Form 11-K
Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

Commission File Number 0-20355

Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan

(full title of plan)

 

 

Costco Wholesale Corporation

 

 

999 Lake Drive

Issaquah, Washington 98027

(Name of issuer and address of principal executive offices of issuer)

 

 

 


Table of Contents

COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

December 31, 2011 and 2010

(With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm)


Table of Contents

COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Table of Contents

 

     Page  

4.  REQUIRED INFORMATION

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     1   

Financial Statements:

  

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2011 and 2010

     2   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Years Ended December  31, 2011 and 2010

     3   

Notes to Financial Statements

     4   

Supplemental Information

  

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2011

     12   

Exhibit:

  

23 – Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Benefits Committee

Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule H, line 4i – schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2011 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington

June 19, 2012


Table of Contents

COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     2011     2010  

Assets:

    

Investments, at fair value:

    

Registered investment company and common commingled trust funds:

    

American Funds Growth Fund of America R5

   $ 127,233,346      $ 126,307,472   

American Funds New Perspective Fund R5

     104,649,713        108,181,660   

Artio International Equity I Fund

     91,653,577        120,130,223   

Davis New York Venture Fund Class Y

     118,120,454        117,781,854   

T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Stock Fund

     183,736,252        173,974,312   

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Income Fund

     278,945,236        259,633,307   

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund

     —          454,759,535   

T. Rowe Price Institutional Mid-Cap Equity Growth Fund

     457,598,761        —     

T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Fund

     13,374,092        10,953,613   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 Fund

     9,401,735        8,381,121   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund

     28,706,957        28,830,182   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 Fund

     66,234,916        58,858,113   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund

     117,533,547        104,265,354   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 Fund

     124,996,155        109,547,055   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Fund

     141,438,817        125,155,620   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 Fund

     111,627,790        99,327,178   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund

     160,379,782        141,484,663   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund

     157,971,163        132,330,296   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 Fund

     52,290,573        39,249,121   

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 Fund

     35,972,589        25,067,964   

T. Rowe Price Equity Index Trust Fund Class C

     162,208,717        151,104,068   

T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund

     1,105,968,917        980,687,599   

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Signal Fund

     —          7,164,663   

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares

     16,633,409        —     

Costco Wholesale Corporation common stock

     1,639,430,047        1,384,778,950   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments

     5,306,106,545        4,767,953,923   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Notes receivable from participants

     316,853,811        273,803,172   

Cash

     984,130        1,188,590   

Contributions receivable:

    

Employer

     212,579,022        197,396,953   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     5,836,523,508        5,240,342,638   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts:

     (38,570,276     (35,446,163
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits

   $ 5,797,953,232      $ 5,204,896,475   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     2011     2010  

Net investment income:

    

Net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of investments:

    

Registered investment company funds

   $ (134,690,131   $ 268,142,550  

Costco Wholesale Corporation common stock

     219,613,801       254,496,111  

Common commingled trust fund

     3,085,839       19,274,290  

Interest

     32,726,764       35,098,576  

Dividends

     79,209,694       70,047,150  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net investment income

     199,945,967       647,058,677  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest from notes receivable from participants

     15,641,256       14,820,686  

Contributions to the Plan:

    

Employee

     300,033,965       272,581,339  

Employer

     256,260,338       239,478,021  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total contributions

     556,294,303       512,059,360  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions to participants

     (178,824,769     (138,671,339
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets available for benefits

     593,056,757       1,035,267,384  

Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year

     5,204,896,475       4,169,629,091  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits, end of year

   $ 5,797,953,232     $ 5,204,896,475  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

(1) Plan Description

The following description of the Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions. Participants in the Plan are employees of Costco Wholesale Corporation (the Company).

The Plan is a defined contribution plan established by the Company under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the IRC) that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Section 401(k) of the IRC, for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended.

 

  (a) Eligibility

The Plan allows certain employees over 18 years of age to make salary deferral contributions and receive matching contributions commencing the first day of the month following the completion of 90 days of employment. To be eligible to receive a discretionary contribution from the Company, an employee must be at least 18 years of age and must have completed one year of service. For this purpose, a year of service is a period of 12 consecutive months in which an employee has worked at least 1,000 hours. Once the age and service requirements have been met, an employee may enter the plan for purposes of the Company’s discretionary contribution on the next “plan entry date,” which occurs twice each year, on January 1 and July 1.

 

  (b) Employee Contributions

Each year, participants may contribute from 1% to 50% of their compensation before income taxes, subject to certain limitations set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified benefit or contribution plans (known as rollover contributions).

All newly eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a contribution rate of 3% unless the employee elects otherwise. On an active participant’s employment anniversary date, and each anniversary date thereafter, the percentage deferred into the Plan automatically increases by one percentage point to a maximum deferral of 15%. Employees may choose to opt out of this automatic deferral increase program.

 

  (c) Employer Contributions

All Company contributions are made in cash and invested in accordance with investment selections made by participants. If no selection has been made, the contribution is defaulted to the age-appropriate Retirement Date Fund. Employer contributions are allocated based on an employee’s classification as either: 1) a California Union Employee; or 2) an Other-than-California Union Employee.

 

  (1) California Union Employees

The Company matches 50% of each employee’s contribution up to a maximum employer matching contribution of $250 per year.

 

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Table of Contents

COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

The Company also makes contributions into the accounts of all eligible plan participants employed on the last day of the plan year based upon straight-time hours worked during the plan year, up to a maximum of 2,080 hours per calendar year. These contributions in 2011 and 2010 ranged from $0.05 to $0.60 per hour (based upon years of service), totaling $5.6 million and $5.3 million for 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

  (2) Other-than-California Union Employees

The Company matches 50% of each employee’s contribution up to a maximum employer matching contribution of $500 per year.

The Company may also contribute a discretionary amount into the account of each participant that is employed by the Company on the last day of the plan year. Discretionary contributions were approved for the plan years ending December 31, 2011 and 2010 totaling $207 million and $192.1 million, respectively, and ranged from 3% to 9% of each participant’s compensation based upon years of service.

 

  (d) Participants’ Accounts

Participants’ accounts are valued on a daily basis based on quoted market prices or, in the case of the Common Commingled Trust Funds, the quoted market prices of the underlying securities. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

 

  (e) Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their contributions, plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the employer-match and discretionary contributions, including actual earnings thereon, is based on years of service, according to the following schedule:

 

Years of service

   Percentage vested  

Under 2 years

     0

2 years

     20

3 years

     40

4 years

     60

5 years

     100

 

  (f) Forfeitures

Forfeitures may be used to reduce future employer contributions or to pay administrative expenses. There were no unallocated forfeitures as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 after consideration of forfeitures used to reduce the employer discretionary contributions funded subsequent to each year. During 2011 and 2010, forfeitures totaling $3.2 million and $2.4 million respectively, were used to reduce employer contributions. Forfeitures, without the benefit of investment gains or losses, can be restored to a participant’s account if, within five years, the participant is re-employed by the Company and repays the full dollar amount distributed because of the termination.

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

  (g) Investment Options

Upon enrollment in the Plan, a participant may direct the account balance into any of the investment options currently available, as listed on the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. Participants may change their investment options and transfer amounts between funds daily. T. Rowe Price is the trustee for all investments, serves as investment manager for certain registered investment company and common commingled trust funds, and provides recordkeeping of all participant accounts. Amounts may be temporarily invested in a cash account prior to investment in Costco Wholesale Corporation common stock.

Dividends on the Company’s stock are reinvested in the participant’s Company stock account, unless a distribution is requested by the participant. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, dividends totaling approximately $182,000, and $122,000, respectively, were distributed to participants. A participant may direct the Trustee as to the manner in which the Company’s stock allocated to the participant’s account shall be voted.

Effective June 1, 2011, the Plan added the T. Rowe Price Institutional Mid-Cap Equity Growth Fund and the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares. These funds replaced the T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund and the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Signal Fund, respectively.

 

  (h) Distributions

Upon termination of employment, total disability, or death, the vested interest in a participant’s account is payable in a lump sum. Participants may apply for a distribution of all or a portion of the vested interest at any time after attainment of age 59-1/2. Participants are also eligible to make hardship withdrawals from their salary deferral contributions in the event of certain financial hardships. Following a hardship withdrawal, participants are not allowed to contribute to the Plan for a period of six months.

 

  (i) Notes Receivable from Participants

A participant may borrow up to the lesser of $50,000 or 45% of his or her vested account balance, calculated using the participant’s pre-tax contribution, rollover, Company matching and Company discretionary contribution amounts. Only the participant’s pre-tax contribution, rollover, and Company-matching amounts may be borrowed against, with a minimum note of $1,000. Notes are payable through payroll deductions over a period ranging up to 180 months, depending on the purpose of the note.

The interest rate is determined by the plan administrator based on the Bank of America prime rate on the last day of the prior calendar quarter in which the note was made, plus 1% for a primary residence loan and 2% for a standard loan. The rates at December 31, 2011 and 2010 ranged from 4.25% to 11.50%. The notes have various maturity dates, through December 2026.

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

  (j) Plan Administrator

The Plan is administered by the Benefits Committee, which is appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (k) Administrative and Investment Expenses

All administrative and custodial fees of the Plan are paid by the Company. All investment management and transaction fees directly related to Plan investments are paid by the Plan. Investment fees for 2011 and 2010 were approximately $3.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

 

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

 

  (b) Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the Plan’s management to use estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

  (c) Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

The Plan invests in Company common stock, and various registered investment company and common commingled trust funds that, in turn, invest in a combination of stocks, bonds and other investment securities. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that those changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

Registered investment company funds and Company common stock are stated at fair value based upon quoted market prices. The T. Rowe Price Equity Index Trust Fund is a common commingled trust fund stated at fair value and valued daily based on the quoted market prices of the underlying securities.

The T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund is a common commingled trust fund invested primarily in guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) and synthetic GICs. The GICs are fully benefit-responsive and are recorded at contract value. A benefit-responsive investment contract is a contract between an insurance company, a bank, a financial institution, or any financially responsible entity, with a plan that provides for a stated return on principal invested over a specified period and that permits withdrawals at contract value for benefit payments, loans, or transfers to other investment options offered to the participant by the plan. Participant withdrawals from the plan are required to be at contract value. The overall effective yield and crediting rate of the Stable Value Fund was 2.69% and 2.97%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2011, and 3.65% and 4.10%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2010. Contract value is equal to principal balance plus accrued interest.

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

The fair value of the GICs is calculated by discounting the related cash flows based on current yields of similar instruments with comparable investment durations.

Investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is a relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the plan. The Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits presents the fair value of the investment contracts as well as the adjustment of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value. The Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits are prepared on a contract value basis.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the date declared. Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments includes the change in the fair value of assets from one period to the next, plus realized gains and losses.

 

  (d) Notes Receivable from Participants

Participant loans are classified as notes receivable from participants, which are segregated from plan investments and measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest.

 

  (e) Distribution of Benefits

Distributions of benefits are recorded when paid.

 

(3) Fair Value Measurement

Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires maximizing the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used 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 following valuation techniques are used to measure fair value:

Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments, such as investments in registered investment company funds and Costco Common Stock, whose value is based on quoted market prices, such as quoted net asset values published by the fund as supported in an active market, exchange-traded instruments and listed equities.

Level 2 includes assets and liabilities where quoted market prices are unobservable but observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

Plan’s Level 2 assets include investments in common commingled trust funds. Valuation methodologies are based on “consensus pricing,” using market prices from a variety of industry-standard data providers or pricing that considers various assumptions, including time value, yield curve, volatility factors, credit spreads, default rates, loss severity, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments or debt, broker and dealer quotes, as well as other relevant economic measures. All are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, for which the Plan typically receives independent external valuation information.

The Plan has no Level 3 assets or liabilities as of December 31,2011 and 2010.

Valuation techniques utilized during the reporting period in the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities presented on the Plan’s statement of net assets available for benefits were not changed from previous practice.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents information about the Plan’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value:

 

            December 31, 2011
(in thousands)
 
     Total      Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets

(Level 1)
     Significant
other
observable
inputs

(Level 2)
 

Investments in Registered Investment Company Funds:

        

Balance Funds

   $ 2,306,845       $ 2,306,845       $ —     

Equity Funds

     91,654         91,654         —     

Money Market Funds

     984         984         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Registered Investment Company Funds

     2,399,483         2,399,483         —     

Investments in Common Commingled Trust Funds

     1,268,178         —           1,268,178   

Costco Wholesale Common Stock Funds

     1,639,430         1,639,430         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $ 5,307,091       $ 4,038,913       $ 1,268,178   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

            December 31, 2010
(in thousands)
 
     Total      Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical
assets

(Level 1)
     Significant
other
observable
inputs

(Level 2)
 

Investments in Registered Investment Company Funds:

        

Balance Funds

   $ 2,131,253       $ 2,131,253       $ —     

Equity Funds

     120,130         120,130         —     

Money Market Funds

     1,189         1,189         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Registered Investment Company Funds

     2,252,572         2,252,572         —     

Investments in Common Commingled Trust Funds

     1,131,792         —           1,131,792   

Costco Wholesale Common Stock Funds

     1,384,779         1,384,779         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $ 4,769,143       $ 3,637,351       $ 1,131,792   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(4) Plan Termination

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan, subject to the provisions of ERISA and the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in California. In the event of plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

(5) Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has informed the Company that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The Plan has been amended subsequent to receiving the determination letter on May 5, 2006. The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRS.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2011, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan Administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2009.

 

(6) Party-in-Interest and Related Party Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of registered investment company and common commingled trust funds managed by T. Rowe Price. T. Rowe Price is also the trustee and record keeper as defined by the Plan. Therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The Plan also invests in Company common stock. Therefore, these transactions also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

 

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COSTCO 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

December 31, 2011

 

Identity of issuer, borrower,

lessor, or similar party

  

Description of investment

   Current
value
 
     

Registered investment company and common commingled trust funds:

     

American Funds

   Growth Fund of America R5    $ 127,233,346  

American Funds

   New Perspective Fund R5      104,649,713  

Artio

   International Equity I Fund      91,653,577  

Davis Funds

   New York Venture Fund Class Y      118,120,454  

* T. Rowe Price

   Small-Cap Stock Fund      183,736,252  

* T. Rowe Price

   Spectrum Income Fund      278,945,236  

* T. Rowe Price

   Mid-Cap Growth Fund      457,598,761  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement Income Fund      13,374,092  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2005 Fund      9,401,735  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2010 Fund      28,706,957  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2015 Fund      66,234,916  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2020 Fund      117,533,547  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2025 Fund      124,996,155  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2030 Fund      141,438,817  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2035 Fund      111,627,790  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2040 Fund      160,379,782  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2045 Fund      157,971,163  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2050 Fund      52,290,573  

* T. Rowe Price

   Retirement 2055 Fund      35,972,589  

* T. Rowe Price

   Equity Index Trust Fund Class C      162,208,717  

* T. Rowe Price

   Stable Value Fund (at contract value)      1,067,398,641  

Vanguard

   Total Bond Market Index Signal Fund      16,633,409  

Common stock

     

* Costco Wholesale Corporation

   Common stock      1,639,430,046  

Notes receivable from participants

     

* Various Participants

   Interest rates of 4.25% to 11.50% maturing through December 2026      316,853,811  
     

 

 

 
      $ 5,584,390,080  
     

 

 

 

 

* Indicates a party-in-interest.

See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  COSTCO 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN
Date: June 19, 2012   By:  

/s/    JOHN MATTHEWS

    John Matthews
   

Senior Vice President

Costco Wholesale Corporation