Buying top dividend stocks and holding them long-term can be a great approach to building your investment portfolio. It boils down to holding shares of companies that have historically provided reliable dividends (as well as dividend growth) in all sorts of market environments. The challenge, of course, is finding the right companies to invest in.The search should begin with companies that have consistent track records of financial growth. It helps if they also have considerable economic moats that are prim ...

ToplineCostco and the International Brother of Teamsters union came to a tentative three-year contract agreement at the 11th hour, averting a strike that would have affected operations at more than 50 Costco stores starting today, according to the Associated Press.CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 31: Customers shop at a Costco Wholesale store on January 31, 2025 in ... [+] Chicago, Illinois. According to a company memo, the company plans to increase pay for most of its hourly workers to more than $30-per-hour. T ...

Core Points - A potential strike involving 18,000 Costco workers was averted with a tentative agreement reached by the Teamsters union just before the deadline [1] - The Teamsters union had previously voted overwhelmingly to authorize a walkout due to stalled contract negotiations, citing Costco's significant profits of $7.4 billion last year [2][3] - The union has demanded substantial wage increases and better benefits, emphasizing that workers would not continue past January 31 without a favorable agreement [2][3] Company Actions - Costco announced pay increases for most store employees, with top scale employees receiving a $1 hourly increase to $30.20, and a commitment to annual $1 increases over the next two years [6] - Employees at the bottom of the wage scale will see a $0.50 increase to $20 an hour [6] - The company's CEO, Rich Vachris, received over $12 million in total compensation in 2024, which has drawn criticism from the union [4] Union Activities - The Teamsters union held practice pickets and rallies outside Costco's headquarters during the company's annual shareholder meeting, where their questions went unanswered [3][4] - Union representatives have accused Costco's negotiators of undercutting workers while corporate executives receive high salaries [4][5] Industry Context - Amidst a trend of large corporations rescinding diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, Costco has maintained its DEI policies despite threats from Republican state attorney generals [7]

Costco and the Teamsters union have reached a tentative deal to avoid a strike.Costco Teamsters represents 18,000 workers nationwide who were ready to walk off the job.The deal will now be presented to the union's membership for a vote, a Teamsters spokesperson told BI.Costco and the Teamsters union have reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike, the union told Business Insider. The union said the deal would now go to its membership for a vote and that further details would follow.Costco Teamsters rep ...

Some 18,000 Costco workers might walk off the job on Saturday when their contract expires.Ahead of the deadline, Costco announced pay raises for non-union employees.That move might have unintended consequences, a legal expert told BI.The clock is ticking for Costco to strike a deal with 18,000 unionized warehouse workers threatening to strike. The company has been negotiating with the union, Costco Teamsters, ahead of the expiration of their existing contract at the end of the day on January 31.Against that ...

Core Points - Costco Wholesale plans to increase pay for most US workers to over $30 an hour following union threats of a strike [1][3] - The pay increase will be implemented over three years, starting with a $1 raise to $30.20 in the first year, followed by an additional $1 in each of the next two years [1] - Low-scale employees will also see a pay increase of 50 cents to $20 an hour [2] Union Actions - The Teamsters union, representing over 18,000 Costco workers, voted 85% in favor of a nationwide strike due to stalled contract negotiations [4][7] - Union leaders accused Costco of not sharing its record $7.4 billion annual profits for 2024 with workers, citing complaints about pay and benefits [5] Company Position - Costco stated that the planned wage increases will ensure that its hourly wages and benefits remain competitive within the retail industry [3]

ToplineCostco announced that all employees at its non-union stores will get a pay raise, just a day before employees at its 50 unionized locations are set to go on strike, according to Bloomberg.Costco employee greeting customer and checking membership status, Costco, Florida. (Photo by: ... [+] Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Key FactsHourly pay for non-union members at the top of Costco’s pay scale will get a $1 per hour raise to $3 ...

Costco Wholesale (COST 1.55%) has routinely been a top retail stock to own. It's coming off a stellar performance in 2024, when its shares rallied nearly 39%. And there's good reason for that, as the company has continued to post strong, resilient growth numbers even as other retailers struggled due to rising costs.But the problem is that with the stock rising rapidly and now trading at an inflated valuation, near its all-time high, it could be ripe for a decline. And there could be a major headwind looming ...

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST ) (NEOE: COST:CA ) is such an efficient company that even with a gross margin lower than 13%, it has been able to generate consistent shareholder value over the lastEquity Research Analyst with a broad career in the financial market, covered both Brazilian and global stocks. As a value investor, my analysis is primarily fundamental, focusing on identifying undervalued stocks with growth potential. Feel free to reach out for collaborations or to connect!Analyst’s Disclosu ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly seeking growth stocks that demonstrate above-average growth potential, with Costco identified as a strong candidate due to its favorable growth metrics and Zacks Rank [1][2]. Group 1: Earnings Growth - Costco has a historical EPS growth rate of 16.2%, with projected EPS growth of 11.8% for the current year, surpassing the industry average of 11.1% [4]. - Earnings growth is a critical factor for growth investors, as double-digit growth is often seen as indicative of strong future prospects [3]. Group 2: Asset Utilization - Costco's asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) stands at 3.73, indicating that the company generates $3.73 in sales for every dollar in assets, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.46 [5]. Group 3: Sales Growth - The company's sales are projected to grow by 7.2% this year, compared to the industry average of 3.7%, highlighting Costco's strong sales growth potential [6]. Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - The current-year earnings estimates for Costco have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 0.2% over the past month, indicating positive momentum [8][9]. Group 5: Overall Assessment - Costco has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A, positioning it as a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [9][10].