Apr 28, 2004 12:32 PM, from staff and wire reports

Costco Wholesale Corp's board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on Costco common stock. The first dividend of $0.10 per share is payable May 31, 2004, to shareholders of record at the close of business May 10, 2004. Looking ahead, the company expects the quarterly dividends to total $0.40 per share per fiscal year.

The firm operates 433 warehouses, including 320 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 63 in Canada, 15 in the United Kingdom, five in Korea, three in Taiwan, four in Japan, and 23 in Mexico. Costco plans to open another seven to nine new warehouses before Aug 29, 2004, the end of its fiscal year.