Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
PriceSmart, headquartered in San Diego, California, owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, selling high quality merchandise and services at low prices to our Members. We operate 56 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (ten in Colombia; nine in Costa Rica; seven each in Panama and Guatemala; five inDominican Republic; four each in Trinidad and El Salvador; three in Honduras; two each in Nicaragua and Jamaica; and one each in Aruba, Barbados and the United States Virgin Islands). Additionally, the Company plans to open one new warehouse club in La Romana, Dominican Republic in the spring of 2026, and one warehouse club in Montego Bay and one on South Camp Road, Jamaica in the summer and fall of 2026, respectively. Once these three new clubs are open, we will operate 59 warehouse clubs in total. Additionally, we are continuing to advance our planned expansion into Chile, which we have identified as a potential market for multiple PriceSmart warehouse clubs. Our corporate headquarters, U.S. buying operations and regional distribution centers are located primarily in the United States. Our operating segments are the United States, Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Mission
PriceSmart's mission is to provide all Members an outstanding shopping experience with high quality, exciting merchandise and services at the lowest possible prices.
Purpose
PriceSmart's purpose is to improve the lives and businesses of our Members, our employees and our communities through the responsible delivery of the best quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. We aim to serve as a model company, which operates profitably and provides a good return to our investors, by providing Members in emerging and developing markets with exciting, high-quality merchandise sourced from around the world and valuable services at compelling prices in safe U.S.-style clubs and through PriceSmart.com. We prioritize the well-being and safety of our Members and employees. We provide good jobs, fair wages and benefits and opportunities for advancement. We strive to treat our suppliers right and empower them when we can, including both our regional suppliers and those from around the world. We try to conduct ourselves in a socially responsible manner as we endeavor to improve the quality of the lives of our Members and their businesses, while respecting the environment and the laws of all the countries in which we operate. We also believe in facilitating philanthropic contributions to the communities in which we do business. We charge Members an annual membership fee that enables us to operate our business with lower margins than traditional retail stores. As we continue to invest in technological capabilities, we are increasing our tools to drive sales and operational efficiencies. We believe we are well positioned to blend the excitement and appeal of our brick-and-mortar business with the convenience and additional benefits of online shopping and services, while simultaneously enhancing Member experience and engagement.
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Factors Affecting the Business
Overall economic trends, foreign currency exchange volatility, and other factors impacting the business
Our sales and profits vary from market to market depending on general economic factors, including GDP growth; consumer preferences; foreign currency exchange rates; political and social conditions; local demographic characteristics (such as population growth); the number of years we have operated in a particular market; and the level of retail and wholesale competition in that market. The economies of many of our markets are dependent on foreign trade, tourism, remittances from foreign workers located in the United States to individuals or family members in their home countries, and foreign direct investments. Uncertain economic conditions and slowdown in global economic growth and investment may impact the economies in our markets, causing significant declines in GDP and employment and devaluations of local currencies against the U.S. dollar.
Inflationary pressures could significantly impact product costs, and commodity price increases have and could again impact our financial results and could lead to reduced sales, fewer units sold, and/or margin pressure. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted, directly or indirectly, in market and supply-chain disruptions, which increased the complexity of managing our inventory flow and business and resulted in substantial inventory markdowns on certain non-food product categories in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022. In addition, shipping and freight rates increased dramatically during that time. Similar challenges could reoccur in the future. While supply chains and transportation rates have normalized, we continue to work to hold down and/or mitigate price increases passed on to our Members while maintaining the right inventory mix to grow sales. One key factor has been our expanded network of distribution centers, which has facilitated alternative shipping routes, increased merchandise throughput, and provided flexibility to mitigate our supply chain challenges and risks more effectively.
Currency fluctuation can be one of the largest variables affecting our overall sales and profit performance because many of our markets are susceptible to foreign currency exchange rate volatility. For fiscal year 2025, some markets, especially Costa Rica, benefited from currency appreciation, which helped offset currency devaluations we experienced in some of the other countries. During fiscal year 2025, approximately 80.1% of our net merchandise sales were in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Of those sales, 49.0% consisted of sales of products we purchased in U.S. dollars.
A devaluation of local currency reduces the value of sales and membership income that is generated in that country when translated to U.S. dollars for our consolidated results. In addition, when local currency experiences devaluation, we may elect to increase the local currency price of imported merchandise to maintain our target margins, which could impact demand for the merchandise affected by the price increase. Alternatively, we may elect not to raise prices to fully cover the impact of the devaluation, adversely affecting our margins. For example, during fiscal year 2023, the currency in Colombia devalued approximately 15%, but we selectively held pricing steady or took pricing actions to mitigate declines in demand, which negatively impacted our consolidated Total gross margin percentage. We may also modify the mix of imported versus local merchandise and/or the source of imported merchandise to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations. Information about the effect of local currency devaluations is discussed further in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Net Merchandise Sales and Comparable Sales.”
Our wallet-share capture of total retail and wholesale sales can vary from market to market due to competition and the availability of other shopping options for our Members. Demographic characteristics within each of our markets can affect both the overall level of sales and future sales growth opportunities. Certain island markets, such as Aruba, Barbados and the U.S. Virgin Islands, offer limited upside for sales growth given their overall market size.
We continue to face the risk of political instability which may have significant effects on our business. For example, protestors set up roadblocks in Panama during October and November 2023 as a reaction to an agreement between the Panamanian government and a mining company, disrupting traffic to our clubs throughout most of the market. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, Panama once again experienced widespread protests and social unrest against the government. Roadblocks in Guatemala in October 2023 related to election protests also limited access to certain of our warehouse clubs. Civil unrest in Colombia in response to tax reform and austerity measures paralyzed significant portions of the country’s infrastructure during the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.
Our operations are subject to volatile weather conditions and natural disasters. In November 2020, Hurricanes Eta and Iota brought severe rainfall, winds, and flooding to a significant portion of Central America, especially Honduras, which caused significant damage to parts of that country’s infrastructure. Although our warehouse clubs were not significantly affected and we were able to manage our supply chain to keep our warehouse clubs stocked with merchandise, similar natural disasters could adversely impact our overall sales, costs and profit performance in the future.
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At times we face difficulties in the shipment of, and the risks inherent in the importation of, merchandise to our warehouse clubs. One of those difficulties is possible governmental restrictions on the importation of merchandise. In late May 2023, disputes with Nicaraguan customs and tax authorities resulted in delays in the issuance of our importation clearance, and general delays in the customs inspection process. While this situation had occurred frequently prior to May 2023, we generally were able to plan around these import blockages and resume imports within a matter of days. However, this last delay in obtaining importation clearance resulted in our being unable to import merchandise into Nicaragua for several weeks in June 2023. While our tax clearances and imports have returned to a normal cadence, we could see delays of imports into Nicaragua again as well as in other jurisdictions in which we operate.
Our operations depend on shipping, trucking, ports and other elements of the supply chain that often rely on unionized labor. A work stoppage or other limitation on operations from union or other labor-related matters could occur for any number of reasons, including as a result of disputes under existing collective bargaining agreements with labor unions or in connection with negotiation of new collective bargaining agreements. For example, while it did not impact our export activities, we experienced a brief disruption to the flow of imported merchandise into our Miami distribution center operations because of the U.S. dockworkers strike in October 2024.
Current uncertainties about tariffs may have an adverse effect on our Company. The U.S. government has implemented significant tariff measures, including a baseline tariff of 10% on products from all countries and higher rates targeting specific countries. For additional information, see "Item 1A — Risk Factors — We are vulnerable to changes in the political and economic conditions such as tariffs and/or international trade wars and disruptions to remittances."
In July 2025, the United States enacted significant tax legislation commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("OBBBA"). The OBBBA makes permanent many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and introduces additional changes affecting individuals and businesses. Key business-related provisions include the continuation of the 21% federal corporate income tax rate, enhancements to bonus depreciation and expensing rules, and modifications to certain international provisions, including Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and Foreign-Derived Intangible Income deductions. The OBBBA also includes other targeted measures, including a 1% excise tax on foreign remittances.
We have reviewed the OBBBA and continue to monitor and model its potential impact on our operations and effective tax rate. Based on our current analysis of the Company's operating profile, we do not expect material effects on our 2026 fiscal year results or to our results going forward, considering our existing tax profile. Most provisions that represent substantive changes to existing law, including adjustments to international tax regimes and certain deduction limitations, are scheduled to take effect during our fiscal year 2027.
Changes in tax laws, increases in the enacted tax rates, adverse outcomes in connection with tax audits in any jurisdiction, or any change in the pronouncements relating to accounting for income taxes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In one of the countries where we operate, the government made changes several years ago in the method of computing minimum tax payments, under which the government sought to require retailers to pay taxes based on a percentage of sales if the resulting tax were greater than the tax payable based on a percentage of income (Alternative Minimum Tax or "AMT"). We, together with our tax and legal advisers, appealed these interpretations and litigated our cases in the country’s court system. Nevertheless, in fiscal year 2023, we recorded a $7.2 million charge to settle the minimum tax payment dispute. To address the inherent risk of operating in a country in which tax legislation changes can significantly impact our business because of our low-margin business model and in which our ability to successfully appeal the application of these taxes is limited, we have increased prices in this market to offset or partially offset the rise in costs to comply with the annual AMT payment. These and other challenges may persist or become more acute and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
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From time to time, we have experienced a lack of availability of U.S. dollars in certain markets (U.S. dollar illiquidity). This impedes our ability to convert local currencies obtained through merchandise sales into U.S. dollars to settle the U.S. dollar liabilities associated with our imported products or otherwise fund our operations. This illiquidity also increases our foreign exchange exposure to any devaluation of the local currency relative to the U.S. dollar. Additionally, the Company may incur significant premium costs to convert our local currencies into available tradable currencies and U.S. dollars. For instance, since fiscal year 2017, we have experienced this situation in Trinidad and have been unable to source a sufficient level of tradable currencies. We are working with our banks in Trinidad and government officials to convert all of our Trinidad dollars into tradable currencies. Our balance as of August 31, 2025 of Trinidad dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments measured in U.S. dollars was $59.7 million, a decrease of $40.8 million from the peak of $100.5 million as of November 30, 2020. However, as the Trinidad central bank strictly manages the exchange rate of the Trinidad dollar with the U.S. dollar and affects the level of U.S. dollar liquidity in the market through its interventions, we are subject to continued challenges in converting our Trinidad dollars to U.S. dollars, as well as being exposed to the risk of a potential devaluation of the currency. In July 2025, the Company entered into financing transactions to provide our Trinidad subsidiary with additional U.S. dollar liquidity needed to meet its operational needs and help reduce the shortfall in U.S. dollar sourcing due to continued illiquid foreign exchange conditions in that market. Refer to Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 11 - Debt” for additional information.
While we are currently able to source substantially all the U.S. dollars that we need in Honduras, we faced similar U.S. dollar liquidity challenges in Honduras during fiscal year 2023 through much of fiscal year 2025 and the Central bank still has strict controls there on the availability of U.S. dollars.
Financial highlights for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 included:
•Total revenues increased 8.6% over the comparable prior year period.
•Net merchandise sales increased 9.2% over the comparable prior year period. We ended the quarter with 56 warehouse clubs compared to 54 warehouse clubs at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024. Net merchandise sales - constant currency increased 9.1% over the comparable prior year period.
•Comparable net merchandise sales (that is, sales in the 54 warehouse clubs that have been open for greater than 13 1⁄2 calendar months) and comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency for the 13 weeks ended August 31, 2025 increased 7.5%.
•Membership income for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 increased 14.9% to $22.6 million over the comparable prior year period.
•Total gross margins (net merchandise sales less associated cost of goods sold) increased 9.0% over the prior year period, and merchandise gross profits as a percent of net merchandise sales remained unchanged at 15.7% from the same period in the prior year.
•Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $16.5 million or 10.1% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, primarily due to investments in technology, such as the RELEX and Elera projects.
•Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $52.8 million, an increase of 7.2%, or $3.6 million, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024.
•We recorded a $6.4 million net loss in total other expense, net in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to a $7.4 million net loss in total other expense, net in the same period last year due to a decrease in other expense, net of $1.0 million primarily driven by a decrease in foreign currency conversion transaction costs.
•Our effective tax rate increased in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 to 32.0% from 30.4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange transactions and reduced intercompany charges during the quarter.
•Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $31.5 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, compared to $29.1 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024.
•Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $75.5 million compared to $70.7 million in the same period last year.
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Financial highlights for fiscal year 2025 included:
•Total revenues increased 7.2% over the prior year.
•Net merchandise sales increased 7.7% over the prior year. We ended the year with 56 warehouse clubs compared to 54 warehouse clubs at the end of fiscal year 2024. Net merchandise sales - constant currency increased 8.5% over the prior year.
•Comparable net merchandise sales (that is, sales in the 54 warehouse clubs that have been open for greater than 13 1⁄2 calendar months) for the 52 weeks ended August 31, 2025 increased 6.7%. Comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency for the 52 weeks ended August 31, 2025 increased 7.5%.
•Membership income increased 13.7% to $85.6 million.
•Total gross margins (net merchandise sales less associated cost of goods sold) increased 7.4% over the prior year, and merchandise gross profits as a percent of net merchandise sales decreased to 15.7% from 15.8% compared to the prior year.
•Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $55.9 million, or 8.9%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily due to investments in technology, such as the RELEX and Elera projects.
•Operating income was $232.5 million in fiscal year 2025, an increase of 5.2%, or $11.6 million, compared to fiscal year 2024.
•We recorded a $26.0 million net loss in total other expense, net in fiscal year 2025 compared to a $19.5 million net loss in total other expense, net in the prior year due to an increase in unrealized losses in value of U.S. dollar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities in several of our markets.
•The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2025 was 28.4% as compared to the effective tax rate for fiscal year 2024 of 31.1%. The decrease is primarily related to the implementation of certain tax optimization initiatives at the beginning of fiscal year 2025.
•Net income for fiscal year 2025 was $147.9 million, or $4.82 per diluted share, compared to $138.9 million, or $4.57 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2024.
•Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2025 was $320.7 million compared to $303.6 million in the prior year.
Non - GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) Financial Measures
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, including the related notes, are presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). In addition to relevant GAAP measures, we also provide non-GAAP measures including adjusted EBITDA, net merchandise sales - constant currency and comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency because management believes these metrics are useful to investors and analysts by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. These measures are customary for our industry and commonly used by competitors. However, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be reviewed in isolation or considered as an alternative to any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in our industry or across different industries.
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Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain other items, including interest income and; other income (expense), net. The following is a reconciliation of our Net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended Years Ended
Adjustments:
(1) Primarily consists of transaction costs of converting the local currencies into available tradable currencies in some of our countries with liquidity issues and foreign currency losses or gains due to the revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities (primarily U.S. dollars) for the three and twelve months ended August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024.
Net Merchandise Sales - Constant Currency
As a multinational enterprise, we are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The translation of the operations of our foreign-based entities from their local currencies into U.S. dollars is sensitive to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and can have a significant impact on our reported financial results. We believe that constant currency is a useful measure, indicating the actual growth of our operations. When we use the term "net merchandise sales - constant currency," it means that we have translated current year net merchandise sales at prior year monthly average exchange rates. Net merchandise sales - constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation. Similarly, when we use the term "comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency," it means that we have translated current year comparable net merchandise sales at prior year monthly average exchange rates. Comparable net merchandise sales – constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation. Refer to “Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Net Merchandise Sales” and Refer to “Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Comparable Net Merchandise Sales” for our quantitative analysis and discussion. Reconciliations between net merchandise sales - constant currency and comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency and the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included where applicable.
Comparison of Fiscal Year 2025 to 2024
The following discussion and analysis compares the results of operations for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and 2024 and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report. For a comparison of the fiscal years ended August 31, 2024 and 2023, please see Part II. “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on October 30, 2024. Unless otherwise noted, all tables present U.S. dollar amounts in thousands. Certain percentages presented are calculated using actual results prior to rounding. Our operations consist of four reportable segments: Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia and the United States. The Company’s reportable segments are based on management’s organization of these locations into operating segments by general geographic location, which are used by management and the Company's chief operating decision maker in setting up management lines of responsibility, providing support services, and making operational decisions and assessments of financial performance. Segment amounts are presented after converting to U.S. dollars and consolidating eliminations. From time to time, we revise the measurement of each segment's operating income, including certain corporate overhead allocations, and other measures as determined by the information regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision maker. When we do so, the previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.
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Net Merchandise Sales
The following tables indicate the net merchandise sales in the reportable segments in which we operate and the percentage growth in net merchandise sales by segment during fiscal years 2025 and 2024:
Years Ended
Amount % of netsales Increase from prior year Change Amount % of netsales
Overall, net merchandise sales grew by 7.7% for fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, driven by a 5.9% increase in transactions and a 1.7% increase in average ticket. Transactions represent the total number of visits our Members make to our warehouse clubs resulting in a sale and the total number of PriceSmart.com transactions involving home delivery or curbside pickup via the Company`s Click & Go® service. Average ticket represents the amount our Members spend on each visit or PriceSmart.com order. We had 56 clubs in operation as of August 31, 2025 compared to 54 clubs as of August 31, 2024.
Net merchandise sales in our Central America segment increased 7.5% during fiscal year 2025. This increase had a 460 basis point (4.6%) positive impact on total net merchandise sales growth. All markets within this segment had positive net merchandise sales growth for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2025. We opened our ninth warehouse club in Costa Rica in April 2025 and our seventh warehouse club in Guatemala in August 2025.
Net merchandise sales in our Caribbean segment increased 6.6% during fiscal year 2025. This increase had a 180 basis point (1.8%) positive impact on total net merchandise sales growth. All of our markets in this segment had positive net merchandise sales growth.
Net merchandise sales in our Colombia segment increased 11.4% during fiscal year 2025. This increase had a 130 basis point (1.3%) positive impact on total net merchandise sales growth.
The following table indicates the impact that currency exchange rates had on our net merchandise sales in dollars and the percentage impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on net merchandise sales growth. When we use the term "net merchandise sales - constant currency," it means that we have translated current year net merchandise sales at prior year monthly average exchange rates. Net merchandise sales - constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation. Impact of foreign currency is the effect of currency fluctuations on our net merchandise sales.
Overall, the effects of currency fluctuations within our markets had an approximately $36.8 million, or 80 basis point (0.8%), negative impact on net merchandise sales for the twelve-months ended August 31, 2025.
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Currency fluctuations had a $21.4 million, or 70 basis point (0.7%), positive impact on net merchandise sales in our Central America segment for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025. These currency fluctuations contributed approximately 40 basis points (0.4%) of positive impact on total net merchandise sales for fiscal year 2025. The Costa Rican colón appreciated against the dollar when compared to the prior year and was a significant factor in the contribution to the favorable currency fluctuations in this segment.
Currency fluctuations had a $24.5 million, or 180 basis point (1.8%), negative impact on net merchandise sales in our Caribbean segment for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025. These currency fluctuations contributed approximately 50 basis points (0.5%) of negative impact on total net merchandise sales growth for the current fiscal year period. This negative impact was primarily driven by the devaluation of the Dominican Peso as compared to the prior year.
Currency fluctuations had a $33.6 million, or 620 basis point (6.2%), negative impact on net merchandise sales in our Colombia segment for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025. These currency fluctuations contributed approximately 70 basis points (0.7%) of negative impact on total net merchandise sales for the current fiscal year period.
Net Merchandise Sales by Category
The following table indicates the approximate percentage of net sales accounted for by each major category of items sold during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and 2024:
Years Ended August 31,
Foods & Sundries 47 % 49 %
Softlines 6 5
Food Service and Bakery 4 4
Health Services 1 1
Net Merchandise Sales 100 % 100 %
The mix of sales by major category remained mostly steady year-over-year. Net sales of Foods & Sundries increased approximately 5% between fiscal year 2025and 2024but decreased by 2% as a percentage of net merchandise sales. Net sales of Fresh Foods increased approximately 12% between fiscal year 2025 and 2024 and increased by 1% as a percentage of net merchandise sales. Shifts in consumer preferences contributed to the changes in category mix.
Comparable Net Merchandise Sales
We report comparable net merchandise sales on a “same week” basis with 13 weeks in each quarter beginning on a Monday and ending on a Sunday. The periods are established at the beginning of the fiscal year to provide as close a match as possible to the calendar month and quarter that is used for financial reporting purposes. This approach equalizes the number of weekend days and weekdays in each period for improved sales comparison as we experience higher merchandise club sales on the weekends. Further, each of the warehouse clubs used in the calculations was open for at least 13 1⁄2 calendar months before its results for the current period were compared with its results for the prior period. As a result, sales related to two of our clubs opened during fiscal year 2025 will not be used in the calculation of comparable sales until they have been open for at least 13 1⁄2 months. Therefore, comparable net merchandise sales includes 54 warehouse clubs for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025.
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The following table indicates the comparable net merchandise sales in the reportable segments in which we operate and the percentage changes in net merchandise sales by segment during the 52-week periods ended August 31, 2025 and September 1, 2024 compared to the prior year:
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
Central America 5.6 % 7.7 %
Consolidated comparable net merchandise sales 6.7 % 7.7 %
Comparable net merchandise sales for those warehouse clubs that were open for at least 13 1⁄2 months for some or all of the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025 increased 6.7%.
Comparable net merchandise sales in our Central America segment increased 5.6% for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025. All of our markets in Central America had positive comparable net merchandise sales growth. The positive comparable net merchandise sales growth for our Central America segment contributed approximately 340 basis points (3.4%) of positive impact in total comparable merchandise sales.
Comparable net merchandise sales in our Caribbean segment increased 7.2% for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025. This increase contributed approximately 200 basis points (2.0%) of positive impact on total comparable net merchandise sales. Our Jamaica market continued its strong performance in the 52-week period, with 13.1% comparable net merchandise sales growth.
Comparable net merchandise sales in our Colombia segment increased 11.8% for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025. This increase contributed approximately 130 basis points (1.3%) of positive impact to the increase in total comparable net merchandise sales.
When we use the term "comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency," it means that we have translated current year comparable net merchandise sales at prior year monthly average exchange rates. Comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation. The following tables illustrate the comparable net merchandise sales - constant currency percentage growth and the impact that changes in foreign currency exchange rates had on our comparable merchandise sales percentage growth for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025:
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended August 31, 2025
Central America 5.6 % 4.9 % 0.7 %
Consolidated comparable net merchandise sales 6.7 % 7.5 % (0.8) %
Overall, the mix of currency fluctuations within our markets had 80 basis points (0.8%) of negative impact on comparable net merchandise sales for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025.
Currency fluctuations within our Central America segment accounted for approximately 40 basis points (0.4%) of positive impact on total comparable merchandise sales for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025. Our Costa Rica market was the main contributor as the market experienced currency appreciation when compared to the same period last year.
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Currency fluctuations within our Caribbean segment accounted for approximately 50 basis points (0.5%) of negative impact on total comparable merchandise sales for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025. Our Dominican Republic and Jamaica markets experienced currency devaluation when compared to the same period last year.
Currency fluctuations within our Colombia segment accounted for approximately 70 basis points (0.7%) of negative impact on total comparable net merchandise sales for the 52-week period ended August 31, 2025.
Membership Income
Membership income is recognized ratably over the one-year life of the membership.
Years Ended
The number of Member accounts at the end of fiscal year 2025 was 6.2% higher than the prior year. Membership income increased 13.7% compared to the prior year.
Membership income, which is recognized ratably over the 12-month term of the membership, increased in all of our segments in the twelve months ended August 31, 2025. The consolidated increase in membership income is primarily due to the $5 increase to our membership fee which we implemented on a staggered basis in most countries during fiscal year 2024 and an increase in the platinum membership base since the prior year. In our Central America segment, membership income increased compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily attributable to the $5 increase and the opening of two new clubs. In our Colombia segment, membership income rose compared to fiscal year 2024 due to an increase in membership accounts. Similarly, in our Caribbean segment, membership income rose compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily attributable to the $5 increase to our membership fee. Additionally, all of our segments have increased their membership base since August 31, 2024.
We offer the Platinum Membership program in all locations where PriceSmart operates. The annual fee for a Platinum Membership in most markets is approximately $80, depending on the market in which the Member lives. The Platinum Membership program provides Members with a 2% rebate on most items, up to an annual maximum of $500. We record the 2% rebate as a reduction of net merchandise sales at the time of the sales transaction. Platinum Membership accounts are 17.9% of our total membership base as of August 31, 2025, an increase from 12.3% as of August 31, 2024. Platinum Members tend to have higher renewal rates than our Diamond Members. During fiscal years 2025 and 2024, we ran platinum promotional campaigns, resulting in an increase in the total number of Platinum Members.
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Our trailing twelve-month renewal rate was 88.8% and 87.9% for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively.
Other Revenue
Other revenue primarily consists of our interest-generating portfolio from our co-branded credit cards and rental income from operating leases where the Company is the lessor.
Years Ended
Amount Increase from prior year % Change Amount
Comparison of Fiscal Year 2025 to 2024
The primary driver of the increase in other revenue for the year ended August 31, 2025 was an increase in Miscellaneous income driven primarily by an increase in interest-generating portfolio revenue due to Members having higher average outstanding balances on our co-branded credit cards compared to the prior year.
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Results of Operations
Years Ended
Results of Operations Consolidated August 31, 2025 August 31, 2024
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages and number of warehouse clubs)
Net merchandise sales
Total gross margin percentage 15.7% 15.8%
Revenues
Percentage change from prior period 7.2% 11.4%
Comparable net merchandise sales
Total comparable net merchandise sales increase 6.7% 7.7%
Total revenue margin
Total revenue margin percentage 17.4% 17.2%
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative percentage of total revenues 12.9% 12.7%
Operational data
Warehouse clubs at period end 56 54
Warehouse club sales floor square feet at period end 2,732 2,646
Years Ended
Operating income by segment
(1)The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated upon consolidation of intersegment transactions.
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The following table summarizes the selling, general and administrative expense for the periods disclosed:
Years Ended
August 31, 2025 % ofTotal Revenue August 31, 2024 % ofTotal Revenue
Loss on disposal of assets 2,467 — 2,168 —
Total gross margin is derived from our Revenue – Net merchandise sales less our Cost of goods sold – Net merchandise sales and represents our sales and cost of sales generated from the business activities of our warehouse clubs. We express our Total gross margin percentage as a percentage of our Net merchandise sales.
On a consolidated basis, total gross margin as a percent of net merchandise sales for fiscal year 2025 decreased to 15.7% compared to 15.8% for fiscal year 2024.
Total revenue margin is derived from Total revenues, which includes our Net merchandise sales, Membership income, Export sales, and Other revenue and income less our Cost of goods sold for Net merchandise sales, Export sales, and Non-merchandise revenues. We express our Total revenue margin as a percentage of Total revenues.
Total revenue margin increased to 17.4% from 17.2% for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025 compared to the prior year.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses consist of warehouse club and other operations, general and administrative expenses, preopening expenses, and loss (gain) on disposal of assets. In total, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $55.9 million compared to the prior year, and increased as a percentage of total revenues by 20 basis points (0.2%) to 12.9% of total revenues for fiscal year 2025 compared to 12.7% of total revenues for fiscal year 2024.
Warehouse club and other operations expenses remained unchanged at 9.5% of total revenues from the prior fiscal year.
General and administrative expenses increased to 3.4% of total revenues for the current year compared to 3.2% for fiscal year 2024. The 20 basis point (0.2%) increase is primarily due to investments in technology, inclusive of $3.7 million related to transformation and growth projects, such as RELEX and Elera. Additionally, the Company incurred approximately $1.6 million of one-time expenses associated with Chief Financial Officer transition costs, as well as $1.1 million related to the relocation of the San Diego corporate headquarters.
For fiscal year 2026, we estimate that general and administrative expenses will be impacted by $5.0 million for the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer.
Operating income in fiscal year 2025 increased to $232.5 million (4.4% of total revenues) compared to $220.9 million (4.5% of total revenues) for the prior year.
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Interest Income
Interest income represents the earnings generated from interest-bearing assets held by PriceSmart, Inc. and our wholly owned foreign subsidiaries. These assets include investments in fixed income securities and deposits held with financial institutions. The interest income is derived from the interest payments received on these assets, which serve to enhance our overall financial returns.
Years Ended
Amount Change Amount
Interest income decreased for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2025 primarily due to a decrease of yields when compared to the prior year.
Interest Expense
Years Ended
Amount Change Amount
Interest expense related to hedging activity 3,088 734 2,354
Interest expense reflects borrowings by PriceSmart, Inc. and our wholly owned foreign subsidiaries to finance new land acquisition and construction for new warehouse clubs and distribution centers, warehouse club expansions, the capital requirements of warehouse club and other operations, and ongoing working capital requirements.
Interest expense decreased for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2025, primarily due to lower debt balances for a majority of the fiscal year and higher capitalized interest partially offset by higher interest expense related to hedging activities when compared to the prior year.
Other Expense, net
Other expense, net consists of currency gains or losses, as well as net benefit costs related to our defined benefit plans and other items considered to be non-operating in nature.
Years Ended
Amount Change Amount
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity (primarily U.S. dollars) are revalued to the functional currency using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. These foreign exchange transaction gains/(losses) are recorded as currency gains or losses. Additionally, gains or losses from transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity also generate currency gains or losses.
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For the twelve months ended August 31, 2025, the primary drivers of Other expense, net were $14.9 million of transaction costs, associated with converting the local currencies into available tradable currencies before converting them to U.S. dollars in some of our countries with foreign exchange liquidity issues. Additionally, during the twelve months ended August 31, 2025, our markets contributed $9.2 million of losses due to revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities (primarily U.S. dollars).
Provision for Income Taxes
The tables below summarize the effective tax rate for the periods reported:
Years Ended
Amount Change Amount
Effective tax rate 28.4 % 31.1 %
For fiscal year 2025, the effective tax rate was 28.4% compared to 31.1% for fiscal year 2024. The decrease in the effective rate versus the prior year was primarily attributable to the implementation of certain tax optimization initiatives at the beginning of fiscal year 2025.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) for fiscal years 2025 and 2024 resulted primarily from foreign currency translation adjustments related to assets and liabilities and the translation of the statements of income related to revenue, costs and expenses of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. When the functional currency in our international subsidiaries is the local currency and not U.S. dollars, the assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date, and revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the period. The corresponding translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. These adjustments will not affect net income until the sale or liquidation of the underlying investment. The reported other comprehensive income or loss reflects the unrealized increase or decrease in the value in U.S. dollars of the net assets of the subsidiaries as of the date of the balance sheet, which will vary from period to period as exchange rates fluctuate.
Years Ended
Amount Change From Prior Year % Change Amount
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Financial Position and Cash Flow
Our operations have historically supplied us with a significant source of liquidity. We generate cash from operations primarily through net merchandise sales and membership fees. Cash used in operations generally consist of payments to our merchandise vendors, warehouse club and distribution center operating costs (including payroll, employee benefits and utilities), as well as payments for income taxes. Our cash flows provided by operating activities, supplemented with our long-term debt and short-term borrowings, have generally been sufficient to fund our operations while allowing us to invest in activities that support the long-term growth of our operations. We also have returned cash to stockholders through a semiannual dividend, a one-time special dividend in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, and by repurchasing shares of our common stock pursuant to the stock repurchase program we commenced in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 and completed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. We may consider funding alternatives to provide additional liquidity if necessary. Refer to Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 11 - Debt” for additional information regarding our available short-term facilities, short-term and our long-term borrowings, and any repayments.
Repatriation of cash and cash equivalents held by foreign subsidiaries may require us to accrue and pay taxes for certain jurisdictions. If we decide to repatriate cash through the payment of a cash dividend by our foreign subsidiaries to our domestic operations, we will accrue taxes if and when appropriate.
The following table summarizes the cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, held by our foreign subsidiaries and domestically (in thousands):
Total cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash $ 285,291 $ 136,311
The following table summarizes the short-term investments held by our foreign subsidiaries and domestically (in thousands):
Amounts held domestically — —
As of August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, there were no certificates of deposit with a maturity of over one year held by our foreign subsidiaries or domestically.
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From time to time, we have experienced a lack of availability of U.S. dollars in certain markets (U.S. dollar illiquidity). This impedes our ability to convert local currencies obtained through merchandise sales into U.S. dollars to settle the U.S. dollar liabilities associated with our imported products or otherwise fund our operations. For instance, since fiscal year 2017, we have experienced this situation in Trinidad and have been unable to source a sufficient level of tradable currencies. We are working with our banks in Trinidad and government officials to convert all of our Trinidad dollars into tradable currencies. Our balance as of August 31, 2025 of Trinidad dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments measured in U.S. dollars was $59.7 million. While we are currently able to source substantially all the U.S. dollars that we need in Honduras, we faced similar U.S. dollar liquidity challenges in Honduras during fiscal year 2023 through much of fiscal year 2025 and the Central bank still has strict controls there on the availability of U.S. dollars. Refer to “Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Factors Affecting Our Business” and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" for quantitative analysis and discussion.
Our cash flows are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended
Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $261.3 million and $207.6 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities increased primarily due to a net change in our various operating assets and liabilities which contributed $19.4 million. Shifts in working capital resulting from changes in our merchandise inventory and accounts payable positions contributed $17.7 million to the overall increase. The primary cause of this was a lower year-over-year increase in inventory compared to the prior year due to two additional clubs that opened in fiscal year 2025 compared to three in fiscal year 2024. Additionally, an increase in net income without non-cash items contributed $16.6 million of cash provided for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025.
Net cash used in investing activities totaled $128.9 million and $175.5 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively. The $46.6 million decrease in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to a net decrease in purchases less proceeds of short-term investments of $35.4 million and a decrease in additions to property and equipment of $10.4 million. We opened two warehouse clubs during fiscal year 2025 compared to three warehouse clubs in fiscal year 2024.
Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $14.2 million and net cash used in financing activities totaled $150.0 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The $164.2 million shift from cash used in to cash provided by financing activities is primarily the result of a $65.4 million increase in proceeds from long-term bank borrowings net of repayments of long-term bank borrowings, a $66.8 million decrease in purchases of treasury stock, and a $27.4 million decrease in cash dividend payments. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, the Company entered into loan agreements in the United States as well as its Trinidad and Guatemala subsidiaries for $92.9 million. Refer to Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 11 - Debt” for further discussion. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, the Company repurchased shares of common stock under a share repurchase program. Additionally, during fiscal year 2024, the Company paid a special dividend in April 2024 in addition to the Company's annual cash dividend declared in February 2024.
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The following table summarizes the dividends declared and paid during fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023 (amounts are per share):
First Payment Second Payment
Declared Amount RecordDate DatePaid Amount RecordDate DatePaid Amount
On February 6, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors declared an annual cash dividend in the total amount of $1.26 per share, with $0.63 per share paid on February 28, 2025 to stockholders of record as of February 18, 2025 and $0.63 per share paid on August 29, 2025 to stockholders of record as of August 15, 2025. The declaration of future dividends (ongoing or otherwise), if any, the amount of such dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors at its discretion after its review of the Company’s financial performance and anticipated capital requirements, taking into account the uncertain macroeconomic conditions on our results of operations and cash flows.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures were $158.1 million for the year ended August 31, 2025, with maintenance and growth expenditures of $82.1 million and $76.0 million, respectively. Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2024 were $168.5 million, with maintenance and growth expenditures of $72.3 million and $96.2 million, respectively. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, we purchased land and plan to open our sixth warehouse club in the Dominican Republic, located in La Romana. Maintenance expenditures are typically for operational fixtures and equipment, building refurbishment, solar, technology and other expenses. Growth expenditures are for new clubs, purchases of previously leased clubs, investments to move existing clubs to better locations, supply chain improvements, and major remodels and expansions.
Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt
Our financing strategy is to ensure liquidity and access to capital markets while minimizing our borrowing costs. The proceeds of these borrowings were or will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends and repayment of existing debt. Refer to Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 11 - Debt” for further discussion.
Future Lease and Other Commitments
We place a strong emphasis on managing future lease commitments related to various facilities and equipment that support our operations. Based on our current liquidity and cash flow projections, we believe we will have sufficient cash to cover future lease commitments. As of August 31, 2025, we have signed one lease agreement for a facility to be built by the lessor which has not yet commenced. Refer to Part II. "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies" for further discussion.
Derivatives
Please refer to Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” for further discussion.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have had, or are reasonably likely to have, a material current or future effect on its financial condition or consolidated financial statements.
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Repurchase of Common Stock and Reissuance of Treasury Shares Related to Employee Stock Awards
At the vesting dates for restricted stock awards to our employees, we repurchase a portion of the shares that have vested at the prior day's closing price per share and apply the proceeds to pay the employees' tax withholding requirements, not to exceed the maximum statutory tax rate, related to the vesting of restricted stock awards. The Company expects to continue this practice going forward.
Shares of common stock repurchased by us are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in the reduction of stockholders’ equity in our consolidated balance sheets. We may reissue these treasury shares in the future.
The following table summarizes the equity securities repurchased as part of the Company's stock-based compensation programs during fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023:
Years Ended
Cost of repurchase of shares (in thousands) $ 6,710 $ 3,512 $ 7,245
We reissued 65,000 treasury shares as part of our stock-based compensation programs during fiscal year 2025, 3,000 treasury shares during fiscal year 2024 and 6,333 treasury shares during fiscal year 2023.
Share Repurchase Program
In July 2023 we announced a program authorized by our Board of Directors to repurchase up to $75 million of our common stock. We began repurchases in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 and successfully completed the share repurchase program in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.We purchased a total of approximately 1,007,000 shares of our common stock under the program. The repurchases were made on the open market pursuant to a trading plan established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which permitted us to repurchase common stock at a time that we might otherwise have been precluded from doing so under insider trading laws or self-imposed trading restrictions. We have no plans to continue repurchases or adopt a new repurchase plan at this time.However, the Board of Directors could choose to commence another program in the future at its discretion after its review of the Company’s financial performance and anticipated capital requirements. During fiscal year 2025, the Company did not repurchase shares under a share repurchase program.
Share repurchase activity under the Company’s repurchase programs for the periods indicated was as follows (total cost in thousands):
Years Ended
Average price per common share acquired $ 74.13 $ 78.54
Total cost of common share acquired $ 69,362 $ 5,618
For further information, refer to Part II. “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.”
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires that management make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Some of our accounting policies require management to make difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management continues to review its accounting policies and evaluate its estimates, including those related to business acquisitions, contingencies and litigation, income taxes, value added taxes, and long-lived assets. We base our estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the present circumstances. Using different estimates could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
The accounting policies described below involve a significant degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, we believe these are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. For further information, refer to Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.”
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carry-forwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized.
As of August 31, 2025, we evaluated our deferred tax assets and liabilities and determined that a valuation allowance was necessary for certain deferred tax asset balances, primarily because of the existence of significant negative objective evidence, such as the fact that certain subsidiaries are in a cumulative loss position for the past three years, indicating that certain net operating loss carry-forward periods are not sufficient to realize the related deferred tax assets. We also specifically considered whether foreign tax credit balances could be utilized in the foreseeable future in light of current and future U.S. tax liabilities. We have historically applied foreign tax credits, generated from taxes withheld on certain payments PriceSmart receives from our foreign subsidiaries, to reduce U.S. income tax liabilities. We expect foreign tax credits generated to exceed U.S. income tax liability for the foreseeable future. Therefore, for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, we have recorded valuation allowances of $7.0 million and $12.5 million against our foreign tax credits, respectively.
We are required to file federal and state income tax returns in the United States and income tax and various other tax returns in multiple foreign jurisdictions, each with changing tax laws, regulations and administrative positions. This requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. We record the benefits of uncertain tax positions in our financial statements only after determining it is more likely than not the uncertain tax positions would sustain challenge by taxing authorities, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. We develop our assessment of an uncertain tax position based on the specific facts and legal arguments of each case and the associated probability of our reporting position being upheld, using internal expertise and the advice of third-party experts. However, our tax returns are subject to routine reviews by the various taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which we file our tax returns. As part of these reviews, taxing authorities may challenge, and in some cases presently are challenging, the interpretations we have used to calculate our tax liability. In addition, any settlement with the tax authority or the outcome of any appeal or litigation process might result, and in some cases has resulted, in an outcome that is materially different from our estimated liability. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the consolidated financial statements as appropriate. Variations in the actual outcome of these cases could materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
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Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, which will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets in the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. In projecting future taxable income, we begin with historical results and incorporate assumptions about the amount of future state, federal, and foreign pretax operating income adjusted for items that do not have tax consequences. The assumptions about future taxable income require the use of significant judgment and are consistent with the plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying businesses. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, we consider three years of cumulative operating income. There were no material changes in our uncertain income tax positions for the period ended on August 31, 2025.
Tax Receivables
We pay Value Added Tax (“VAT”) or similar taxes, income taxes, and other taxes within the normal course of our business in most of the countries in which we operate related to the procurement of merchandise and/or services we acquire and/or on sales and taxable income. VAT is a form of indirect tax applied to the value added at each stage of production (primary, manufacturing, wholesale and retail). This tax is similar to, but operates somewhat differently than, sales tax paid in the United States. We generally collect VAT from our Members upon sale of goods and services and pay VAT to our vendors upon purchase of goods and services. Periodically, we submit VAT reports to governmental agencies and reconcile the VAT paid and VAT received. The net overpaid VAT may be refunded or applied to subsequent returns, and the net underpaid VAT must be remitted to the government.
With respect to income taxes paid, if the estimated income taxes paid or withheld exceed the actual income tax due this creates an income tax receivable. In most countries where we operate, the governments have implemented additional collection procedures, such as requiring credit card processors to remit a portion of sales processed via credit and debit cards directly to the government as advance payments of VAT and/or income tax. This collection mechanism generally leaves us with net VAT and/or income tax receivables, forcing us to process significant refund claims on a recurring basis. These refund or offset processes can take anywhere from several months to several years to complete, depending on the country.
The Company's continued persistent efforts to recover the entirety of its VAT receivables resulted in significant refunds during fiscal year 2025. In one market, the Company was successful in collecting $4.8 million in cash refunds for periods extending from fiscal years 2018 to 2020. In another market, the Company received approval for an additional $4.3 million in cash refunds for periods extending from fiscal years 2019 to 2020.
Minimum tax rules, applicable in some of the countries where the Company operates, require the Company to pay taxes based on a percentage of sales if the resulting tax were greater than the tax payable based on a percentage of income (Alternative Minimum Tax or "AMT"). This can result in AMT payments substantially in excess of those the Company would expect to pay based on taxable income. As the Company believes that, in one country where it operates, it should only be ultimately liable for an income-based tax, it has accumulated income tax receivables of $10.5 million and $10.9 million and deferred tax assets of $3.9 million and $3.4 million as of August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively, in this country.
The Company’s various outstanding VAT receivables and/or income tax receivables are based on individual procedures or appeals with their own set of facts and circumstances. The Company consults with legal and tax advisors regularly to understand the strength of its legal arguments and probability of successful outcomes in addition to its own experience handling these complex tax issues. While the rules related to refunds of income tax receivables in some of the countries where the Company operates are unclear and complex, the Company has not placed any type of allowance on the recoverability of the remaining tax receivables or deferred tax assets, because the Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will ultimately succeed in its refund requests. Similarly, we have not placed any recoverability allowances on tax receivables that arise from payments we are required to make pursuant to tax assessments that we are appealing because we believe it is more likely than not that we will ultimately prevail in the related appeals. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be successful in recovering all tax receivables or deferred tax assets.
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Our policy for classification and presentation of VAT receivables, income tax receivables and other tax receivables is as follows:
•Short-term VAT and Income tax receivables, recorded as Prepaid expenses and other current assets: This classification is used for any countries where our subsidiary has generally demonstrated the ability to recover the VAT or income tax receivable within one year. We also classify as short-term any approved refunds or credit notes to the extent that we expect to receive the refund or use the credit notes within one year.
•Long-term VAT and Income tax receivables, recorded as Other non-current assets: This classification is used for amounts not approved for refund or credit in countries where our subsidiary has not demonstrated the ability to obtain refunds within one year and/or for amounts which are subject to outstanding disputes. An allowance is provided against VAT and income tax receivable balances in dispute when we do not expect to eventually prevail in our recovery of such balances. We do not currently have any allowances provided against VAT and income tax receivables.
Long-lived Assets
We evaluate quarterly our long-lived assets for indicators of impairment. Indicators that an asset may be impaired are:
•the asset's inability to continue to generate income from operations and positive cash flow in future periods;
•loss of legal ownership or title to the asset;
•significant changes in its strategic business objectives and utilization of the asset(s); and
•the impact of significant negative industry or economic trends.
Management's judgments are based on market and operational conditions at the time of the evaluation and can include management's best estimate of future business activity, which in turn drives estimates of future cash flows from these assets. These periodic evaluations could cause management to conclude that impairment factors exist, requiring an adjustment of these assets to their then-current fair market value. Future business conditions and/or activity could differ materially from the projections made by management causing the need for additional impairment charges. We did not record any significant impairment charges during fiscal year 2025 related to the loss of legal ownership or title to assets; significant changes in the Company's strategic business objectives or utilization of assets; or the impact of significant negative industry or economic trends. Loss on disposal of assets recorded during the years reported resulted from improvements to operations and normal preventive maintenance.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity price risk. These market risks arise in the normal course of business. To manage the risk arising from these exposures, we utilize interest rate swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps, non-deliverable foreign currency forward contracts and loans denominated in foreign currencies. We do not engage in speculative trading activities.
Information about the change in the fair value of our hedges and the financial impact thereof for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2025 is disclosed in Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”
Information about the movements in currency exchange rates and the related impact on the translation of the balance sheets of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2025 is disclosed in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).”
Each market risk sensitivity analysis presented below is based on hypothetical scenarios used to calibrate potential risk and does not represent our view of future market changes. The effect of a change in a particular assumption is calculated without adjusting any other assumption. In reality, however, a change in one factor could cause a change in another factor, which may magnify or negate other sensitivities.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of our short-term borrowings and long-term debt borrowings. We have mitigated a portion of our interest rate risk by managing the mix of fixed and variable rate debt and by entering into interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk. The notional amounts and interest payments of these swaps match the terms of the associated debt.
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The table below provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For debt obligations, the table represents the principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates. For interest rate swaps, the table represents the contractual cash flows and weighted-average interest rates by the contractual maturity date, unless otherwise noted. The notional amounts are used to calculate contractual cash flows to be exchanged under the contracts. The weighted-average variable rates are based upon prevailing market interest rates and the outstanding balances as of August 31, 2025.
Annual maturities of long-term debt and derivatives are as follows (in thousands):
Twelve Months Ended August 31, (Amounts in thousands)
Long-Term Debt (Unhedged):
Derivatives:
Interest Rate Swaps:
Long-Term Debt Payments with Fixed Interest or Subject to Financial Derivatives:
(1)The Company has disclosed the future annual maturities of long-term debt as of August 31, 2025. These amounts include fixed rate debt obligations and derivative liabilities associated with interest rate swaps. Therefore, the total annual commitments reflects these obligations, including the effect of the interest rate swaps on the total long-term debt as disclosed on the consolidated balance sheet.
(2)The derivative obligations of the interest rate swaps are included in the Total long-term debt section of this table.
Foreign Currency Risk
We have foreign currency risks related to sales, operating expenses and financing transactions in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of August 31, 2025, we had a total of 56 consolidated warehouse clubs operating in 12 foreign countries and one U.S. territory, 44 of which operate under currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Approximately 49.0% of our net merchandise sales are comprised of products we purchased in U.S. dollars that were sold in countries whose currencies were other than the U.S. dollar. Approximately 80.1% of our net merchandise sales are in markets whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar. We may enter into additional foreign countries in the future or open additional locations in existing countries, which may increase the percentage of net merchandise sales denominated in foreign currencies.
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Currency exchange rate changes either increase or decrease the cost of imported products that we purchase in U.S. dollars and price in local currency. If the local currency devalues against the U.S. dollar, we may elect to increase prices in the local currency to maintain our target margins, making these products more expensive for our Members. Currency exchange rates also affect the reported sales of the consolidated company when local currency-denominated sales are translated to U.S. dollars. In addition, we revalue all U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities within those markets that do not use the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. These assets and liabilities include, but are not limited to, excess cash permanently reinvested offshore and the value of items shipped from the U.S. to our foreign markets. The gain or loss associated with this revaluation, net of reserves, is recorded in Other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income.
Foreign currencies in most of the countries where we operate have historically devalued against the U.S. dollar and are expected to continue to devalue. The following tables summarize by country, for those countries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the weakening of the countries' currency against the U.S. dollar (devaluation) or the strengthening of their currencies (revaluation):
Country Revaluation/(Devaluation)Twelve Months Ended August 31,
% Change % Change
Dominican Republic (5.63) (5.23)
Nicaragua — (0.33)
We seek to manage foreign exchange risk by (1) adjusting prices on goods acquired in U.S. dollars on a periodic basis to maintain our target margins after taking into account changes in exchange rates; (2) obtaining local currency loans from banks within certain markets where it is economical to do so and where management believes the risk of devaluation and the level of U.S. dollar denominated liabilities warrants this action; (3) reducing the time between the acquisition of product in U.S. dollars and the settlement of that purchase in local currency; (4) maintaining a balance between assets held in local currency and in U.S. dollars; and (5) entering into cross currency interest rate swaps and forward currency derivatives. We have local-currency-denominated long-term loans in Barbados, Honduras, Guatemala, and Trinidad. Turbulence in the currency markets can have a significant impact on the value of the foreign currencies within the countries in which we operate. We report the gains or losses associated with the revaluation of these monetary assets and liabilities on our consolidated statements of income under the heading “Other income (expense), net.” Future volatility and uncertainties regarding the currencies in the countries that we operate in could have a material impact on our operations in future periods. However, there is no way to accurately forecast how currencies may trade in the future and, as a result, we cannot accurately project the impact of the change in rates on our future demand for imported products, reported sales, or financial results.
We are exposed to foreign exchange risks related to U.S. dollar-denominated and other foreign-denominated cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, to U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany debt balances and to other U.S. dollar-denominated debt/asset balances (excluding U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations for which we hedge a portion of the currency risk inherent in the interest and principal payments), within entities whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. As part of the adoption of the Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 842 - Leases, we recorded several monetary liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet that are exposed to foreign exchange movements. These monetary liabilities arise from leases denominated in a currency that is not the functional currency of the Company’s local subsidiary. The monetary liability for these leases as of August 31, 2025 was $52.7 million. Due to the mix of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations during fiscal year 2025, the impact to the consolidated statements of income of revaluing the monetary liabilities for these leases was immaterial.
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The following table discloses the net effect on other expense, net for U.S. dollar-denominated and other foreign-denominated accounts relative to a hypothetical simultaneous currency revaluation based on balances as of August 31, 2025 (in thousands) including the lease-related monetary liabilities described above:
(1)Amounts are before consideration of income taxes.
Information about the financial impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025 is disclosed in Part II. “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis – Other Expense, net.”
Examples of where we have significant U.S. dollar net asset positions subjecting us to exchange rate losses if the local currency strengthens against the U.S. dollar are our Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras subsidiaries, with balances of $87.9 million, $42.6 million, and $1.1 million, respectively, as of August 31, 2025. Examples where we have significant U.S. dollar net liability positions subjecting us to exchange rate losses if the local currency weakens against the U.S. dollar are our Guatemala, Trinidad, and Dominican Republic subsidiaries, with balances of $60.2 million, $16.0 million, and $10.2 million, respectively, as of August 31, 2025.
We are also exposed to foreign exchange risks related to local-currency-denominated cash and cash equivalents, to local-currency-denominated debt obligations, to local-currency-denominated current assets and liabilities and to local-currency-denominated long-term assets and liabilities within entities whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. The following table discloses the net effect on other comprehensive loss for these local currency denominated accounts relative to hypothetical simultaneous currency devaluation in all the countries listed in the table above, based on balances as of August 31, 2025:
In addition, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations associated with our U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations that we hedge. We hedge a portion of the currency risk inherent in the interest and principal payments associated with this debt through the use of cross-currency interest rate swaps. The terms of these swap agreements are commensurate with the underlying debt obligations. The aggregate fair value of these swaps was in a net liability position of approximately $5.4 million at August 31, 2025 and a net asset position of approximately $1.3 million at August 31, 2024. A hypothetical 10% devaluation in the currency exchange rates underlying these swaps from the market rates at August 31, 2025 would have resulted in an increase in the value of the swaps of approximately $5.2 million. Conversely, a hypothetical 10% appreciation in the currency exchange rates underlying these swaps from the market rates at August 31, 2025 would have resulted in a further decrease in the value of the swaps of approximately $4.1 million.
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From time to time, we use non-deliverable forward foreign exchange contracts primarily to address exposure to U.S. dollar merchandise inventory expenditures made by our international subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar. The net increase or decrease in the fair value of these derivative instruments would be economically offset by the gains or losses on the underlying transactions.
From time to time, we have experienced a lack of availability of U.S. dollars in certain markets (U.S. dollar illiquidity). This impedes our ability to convert local currencies obtained through merchandise sales into U.S. dollars to settle the U.S. dollar liabilities associated with our imported products or otherwise fund our operations. For instance, since fiscal year 2017, we have experienced this situation in Trinidad and have been unable to source a sufficient level of tradable currencies. We are working with our banks in Trinidad and government officials to convert all of our Trinidad dollars into tradable currencies. Additionally, during fiscal year 2023, the Honduran Central Bank began limiting the availability and controlling the allocation of U.S. dollars for the conversion from Honduran lempiras to U.S. dollars. We are actively working with our banking partners and government authorities to address this situation. We have and continue to take additional actions in this respect.Refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Factors Affecting Our Business” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Liquidity: Financial Position and Cash Flow” for our quantitative analysis and discussion.
Commodity Price Risk
The increasing price of oil and certain commodities could have a negative effect on our operating costs and sales. Higher oil prices can negatively impact the economic growth of the countries in which we operate, thereby reducing the buying power of our Members. Higher oil prices can also increase our operating costs, particularly utilities and merchandise transportation expenses. Inflationary pressures on various commodities also may impact consumer spending. We do not currently seek to hedge commodity price risk.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See the list of financial statements filed with this report under Part IV. Item 15 below.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
(a)Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.
As of August 31, 2025, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). These disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in its periodic reports with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and that the information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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(b)Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting.
Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by its board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company’s management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company’s financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision, and with the participation, of the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Management has used the 2013 framework set forth in the report entitled “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based on its evaluation, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of August 31, 2025, the end of its most recent fiscal year.
Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2025, as stated in their report which is included herein.
(c)Changes in internal control over financial reporting.
There have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
The certifications required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as Exhibit 31.1 and 31.2 to this report.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of PriceSmart, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited PriceSmart, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, PriceSmart, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2025, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of August 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2025, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) and our report dated October 30, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Diego, California
October 30, 2025
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Item 9B. Other Information
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements
On February 4, 2025, Francisco Velasco, our Executive Vice President - Chief Legal Officer, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, and Registered In-House Counsel, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan. Mr. Velasco’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan provides for the sale of up to 1,650 shares of the Company's common stock during the period beginning on May 6, 2025 and ending January 6, 2026.
On May 14, 2025, Michael McCleary, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the time of adoption, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan. Mr. McCleary’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan provides for the sale by The McCleary Family Trust during the period beginning on September 9, 2025 and ending January 31, 2026 of up to a total of 6,322 shares of the Company's common stock plus a number of shares equal to 10,863 shares minus the number of shares ultimately withheld for tax withholding purposes.
During the fiscal year 2025, except as described above, none of our other directors or executive officers adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, or a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K).
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
PriceSmart has adopted a code of conduct that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controllers, and to all of its other officers, directors, employees and agents. The code of conduct is available on PriceSmart's web site at https://investors.pricesmart.com/governance/governance-documents. PriceSmart intends to disclose on its website future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of its code of conduct within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.
The additional information required by Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference from PriceSmart's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the headings “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “Information Regarding the Board of Directors,” “Executive Officers of the Company” and “General – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.”
PriceSmart has adopted an insider trading policy addressing the purchase, sale and other disposition of our securities by PriceSmart and our directors and employees that is reasonably designed to promote compliance with U.S. federal insider trading laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. That policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to this report.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference from PriceSmart's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the heading “Executive and Director Compensation.”
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference from PriceSmart's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the headings “Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference from PriceSmart's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the headings “Certain Transactions” and “Information Regarding the Board of Directors.”
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Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Our independent registered public accounting firm is Ernst & Young LLP, San Diego, CA, Auditor Firm ID: 42.
The information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference from PriceSmart's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the heading “Proposal 4: Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)Documents filed as part of this report.
(1)Financial Statements:
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)List of financial statement schedules:
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)List of exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K. See part (b) below.
(b)The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report:
ExhibitNumber Description
3.1(1) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.5(5) Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
3.6(12) Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of PriceSmart, Inc.
4.1(4) Specimen of Common Stock certificate.
4.2(10) Description of Registrant’s Securities.
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10.12(7)** Form of Indemnification Agreement.
19.1(17) Insider Trading Policy.
21.1* Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1* Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
97.1*(17) Compensation Recoupment (Clawback) Policy.
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
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* Filed herewith as an exhibit.
** Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
# These certifications are being furnished solely to accompany this Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of PriceSmart, Inc. whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
(1)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1997 filed with the Commission on November 26, 1997.
(2)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 29, 2004 filed with the Commission on April 14, 2004.
(3)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on November 24, 2004.
(4)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Commission on December 2, 2004.
(5)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K Filed with the Commission on July 17, 2015.
(6)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2016 filed with the Commission on October 27, 2016.
(7)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019.
(8)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2019 filed with the Commission on January 9, 2020.
(9)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 7, 2020.
(10)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on October 30, 2020.
(11)Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company filed with the Commission on December 18, 2020.
(12)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 9, 2022.
(13)Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company`s proxy statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company field with the Commission on December 16, 2022.
(14)Incorporated by reference to the Company`s Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on March 24, 2023.
(15)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2023 filed with the Commission on October 30, 2023.
(16)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 29, 2024 filed with the Commission on April 9, 2024.
(17)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on October 30, 2024.
(18)Incorporated by reference Appendix B to the Company`s proxy statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company field with the Commission on December 18, 2024.
(19)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 9, 2025.
(20)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2025 filed with the Commission on July 10, 2025.
(21)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on June 20, 2025.
(22)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on September 5, 2025.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SCHEDULE II
PRICESMART, INC.
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(amounts in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:
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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.
PRICESMART, INC.
Date: October 30, 2025 By: /s/ DAVID N. PRICE
David N. PriceChief Executive Officer(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: October 30, 2025 By: /s/ GUALBERTO HERNANDEZ
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David N. Price and Gualberto Hernandez, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
David N. Price
Gualberto Hernandez
Robert E. Price
/s/ DAVID R. SNYDER Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director October 30, 2025
David R. Snyder
/s/ SHERRY S. BAHRAMBEYGUI Director October 30, 2025
Sherry S. Bahrambeygui
/s/ JEFFREY R. FISHER Director October 30, 2025
Jeffrey R. Fisher
/s/ GORDON H. HANSON Director October 30, 2025
Gordon H. Hanson
/s/ BEATRIZ V. INFANTE Director October 30, 2025
Beatriz V. Infante
/s/ LEON C. JANKS Director October 30, 2025
Leon C. Janks
/s/ PATRICIA MÁRQUEZ Director October 30, 2025
Patricia Márquez
/s/ JOHN D. THELAN Director October 30, 2025
John D. Thelan
/s/ EDGAR A. ZURCHER Director October 30, 2025
Edgar A. Zurcher
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PRICESMART, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2025 and 2024 F-4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-10
F-1
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of PriceSmart, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of PriceSmart, Inc. (the Company) as of August 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2025, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at August 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2025, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated October 30, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
F-2
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Uncertain Tax Positions and Income Tax and VAT Receivables
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1997.
San Diego, California
October 30, 2025
F-3
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PRICESMART, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates 6,889 6,882
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Operating lease liabilities, current portion 7,930 7,370
Long-term income taxes payable, net of current portion 4,424 4,762
Stockholders' Equity:
See accompanying notes.
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PRICESMART, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Years Ended August 31,
Revenues:
Operating expenses:
Cost of goods sold:
Selling, general and administrative:
Reserve for AMT settlement — — 7,179
Separation costs associated with Chief Executive Officer departure — — 7,747
Asset impairment and closure costs — — 5,658
Other income (expense):
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates 6 66 (55)
Net income per share available for distribution:
Shares used in per share computations:
See accompanying notes.
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PRICESMART, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
Years Ended August 31,
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax:
Defined benefit pension plan:
Net gain (loss) arising during period 275 501 (1,819)
Derivative instruments:(2)
Unrealized gains (losses) on change in derivative obligations 3,872 (566) 6,000
(1)Translation adjustments arising in translating the financial statements of a foreign entity have no effect on the income taxes of that foreign entity. They may, however, affect: (a) the amount, measured in the parent entity's reporting currency, of withholding taxes assessed on dividends paid to the parent entity and (b) the amount of taxes assessed on the parent entity by the government of its country. The Company has determined that the reinvestment of earnings of its foreign subsidiaries are indefinite because of the long-term nature of the Company's foreign investment plans. Therefore, deferred taxes are not provided for on translation adjustments related to non-remitted earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries.
(2)Refer to “Note 13 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”
See accompanying notes.
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PRICESMART, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
Shares Amount Shares Amount
Issuance of treasury stock (7) — (546) — — (7) 546 —
Issuance of restricted stock awards 319 — — — — — — —
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (75) — — — — — — —
Dividends paid to stockholders — — — — (28,540) — — (28,540)
Other comprehensive income — — — 31,594 — — — 31,594
Issuance of treasury stock (3) — (185) — — (3) 185 —
Issuance of restricted stock awards 671 — — — — — — —
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (32) — — — — — — —
Dividends paid to stockholders — — — — (66,162) — — (66,162)
Other comprehensive loss — — — (598) — — — (598)
Purchase of treasury stock — — — — — 72 (6,710) (6,710)
Issuance of restricted stock awards 192 — — — — — — —
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (10) — — — — — — —
Dividends paid to stockholders — — — — (38,733) — — (38,733)
Other comprehensive income — — — 3,151 — — — 3,151
See accompanying notes.
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PRICESMART, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
Years Ended August 31,
Operating Activities:
Allowance for credit losses (50) (15) (36)
Reserve for AMT settlement — — 7,179
Asset impairment and closure costs — — 5,658