Quick Read Membership Fees Are Big Profit Low Gas Prices Rising Sales, Rising Profits A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. Costco’s (NASDAQ: COST) shares have defied the market downturn driven by inflation worries, the war in the Middle East, and a decline in consumer confidence. Its stock is up 14% this year while the S&P 500 has dropped 7%. Its costs should rise soon, however, because ...

Key Takeaways Costco plans 28 new warehouses in FY26 and more than 30 annually, reinforcing expansion-led growth.Costco plans to open 18 more locations this fiscal year, reaching a total of 942 warehouses by year-end.COST expects $6.5B in capex to fund new warehouses, depot expansion and remodels.Costco Wholesale Corporation's (COST) warehouse expansion strategy remains a key part of its long-term growth plan. The company aims to open 28 new warehouses in fiscal 2026 and targets more than 30 openings annual ...

For Immediate ReleasesChicago, IL – March 30, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include  Walmart Inc. (WMT) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) .Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:Walmart or Costco: Who's Winning the Modern Retail Game Right Now?Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. are two of th ...

Is the stock market in correction territory? It depends on what you mean by stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 1.73%) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (^IXIC 2.15%) are indeed in correction. But, perhaps surprisingly, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.67%) isn't (at least as of the market close on Friday, March 27, 2026). Over the last few years, the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks have fueled the S&P 500's impressive gains. However, all seven stocks have plunged by double-digit percentages year to ...

Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) and Costco (NASDAQ: COST) have started 2026 by building on their strong results of the last few years. Costco shares are up more than 9%, and Walmart is up more than 12% year to date, while the S&P 500 is down for the year. Both companies have benefited from strong financial results driven by their e-commerce operations and by a macroeconomic environment that has driven consumers to seek value. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one ...

Quick Read VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) derives roughly 40% of its value from three stocks: Amazon (AMZN) at 18.31%, Walmart (WMT) at 12.77%, and Costco (COST) at 9.29%. Amazon reported $716.92B in 2025 revenue with 24% AWS growth in Q4, but free cash flow fell to $11.19B as the company commits $200B to capital expenditures in 2026. RTH’s performance over the next 12 months hinges on whether consumer sentiment climbs above 65 and tariff policy stabilizes, as Amazon’s massive capex cycle could compress near- ...

Key Takeaways Walmart and Costco are retail giants using low prices, private labels and digital growth to drive sales. Walmart sees e-commerce, ads and membership grow fast, boosting margins and diversifying earnings. Costco posts 9% sales growth, strong renewals and digital sales rising over 20%. Walmart Inc. (WMT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) are two of the largest global retail powerhouses, both leveraging scale, value pricing and membership-driven ecosystems to drive consistent traffic and st ...

Consumer staples companies are typically seen as relatively safe investments in a whipsawing market, as they sell essential goods that people will keep buying regardless of the uncertainty swirling around them. That provides their businesses with a level of predictability and stability. With the volatility experienced recently in the markets, it's no surprise that some investors are looking to add shares of such companies to their portfolios. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just r ...

Costco is a global membership-only warehouse club that provides high-quality, brand-name merchandise at substantially lower prices than traditional retail outlets. Costco operates on a membership-fee model, which drives most of its operating income, allowing for low retail margins and high-volume sales. The company caps its markups at 14% for national brands and 15% for its private label, Kirkland Signature, compared to 25% to 50% at typical retailers. Costco is currently the world’s third-largest retailer, ...

VDC Is Up Nearly 6% While the S&P 500 Sinks, and That Gap Is No Accident - 24/7 Wall St. S&P 5006,502.10 -1.51% Dow Jones46,080.40 -0.85% Nasdaq 10023,691.30 -2.09% Russell 20002,500.02 -1.36% Quick Read Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is up nearly 6% year-to-date while the S&P 500 (SPY) is down about 4%, tracking 120+ consumer staples companies including Walmart at 15%, Costco at 11.8%, Procter & Gamble at nearly 10%, and Coca-Cola at 8.2%, with a 2.13% yield and 9 basis point expense ratio. Over fi ...