Is Costco Owned by China? (2023 Facts)

With so many large corporations buying and selling companies, it can be difficult to keep track of who owns what. For example, did you know that Pillsbury is now owned by General Mills? And that Gerber is owned by Nestle? 

But can the same be said for Costco? Costco is a membership-only warehouse club that offers its members low prices on bulk items. But who actually owns the company? And is Costco Owned by China? Let’s find out…

The History 

Costco was founded in 1976 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman. Sinegal had previously worked for Sol Price at his discount chain called FedMart; Brotman was a lawyer. The two men opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington.

 In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club, another warehouse club chain founded by Sol Price. The merged company was called Price/Costco and had 206 locations in the United States and Canada. In 1997, the company changed its name to Costco Wholesale Corporation and began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol COST.

The Ownership 

 Costco is a publicly traded company with shares listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. As of June 2018, the largest shareholders in the company were:

These institutional investors owned a combined total of 19% of the company. The remaining percentage is owned by individual shareholders, many of whom are likely Costco members.

How Do Publicly Traded Companies Work?

order for a company to be publicly traded, it must first file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is the regulatory agency that oversees the securities industry in the United States. The company must provide the SEC with financial statements and other information about the business. Once the company is approved, it can then list its shares on a stock exchange, such as the Nasdaq.

Individual investors can then purchase shares of the company through a broker. When the investors want to sell their shares, they can do so through the same broker. The price of the shares will fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Can I Invest in Costco?

Yes, you can invest in Costco by purchasing shares of the company on the stock market. However, you must first open a brokerage account. You can then use the account to buy and sell shares of the superstore and other publicly traded companies.

So, Is Costco Owned By China? 

No, Costco is not owned by China, nor has it ever been. The largest shareholder in the company is The Vanguard Group, Inc., an American investment management company. There has been some speculation that because Costco sells products made in China, the Chinese government may have some ownership stake in the company. However, this is not the case.

Costco does have a strong presence in China, however. In 2019, Costco opened its first store in China. The company currently operates two stores in the Greater China region and have plans to open more stores in the future.

Does Costco Sell Products Made in China?

The answer is yes, and no. Costco does sell products that are made in China, but the store also sells products that are made in other countries. 

For example, you can buy a shirt that was made in China, but you can also buy a shirt that was made in the United States. The same goes for other products at Costco. So, if you’re looking for an American-made product at Costco, you’ll likely be able to find it. But if you’re looking for a Chinese-made product, you’ll also be able to find it.

What Companies Are Owned by China?

While China does not currently own Costco, there are several other companies that are owned by the country. For example, the Chinese government owns a majority stake in the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), one of the largest oil companies in the world. 

They also own a majority stake in the China Railway Group, one of the largest railway companies in the world. And they own a majority stake in the Bank of China, one of the largest banks in the world. So, while Costco may not be owned by China, there are several other large companies that are.

What American Companies are in China?

There are several American companies that have a presence in the region. For example, Walmart has over 400 stores in the country. McDonald’s has over 2,000 restaurants, and KFC has over 5,000 restaurants in China. Also, several American companies have factories and produce their products there, including Apple, Nike, and General Motors. 

Why are People Concerned that Costco is Owned by China?

There are a few reasons why people may be concerned. Primarily due to the political tensions between the United States and China. The trade war between the two countries has led to tariffs on goods imported from China into the United States. And because Costco sells products made in China, some people worry that the store may be impacted by these tariffs.

Read more: Does Walmart Own Costco?

More Info On Costco And Employment

They say it’s a great place to work, so why not take a look at our in-depth guide to the Costco Application and the most common Costco Interview Questions that you will be asked?

You might also be wondering How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Costco if you’re still in school, along with the perks of the Costco Employee Discount, and finally, Does Costco Hire Felons if you have a criminal record?

If you’re just heading out shopping, then you’ll probably want to know about Costco’s services, such as Does Costco Take VSP and EyeMed, or Does Costco Sell plan B, or how about the Costco Executive Membership Hours for the best shopping experience, and the Costco Mattress Return Policy for 2023.

Is Costco Owned By China? – Final Thoughts

It’s hard to say what the future holds for Costco. The company has been growing steadily in recent years, and there’s no reason to believe that this growth will slow down anytime soon. 

China, specifically, the superstore has plans to open many more stores in the future. So, we may see more Costco products made there. But for now, the company is owned by American investors and is not currently owned by China.

Now you know an interesting fact about Costco!