved a revised settlement, which did not materially alter the terms. On April 24, 2012, the court granted final approval of the revised settlement. A class member who objected has filed a notice of appeal from the order
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Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
approving the settlement. Plaintiffs have moved for an award of $10 in attorneys’ fees, as well as an award of costs and payments to class representatives. A report and recommendation has been issued in favor of a fee award of $3.8, to which the Company is objecting. On March 20, 2014, the Company filed a notice invoking a “most favored nation” provision under the settlement, under which it seeks to adopt provisions in later settlements with certain other defendants. The motion was denied on January 23, 2015. Final judgment was entered on September 22, 2015, and the Company has filed a notice of appeal.
The Company received notices from most states stating that they have appointed an agent to conduct an examination of the books and records of the Company to determine whether it has complied with state unclaimed property laws. In addition to seeking the turnover of unclaimed property subject to escheat laws, the states may seek interest, penalties, costs of examinations, and other relief. Certain states have separately also made requests for payment by the Company concerning a specific type of property, some of which have been paid in immaterial amounts.
The Company has received from the Drug Enforcement Administration subpoenas and administrative inspection warrants concerning the Company's fulfillment of prescriptions related to controlled substances and related practices. Offices of the United States Attorney in various districts have communicated to the Company their belief that the Company has committed civil regulatory violations concerning these subjects. The Company is seeking to cooperate with these processes and is holding discussions concerning a potential resolution.
The Company does not believe that any pending claim, proceeding or litigation, either alone or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position; however, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual fiscal quarter.
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Note 9—Segment Reporting
The Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the operation of membership warehouses in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Japan, Australia, and Spain and through majority-owned subsidiaries in Taiwan and Korea. Reportable segments are largely based on management’s organization of the operating segments for operational decisions and assessments of financial performance, which consider geographic locations. The material accounting policies of the segments are the same as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2015, and Note 1 above. All material inter-segment net sales and expenses have been eliminated in computing total revenue and operating income. Certain operating expenses, predominantly stock-based compensation, are incurred on behalf of the Company's Canadian and Other International Operations, but are included in the U.S. Operations because those costs are not allocated internally and generally come under the responsibility of the Company's U.S. management team.

| United States Operations |  | Canadian Operations |  | Other International Operations |  | Total
Twelve Weeks Ended February 14, 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenue | $ | 20,642 |  |  | $ | 3,791 |  |  | $ | 3,737 |  |  | $ | 28,170 |
Operating income | 552 |  |  | 156 |  |  | 148 |  |  | 856 |
Depreciation and amortization | 212 |  |  | 24 |  |  | 49 |  |  | 285 |
Additions to property and equipment | 460 |  |  | 30 |  |  | 134 |  |  | 624 |
Twelve Weeks Ended February 15, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenue | $ | 19,879 |  |  | $ | 4,001 |  |  | $ | 3,574 |  |  | $ | 27,454 |
Operating income | 556 |  |  | 178 |  |  | 143 |  |  | 877 |
Depreciation and amortization | 193 |  |  | 30 |  |  | 37 |  |  | 260 |
Additions to property and equipment | 327 |  |  | 32 |  |  | 253 |  |  | 612 |
Twenty-four Weeks Ended February 14, 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenue | $ | 40,488 |  |  | $ | 7,673 |  |  | $ | 7,229 |  |  | $ | 55,390 |
Operating income | 1,003 |  |  | 339 |  |  | 281 |  |  | 1,623 |
Depreciation and amortization | 416 |  |  | 49 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 556 |
Additions to property and equipment | 917 |  |  | 71 |  |  | 351 |  |  | 1,339 |
Net property and equipment | 11,327 |  |  | 1,325 |  |  | 3,413 |  |  | 16,065 |
Total assets | 22,733 |  |  | 3,076 |  |  | 6,579 |  |  | 32,388 |
Twenty-four Weeks Ended February 15, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenue | $ | 39,060 |  |  | $ | 8,232 |  |  | $ | 7,028 |  |  | $ | 54,320 |
Operating income | 989 |  |  | 374 |  |  | 284 |  |  | 1,647 |
Depreciation and amortization | 381 |  |  | 58 |  |  | 75 |  |  | 514 |
Additions to property and equipment | 763 |  |  | 78 |  |  | 326 |  |  | 1,167 |
Net property and equipment | 10,403 |  |  | 1,457 |  |  | 3,012 |  |  | 14,872 |
Total assets | 23,232 |  |  | 3,856 |  |  | 6,129 |  |  | 33,217 |
Year Ended August 30, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenue | $ | 84,351 |  |  | $ | 17,341 |  |  | $ | 14,507 |  |  | $ | 116,199 |
Operating income | 2,308 |  |  | 771 |  |  | 545 |  |  | 3,624 |
Depreciation and amortization | 848 |  |  | 119 |  |  | 160 |  |  | 1,127 |
Additions to property and equipment | 1,574 |  |  | 148 |  |  | 671 |  |  | 2,393 |
Net property and equipment | 10,815 |  |  | 1,381 |  |  | 3,205 |  |  | 15,401 |
Total assets | 22,988 |  |  | 3,608 |  |  | 6,421 |  |  | 33,017 |

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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this Report constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. They include statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future and may relate to such matters as net sales growth, increases in comparable warehouse sales, cannibalization of existing locations by new openings, price or fee changes, earnings performance, earnings per share, stock-based compensation expense, warehouse openings and closures, capital spending, the effect of certain accounting standards, future financial reporting, financing, margins, return on invested capital, strategic direction, expense controls, membership renewal rates, shopping frequency, litigation, and the demand for our products and services. Forward-looking statements may also be identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, breaches of security or privacy of member or business information, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (generally including health care costs), energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions, and other risks identified from time to time in the Company's public statements and reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law.
This management discussion should be read in conjunction with the management discussion included in our fiscal 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, previously filed with the SEC.
OVERVIEW
We operate membership warehouses based on the concept that offering our members low prices on a limited selection of nationally branded and private-label products in a wide range of merchandise categories will produce high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover. When combined with the operating efficiencies achieved by volume purchasing, efficient distribution and reduced handling of merchandise in no-frills, self-service warehouse facilities, these volumes and turnover enable us to operate profitably at significantly lower gross margins (net sales less merchandise costs) than most other retailers.
We believe that the most important driver of our profitability is sales growth, particularly comparable warehouse sales (comparable sales) growth. We define comparable sales as sales from warehouses open for more than one year, including remodels, relocations and expansions, as well as online sales related to websites operating for more than one year. Comparable sales growth is achieved through increasing shopping frequency from new and existing members and the amount they spend on each visit (average ticket). Sales comparisons can also be particularly influenced by certain factors that are beyond our control: fluctuations in currency exchange rates (with respect to the consolidation of the results of our international operations); and changes in the cost of gasoline and associated competitive conditions (primarily impacting our U.S. and Canadian operations). The higher our comparable sales exclusive of these items, the more we can leverage certain of our selling, general and administrative expenses, reducing them as a percentage of sales and enhancing profitability. Generating comparable sales growth is foremost a question of making available to our members the right merchandise at the right prices, a skill that we believe we have repeatedly demonstrated over the long term. Another substantial factor in sales growth is the health of the economies in which we do business, especially the United States. Sales growth and gross margins are also impacted by our competition, which is vigorous and widespread, across a wide range of global, national and regional wholesalers and
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
retailers. While we cannot control or reliably predict general economic health or changes in competition, we believe that we have been successful historically in adapting our business to these changes, such as through adjustments to our pricing and to our merchandise mix, including increasing the penetration of our private label items.
Our philosophy is to provide our members with quality goods and services at the most competitive prices. We do not focus in the short term on maximizing prices charged, but instead seek to maintain what we believe is a perception among our members of our “pricing authority” – consistently providing the most competitive values. Our investments in merchandise pricing can, from time to time, include reducing prices on merchandise to drive sales or meet competition and holding prices steady despite cost increases instead of passing the increases on to our members, all negatively impacting near-term gross margin as a percentage of net sales (gross margin percentage). We believe that our gasoline business draws members, but it generally has a significantly lower gross margin percentage relative to our non-gasoline business. A higher penetration of gasoline sales will generally lower our gross margin percentage. Rapidly changing gasoline prices may significantly impact our near-term net sales growth. Generally, rising gasoline prices benefit net sales growth which, given the higher sales base, negatively impacts our gross margin percentage but decreases our selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales. A decline in gasoline prices has the inverse effect.
We also achieve sales growth by opening new warehouses. As our warehouse base grows, available and desirable potential sites become more difficult to secure, and square footage growth becomes a comparatively less substantial component of growth. The negative aspects of such growth, however, including lower initial operating profitability relative to existing warehouses and cannibalization of sales at existing warehouses when openings occur in existing markets, are increasingly less significant relative to the results of our total operations. Our rate of square footage growth is higher in foreign markets, due to the smaller base in those markets, and we expect that to continue. Our online business growth domestically and internationally has also increased our sales.
Our membership format is an integral part of our business model and has a significant effect on our profitability. This format is designed to reinforce member loyalty and provide continuing fee revenue. The extent to which we achieve growth in our membership base, increase penetration of our Executive members, and sustain high renewal rates materially influences our profitability.
Our financial performance depends heavily on our ability to control costs. While we believe that we have achieved successes in this area historically, some significant costs are partially outside our control, most particularly health care and utility expenses. With respect to expenses relating to the compensation of our employees, our philosophy is not to seek to minimize the wages and benefits that they earn. Rather, we believe that achieving our longer-term objectives of reducing employee turnover and enhancing employee satisfaction requires maintaining compensation levels that are better than the industry average for much of our workforce. This may cause us, for example, to absorb costs that other employers might seek to pass through to their workforces. Because our business is operated on very low margins, modest changes in various items in the income statement, particularly gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses, can have substantial impacts on net income.
Our operating model is generally the same across our U.S., Canada, and Other International operating segments (see Part I, Item 1, Note 9 of this Report). Certain countries in the Other International segment have relatively higher rates of square footage growth, lower wages and benefit costs as a percentage of country sales, and/or less or no direct membership warehouse competition. Additionally, we operate our lower-margin gasoline business in the U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K., Japan, and Spain.
In discussions of our consolidated operating results, we refer to the impact of changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, which are references to the differences between the foreign-exchange rates we use to convert the financial results of our international operations from local currencies into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. This impact of foreign-exchange rate changes is calculated based on the
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
difference between the current period's currency exchange rates and that of the comparable prior period. We also refer to the impact of changes in gasoline prices on our net sales. This impact is calculated based on the difference between the current period's average gasoline price per gallon sold and that of the comparable prior period.
Our fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to August 31. References to the second quarters of 2016 and 2015 relate to the twelve-week fiscal quarters ended February 14, 2016, and February 15, 2015, respectively. Certain percentages presented are calculated using actual results prior to rounding. Unless otherwise noted, references to net income relate to net income attributable to Costco.
Key items for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to the second quarter of 2015 include:

• | Net sales increased 3% to $27,567, driven by sales at new warehouses opened since the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2015 and a 1% increase in comparable sales. Net and comparable sales results were negatively impacted by changes in all foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and decreases in the price of gasoline;

• | Membership fee revenue increased 4% to $603, primarily due to sign-ups at existing and new warehouses and executive membership upgrades, partially offset by the negative impact of changes in all foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar;

• | Gross margin as a percentage of net sales increased 17 basis points, primarily from the impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales and gross margin increases in our warehouse ancillary and other businesses;

• | Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 34 basis points;

• | Net income decreased 9% to $546, or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to $598, or $1.35 per diluted share in 2015. The prior year results were positively impacted by discrete net tax benefits of $43, or $0.10 per diluted share, primarily related to the special cash dividend paid to the Company's 401(k) Plan participants;

• | Changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar adversely impacted diluted earnings per share by $0.07, primarily due to changes in the Canadian dollar;

• | On December 7, 2015, we paid the outstanding principal balance and interest on the 0.65% Senior Notes of approximately $1,204, from our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments; and

• | On January 29, 2016, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.40 per share, which was paid subsequent to the end of the second quarter of 2016.

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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Sales

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Net Sales | $ | 27,567 |  |  | $ | 26,872 |  |  | $ | 54,194 |  |  | $ | 53,156 |
Changes in net sales: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. | 4 | % |  | 5 | % |  | 4 | % |  | 7 | %
Canada | (5 | )% |  | (1 | )% |  | (7 | )% |  | 1 | %
Other International | 5 | % |  | 6 | % |  | 3 | % |  | 7 | %
Total Company | 3 | % |  | 4 | % |  | 2 | % |  | 6 | %
Changes in comparable warehouse sales: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. | 3 | % |  | 4 | % |  | 3 | % |  | 5 | %
Canada | (7 | )% |  | (2 | )% |  | (8 | )% |  | (1 | )%
Other International | (3 | )% |  | (1 | )% |  | (4 | )% |  | 0 | %
Total Company | 1 | % |  | 2 | % |  | 0 | % |  | 3 | %
Increases in comparable warehouse sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates and gasoline prices: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. | 4 | % |  | 8 | % |  | 5 | % |  | 8 | %
Canada | 10 | % |  | 9 | % |  | 10 | % |  | 9 | %
Other International | 6 | % |  | 7 | % |  | 6 | % |  | 6 | %
Total Company | 5 | % |  | 8 | % |  | 6 | % |  | 7 | %

Net Sales
Net sales increased $695 or 3%, and $1,038 or 2% during the second quarter and first half of 2016, respectively, compared to the second quarter and first half of 2015. This was attributable to sales at the 27 net new warehouses opened since the end of the second quarter of 2015 and a 1% increase in comparable warehouse sales in the second quarter of 2016. Comparable sales for the first half of 2016 were flat.
During the second quarter of 2016, changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar negatively impacted net sales by approximately $945, or 352 basis points, compared to the second quarter of 2015. The negative impact was attributable to all countries in which we operate, predominately Canada of $629 and Mexico of $150. Net sales were also negatively impacted by approximately $213, or 79 basis points, due to a 10% decrease in the average sales price per gallon.
During the first half of 2016, changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar negatively impacted net sales by approximately $2,060, or 388 basis points, compared to the first half of 2015. The negative impact was attributable to all countries in which we operate, predominately Canada of $1,319, Mexico of $320, and Korea of $123. Net sales were also negatively impacted by approximately $950, or 179 basis points, due to a 19% decrease in the average sales price per gallon.
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
Comparable Sales
Comparable sales increased 1% in the second quarter of 2016 and were positively impacted by an increase in shopping frequency. Comparable sales were flat in the first half of 2016. Average ticket and comparable sales results were negatively impacted by changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and a decrease in gasoline prices in both the second quarter and first half of 2016. Comparable sales results also includes the negative impact of cannibalization (established warehouses losing sales to our newly opened locations).
Membership Fees

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Membership fees | $ | 603 |  |  | $ | 582 |  |  | $ | 1,196 |  |  | $ | 1,164 |
Membership fees as a percentage of net sales | 2.19 | % |  | 2.17 | % |  | 2.21 | % |  | 2.19 | %
Total paid members (000's) | 46,100 |  |  | 43,200 |  |  | 46,100 |  |  | 43,200 |
Total cardholders (000's) | 84,000 |  |  | 78,700 |  |  | 84,000 |  |  | 78,700 |

Membership fees increased 4% and 3% in the second quarter and first half of 2016, respectively. They were adversely impacted by changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar by approximately $19 and $42 for the second quarter and first half of 2016, respectively. Excluding this negative impact, membership fees increased 7% and 6% in the second quarter and first half of 2016, respectively, due to sign-ups at existing and new warehouses and an increased number of upgrades to our higher-fee Executive Membership program. Our member renewal rates are currently 91% in the U.S. and Canada and 88% worldwide.
Gross Margin

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Net sales | $ | 27,567 |  |  | $ | 26,872 |  |  | $ | 54,194 |  |  | $ | 53,156 |
Less merchandise costs | 24,469 |  |  | 23,897 |  |  | 48,090 |  |  | 47,282 |
Gross margin | $ | 3,098 |  |  | $ | 2,975 |  |  | $ | 6,104 |  |  | $ | 5,874 |
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales | 11.24 | % |  | 11.07 | % |  | 11.26 | % |  | 11.05 | %

Quarterly Results
During the second quarter of 2016, the gross margin of core merchandise categories (food and sundries, hardlines, softlines and fresh foods), when expressed as a percentage of core merchandise sales (rather than total net sales), increased 11 basis points. This was attributable to increases in food and sundries partially offset by decreases in fresh foods and softlines. This measure eliminates the impact of changes in sales penetration and gross margins from our warehouse ancillary and other businesses.
Our total gross margin percentage increased 17 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2015. Excluding the impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales of $213, gross margin as a percentage of adjusted net sales was 11.15%, an increase of eight basis points from the second quarter of 2015. This increase was due to a positive contribution from our warehouse ancillary and other businesses of seven basis points, primarily our gasoline and online businesses, and a larger LIFO benefit in the current quarter compared to the second quarter of 2015 which contributed four basis points. The LIFO benefit resulted from
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
lower costs for our merchandise inventories, primarily in our food and sundries category. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in our core merchandise categories of three basis points, primarily as a result of lower bounty revenue earned for new co-branded credit card sign-ups in the U.S. We expect to be negatively impacted by the decrease in bounty revenue until we transition to our new co-branded credit card arrangement. Changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar negatively impacted gross margin by approximately $101 in the second quarter of 2016.
Gross margin on a segment basis, when expressed as a percentage of the segment's own sales and excluding the impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales (segment gross margin percentage), increased in our U.S. operations, primarily due to: increases in our core merchandise categories, due to food and sundries, hardlines, and softlines; increases in our warehouse ancillary and other businesses, largely our gasoline business; and the LIFO benefit discussed above. These increases were partially offset by the reduced bounty revenue discussed above. The segment gross margin percentage in our Canadian operations decreased across all core merchandise categories. The segment gross margin percentage in our Other International operations decreased due to lower margin percentages across all core merchandise categories except fresh foods, which was higher.
Year-to-date Results
During the first half of 2016, the gross margin of our core merchandise categories, when expressed as a percentage of core merchandise sales increased 12 basis points, primarily due to hardlines, softlines, and food and sundries.
Our gross margin percentage increased 21 basis points compared to the first half of 2015. Most of the improvement was from the impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales. Excluding this impact, gross margin as a percentage of adjusted net sales was 11.07%, an increase of two basis points from the prior year. This increase was predominately due to a positive contribution from our warehouse ancillary and other businesses of six basis points, primarily online and hearing aid businesses. This increase was partially offset by a beneficial non-recurring legal settlement in the first quarter of 2015 of three basis points and a decrease in our core merchandise category of two basis points as a result of lower bounty revenue earned for new co-branded credit card sign-ups in the U.S. Changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar negatively impacted gross margin by $221 in the first half of 2016.
Gross margin on a segment basis, when expressed as a percentage of the segment’s own sales and excluding the impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales, increased in our U.S. operations, predominately due to increases in hardlines, softlines, and warehouse ancillary and other businesses, partially offset by the reduced bounty revenue and non-recurring legal settlement discussed above. The segment gross margin percentage in our Canadian operations decreased across all merchandise categories. The segment gross margin percentage in our Other International operations decreased due to lower margin percentages across all core merchandise categories except fresh foods, which was higher.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
SG&A expenses | $ | 2,835 |  |  | $ | 2,671 |  |  | $ | 5,641 |  |  | $ | 5,367 |
SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales | 10.28 | % |  | 9.94 | % |  | 10.41 | % |  | 10.10 | %

Quarterly Results
SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 34 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2015. Excluding the negative impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales, SG&A expenses as a percentage
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
of adjusted net sales were 10.21%, an increase of 27 basis points. This increase was largely due to an increase in warehouse operating costs of 16 basis points, primarily from higher employee benefit and payroll expenses in our U.S. operations and higher bank fees in our Other International operations. This increase was partially offset by improvements in employee payroll and benefit expenses in our Canadian operations. Central operating costs were higher by seven basis points, due to costs associated with our information systems modernization of two basis points, including increased depreciation for projects placed in service, incurred by our U.S. operations. Central operating costs were also negatively impacted by three basis points due to several non-recurring items. Stock compensation expense was higher by four basis points, due to appreciation in the trading price of our stock at the time of grant. Changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar decreased our SG&A expenses by approximately $75 in the second quarter of 2016.
Year-to-date Results
SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 31 basis points compared to the first half of 2015, mostly due to the negative impact of gasoline price deflation on net sales. Excluding this impact, SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted net sales were 10.23%, an increase of 13 basis points. This increase was largely due to higher stock compensation expense of seven basis points, due to appreciation in the trading price of our stock at the time of grant and early vesting for long service. Central operating costs were higher by six basis points, predominantly due to costs associated with our information systems modernization, including increased depreciation for projects placed in service, incurred by our U.S. operations. Charges for non-recurring legal and regulatory matters during the first quarter of 2016 also negatively impacted SG&A expenses by four basis points. These increases were partially offset by improvements in our warehouse operating costs of four basis points, primarily due to lower employee payroll and benefit expenses in our Canadian operations. Changes in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar decreased our SG&A expenses by approximately $164 in the first half of 2016.
Preopening Expense

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Preopening expenses | $ | 10 |  |  | $ | 9 |  |  | $ | 36 |  |  | $ | 24 |
Warehouse openings, including relocations |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States(1) | 1 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 10 |  |  | 7 |
Canada | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 0 |
Other International | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 2 |
Total warehouse openings, including relocations | 1 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 9 |

_______________

(1) | Includes two relocations in the first quarter of 2016 and one relocation in the first quarter of 2015.

Preopening expenses include costs for startup operations related to new warehouses, development in new international markets, and expansions at existing warehouses. Preopening expenses vary due to the number of warehouse openings, the timing of the opening relative to our quarter-end, whether the warehouse is owned or leased, and whether the opening is in an existing, new, or international market. For the remainder of fiscal 2016, we are expecting to open up to 20 additional warehouses, including two relocations, compared to 17 warehouses opened in the remainder of fiscal 2015, which included one relocation and the conversion of a warehouse to a business center.
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
Interest Expense

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Interest expense | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 27 |  |  | $ | 64 |  |  | $ | 53 |

Interest expense is primarily related to Senior Notes issued by the Company. The increase in interest expense is primarily due to the Senior Notes issued in February 2015.
Interest Income and Other, Net

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Interest income | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | 16 |  |  | $ | 28 |
Foreign-currency transaction gains, net | 6 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 24 |  |  | 23 |
Other, net | 3 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 4 |
Interest income and other, net | $ | 16 |  |  | $ | 20 |  |  | $ | 44 |  |  | $ | 55 |

The decrease in interest income in the second quarter and first half of 2016 is attributable to lower average cash and investment balances. This is due to the payment of the special cash dividend in the third quarter of 2015 and the payment of the outstanding principal balance and interest on the 0.65% Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2016 (see discussion in Part I, Item 1, Note 4 of this Report). Foreign-currency transaction gains, net include mark-to-market adjustments for forward foreign-exchange contracts and the revaluation or settlement of monetary assets and liabilities by our Canadian and Other International operations. See Derivatives and Foreign Currency sections in Part I, Item 1, Note 1 of this Report.
Provision for Income Taxes

| 12 Weeks Ended |  | 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015 |  | February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Provision for income taxes | $ | 286 |  |  | $ | 263 |  |  | $ | 561 |  |  | $ | 537 |
Effective tax rate | 34.0 | % |  | 30.2 | % |  | 35.0 | % |  | 32.6 | %

The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2016 was positively impacted by immaterial discrete net tax benefits. Our provision for income taxes in the second quarter and first half of 2015 was favorably impacted by discrete net tax benefits of $45 and $44, respectively, primarily due to a $57 tax benefit recorded in the second quarter of 2015 in connection with the special cash dividend paid to employees through our 401(k) Retirement Plan. Dividends paid on these shares were deductible for U.S. income tax purposes.
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following table summarizes our significant sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents:

| 24 Weeks Ended
| February 14, 2016 |  | February 15, 2015
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,602 |  |  | $ | 2,028 |
Net cash used in investing activities | (952 | ) |  | (1,180 | )
Net cash used in financing activities | (1,787 | ) |  | (373 | )

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows from warehouse operations, cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investment balances. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were $4,855 and $6,419 at February 14, 2016, and August 30, 2015, respectively. Of these balances, approximately $1,189 and $1,243 represented debit and credit card receivables at the end of the second quarter of 2016 and of fiscal year 2015, respectively, primarily related to sales within the last week of our fiscal quarter or fiscal year. Our cash flows were negatively impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates by $31 and $347 in the first half of 2016 and 2015, respectively.
We have not provided for U.S. deferred taxes on cumulative undistributed earnings of certain non-U.S. consolidated subsidiaries because our subsidiaries have invested or will invest the undistributed earnings indefinitely or the earnings if repatriated would not result in a deferred tax liability. This includes the remaining undistributed earnings of our Canadian operations that management maintains are indefinitely reinvested or could be repatriated without resulting in a deferred tax liability. Deferred taxes are recorded for earnings of our foreign operations when we determine that such earnings are no longer indefinitely reinvested. During the first quarter of 2016, we repatriated a portion of the earnings in our Canadian operations that in 2015 were no longer considered indefinitely reinvested.
Management believes that our cash position and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and capital requirements for the foreseeable future. We believe that our U.S. current and projected asset position is sufficient to meet our U.S. liquidity requirements and have no current plans to repatriate for use in the U.S. cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by non-U.S. consolidated subsidiaries whose earnings are considered indefinitely reinvested. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held at these subsidiaries and considered to be indefinitely reinvested totaled $1,305 at February 14, 2016.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $1,602 in the first half of 2016, compared to $2,028 in the first half of 2015. Cash flow provided by operations is primarily derived from net sales and membership fees. Cash flow used in operations generally consists of payments to our merchandise vendors, warehouse operating costs including payroll and employee benefits, credit card processing fees, and utilities. Cash used in operations also includes payments for income taxes. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities for the first half of 2016 when compared to the first half of 2015 was primarily due to the timing of payments to merchandise vendors.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities totaled $952 in the first half of 2016 compared to $1,180 in the first half of 2015. Our cash flow used in investing activities is primarily related to funding warehouse expansion and remodeling activities. Net cash flows from investing activities also includes purchases and maturities of short-term investments.
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
Capital Expenditure Plans
We opened 12 new warehouses and relocated two warehouses in the first half of 2016 and plan to open up to 18 new warehouses and relocate up to two warehouses for the remainder of fiscal 2016. Our primary requirement for capital is acquiring land, buildings, and equipment for new and remodeled warehouses. To a lesser extent, capital is required for initial warehouse operations, the modernization of our information systems, and working capital. In the first half of 2016, we spent approximately $1,339, and it is our current intention to spend approximately $2,800 to $3,000 during fiscal 2016. These expenditures are expected to be financed with cash from operations, existing cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments. There can be no assurance that current expectations will be realized, and plans are subject to change upon further review of our capital expenditure needs.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities totaled $1,787 in the first half of 2016 compared to $373 in the first half of 2015. Cash flow used in financing activities primarily related to the $1,200 repayment of our 0.65% Senior Notes on December 7, 2015.
Stock Repurchase Programs
During the first half of 2016 and 2015, we repurchased 1,429,000 and 781,000 shares of common stock, at an average price of $146.79 and $140.23, totaling approximately $210 and $110, respectively. The amount available for stock repurchases under our approved plan was $3,489 at February 14, 2016. Purchases are made from time-to-time, as conditions warrant, in the open market or in block purchases, and pursuant to plans under SEC Rule 10b5-1. Repurchased shares are retired, in accordance with the Washington Business Corporation Act.
Dividends
Our current quarterly cash dividend rate is $0.40 per share, or $1.60 per share on an annualized basis. On January 29, 2016, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share payable to shareholders of record on February 12, 2016. The dividend was paid on February 26, 2016.
Bank Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper Programs
We maintain bank credit facilities for working capital and general corporate purposes. As of February 14, 2016, we had borrowing capacity within these facilities of $441, of which $371 was maintained by our international operations. Of the $371, $186 is guaranteed by the Company. There were $106 outstanding short-term borrowings under the bank credit facilities at the end of the second quarter of 2016, and none at the end of 2015.
The Company has letter of credit facilities, for commercial and standby letters of credit, totaling $148. The outstanding commitments under these facilities at the end of the second quarter of 2016 totaled $96, including $90 in standby letters of credit with expiration dates within one year. The bank credit facilities have various expiration dates, all within one year, and we generally intend to renew these facilities. The amount of borrowings available at any time under our bank credit facilities is reduced by the amount of standby and commercial letters of credit then outstanding.
Contractual Obligations
Other than the repayment of the Senior Notes described above, as of the date of this Report, there were no material changes to our contractual obligations outside the ordinary course of business since the end of our last fiscal year.
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Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued) (amounts in millions, except per share, share, and warehouse count data)
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) requires that we make estimates and judgments. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. Our critical accounting policies are discussed in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2015. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies previously disclosed in that Report.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our direct exposure to financial market risk results from fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. There have been no material changes to our market risks as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2015.
Item 4—Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1—Legal Proceedings
See discussion of Legal Proceedings in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
Item 1A—Risk Factors
In addition to the other information set forth in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2015. There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2—Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table sets forth information on our common stock repurchase program activity for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 (amounts in millions, except share and per share data):

Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased |  | Average Price Paid Per Share |  | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs(1) |  | Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Programs(1)
November 23, 2015 - December 20, 2015 | 11,000 |  |  | $ | 159.20 |  |  | 11,000 |  |  | $ | 3,567 |
December 21, 2015 - January 17, 2016 | 138,000 |  |  | 154.55 |  |  | 138,000 |  |  | 3,546 |
January 18, 2016 - February 14, 2016 | 382,000 |  |  | 148.13 |  |  | 382,000 |  |  | 3,489 |
Total second quarter | 531,000 |  |  | $ | 150.02 |  |  | 531,000 |  |  |

_______________

(1) | Our stock repurchase program is conducted under a $4,000 authorization approved by of our Board of Directors in April 2015, which expires in April 2019.

Item 3—Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4—Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5—Other Information
None.
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Item 6—Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or are incorporated herein by reference.

|  |  |  |  |  | Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit Number |  | Exhibit Description |  | Filed Herewith |  | Form |  | Period Ending |  | Filing Date
3.1 |  | Articles of Incorporation as amended of the registrant |  |  |  | 10-Q |  | 2/15/2015 |  | 3/11/2015
3.2 |  | Bylaws of the registrant |  |  |  | 8-K |  |  |  | 8/24/2010
10.1* |  | Second Amendment to Citi, N.A. Co-Branded Credit Card Agreement |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
31.1 |  | Rule 13(a) – 14(a) Certifications |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
32.1 |  | Section 1350 Certifications |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
101.INS |  | XBRL Instance Document |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
101.SCH |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
101.CAL |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
101.DEF |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
101.LAB |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |
101.PRE |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |  | x |  |  |  |  |  |

______________
* Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pending a determination by the Securities and Exchange Commission as to whether they should be granted confidential treatment.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

| C OSTCO W HOLESALE C ORPORATION (Registrant)
March 9, 2016 | By |  | /s/ W. C RAIG J ELINEK
Date |  |  | W. Craig Jelinek President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
March 9, 2016 | By |  | /s/ R ICHARD A. G ALANTI
Date |  |  | Richard A. Galanti Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director

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