Take a Trial Today Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! IBD Videos Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. BREAKING: Inflation Data Cements Rate Cut Expectations The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the other major stock indexes rose Friday as Wall Street reacted to the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge, the core PCE price index. Meanwhile, Apple (AAPL) and Costco Wholesale (COS ...

Market Performance - U.S. stocks experienced a rise on Friday, with the S&P 500 increasing by 0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 299 points (0.7%), and the Nasdaq composite adding 0.4%, helping to reduce weekly losses [1][2] - The S&P 500 closed at 6,643.70, the Dow at 46,247.29, and the Nasdaq at 22,484.07 [8] Inflation and Economic Indicators - Inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 2.7% in August from 2.6% in July, which, while above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, aligned with economists' forecasts [2][3] - Consumer sentiment showed weakness, with a University of Michigan survey indicating frustration with high prices, although inflation expectations for the next 12 months slightly decreased to 4.7% from 4.8% [10][11] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The Federal Reserve's potential for continued interest rate cuts is critical for Wall Street, as expectations for these cuts have driven U.S. stocks to record highs since April [3][4] - The Fed recently implemented its first rate cut of the year, but further cuts are uncertain due to concerns about worsening inflation [4] Tariffs and Market Reactions - President Trump's announcement of new tariffs on imports, including pharmaceutical drugs and heavy trucks, has created uncertainty among analysts regarding their ultimate effects on the market [5][6] - Companies like Paccar, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer saw stock increases following the tariff announcement, while home furnishing companies experienced volatility in their stock prices [6][7] International Market Trends - European stock indexes rose after declines in Asia, with France's CAC 40 climbing 1% and South Korea's Kospi dropping 2.5% [9] Upcoming Events - A potential U.S. government shutdown is on the horizon, with a deadline set for next week, but historical data suggests limited impact on the market from such political events [12]

Group 1: Electronic Arts - Electronic Arts shares surged nearly 15% following reports of a potential $50 billion deal to take the company private, which could be the largest leveraged buyout in history [3][7] - The group of investors involved includes Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and private equity firm Silver Lake [3] Group 2: Costco - Costco's stock fell nearly 3% after reporting fiscal fourth-quarter results, where U.S. same-store sales growth fell short of expectations despite sales and profits exceeding analyst forecasts [9] - The company cited consumer caution regarding discretionary purchases and increasing competition as factors affecting performance [9] Group 3: General Market Trends - Major U.S. equity indexes ended a three-day losing streak, with the S&P 500 up 0.6%, Dow up 0.7%, and Nasdaq up 0.4%, driven by inflation data aligning with expectations [2] - The Federal Reserve may be on track to cut interest rates further due to the inflation gauge meeting expectations [2]

Shares of Costco Wholesale Corp. were down 2.5% on Friday, making it one of the S&P 500's worst performers for the day, following quarterly results a day earlier that were marked by weaker-than-expect... ...

Skip to Main Content This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. Costco Earnings Beat Expectations. Why the Stock Is Dropping. By Sabrina Escobar, Mackenzie Tatananni and Teresa Rivas Share Resize Reprints Shares of Costco Wholesale were falling Friday even as earnin ...

Core Insights - Costco revealed its real-estate strategy alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, celebrating significant anniversaries for its hot-dog combo and Kirkland Signature brand [1] - The company continues to expand, opening 10 new warehouses in the fourth quarter and a total of 27 for the year, bringing its global total to 914 [1][2] - Costco plans to open 35 new warehouses in 2026, indicating strong domestic and international growth opportunities [2] Real Estate Ownership - Unlike many retailers, Costco owns the majority of its warehouses, with a real-estate portfolio valued at $31.9 billion [2] - Approximately 80% of Costco's sites are owned, each valued conservatively between $25 million and $35 million [3] - The company’s strategy emphasizes ownership over leasing, allowing it to operate independently of landlords [3] Sales Performance - Costco's "everyday value items" are crucial for customer retention, especially during economic uncertainty, with significant sales figures reported [4] - In 2025, Costco sold over 245 million hot-dog combos and over 157 million rotisserie chickens, showcasing the popularity of its low-priced offerings [4] - The $1.50 hot-dog and soda combo symbolizes Costco's commitment to low prices, with sales growing by over 23% in just over a year [4]

Group 1 - The analyst from D.A. Davidson set a price target of $1,000 for Costco, indicating a potential upside of about 6% from its current stock price of $943.31 [1][5] - Costco concluded its fiscal year 2025 with earnings of $5.87 per share, an 11% increase from the previous year, and revenue of $86.2 billion, reflecting an 8% growth [2][5] - The stock is considered expensive, trading at over 52 times forward earnings, which supports a Hold rating due to its high valuation [3][5] Group 2 - Costco's stock price is currently approximately $918.10, a decrease of about 2.67% from the previous session, with a market capitalization around $407.15 billion [4] - The stock has traded between $905.05 and $933.12 during the day, and over the past year, it reached a high of $1,078.23 and a low of $867.16 [4] - The company is experiencing strong membership growth, increasing digital sales, and global expansion, but faces competitive pressures from Aldi and Walmart [3]

Market Overview - Most U.S. stocks are rising, with the S&P 500 up 0.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 211 points or 0.5% [3][4] - The Nasdaq composite is down 0.1% due to declines in some major tech stocks, but all three indexes are near their all-time highs [3][4] Inflation and Economic Indicators - Inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 2.7% last month from 2.6% in July, which is above the Federal Reserve's 2% target but aligns with economists' forecasts [4][5] - The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates for the first time this year, with more cuts anticipated through the end of next year, although there are concerns about the potential impact on inflation [5][6] Tariffs and Market Reactions - President Trump's announcement of new tariffs on imports, including pharmaceuticals and furniture, is expected to influence inflation and market dynamics [7][8] - Companies like Paccar and major pharmaceutical firms saw stock increases, while home furnishing retailers experienced volatility in their stock prices due to potential higher import costs [8][9] Company Performance - Costco Wholesale's stock fell 1.9% despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, attributed to slower membership renewal rates and disappointing revenue growth [10] - Consumer sentiment is reported to be weaker than expected, with inflation expectations slightly decreasing from 4.8% to 4.7% [11][12] Broader Market Sentiment - Investors are generally accustomed to political impasses, such as the potential U.S. government shutdown, which historically have limited impact on the market [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - Costco's quarterly earnings and revenue exceeded Wall Street forecasts, yet shares traded 1% lower in pre-market trading [1] Group 1: Earnings Performance - The company reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $5.87 per share, surpassing consensus expectations of $5.81 [1] - Net income rose to $2.61 billion for the quarter ended August 31, compared to $2.35 billion a year earlier [2] Group 2: Revenue and Sales - Revenue came in at $86.16 billion, slightly above analyst estimates of $86.08 billion [2] - Net sales grew 8% year-on-year to $84.4 billion [2] - Excluding fuel, same-store sales increased by 6.4%, just shy of the 6.44% projection [2] Group 3: Market Dynamics - Strong customer traffic and solid sales helped offset higher costs during the period [1]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corp. reported strong earnings in its fourth quarter, achieving double-digit earnings growth and market share gains despite macroeconomic challenges [1] - Analysts from Telsey Advisory Group maintained an Outperform rating with a price target of $1,100 following the company's better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted EPS reached $5.87, exceeding both the analysts' estimate of $5.84 and the FactSet consensus of $5.80, driven by an 8.1% sales growth to $86.2 billion and a six-basis-point increase in operating margin to 3.9% [2] - Comparable store sales grew robustly by 6.4%, with strong performance noted across the U.S., Canada, and international markets [3] Membership Trends - Membership fee income increased by 14% to $1.7 billion, although renewal rates softened by 40 basis points to 89.8% globally and 92.3% in the U.S. and Canada, attributed to lower online renewals and the lapping of a digital promotion [4] Future Outlook - The brokerage anticipates Costco will continue to gain market share, supported by over 30 planned club openings in fiscal year 2026, strong Kirkland Signature product sales, competitive pricing, and digital enhancements [5] - Analysts raised the fiscal 2026 EPS forecast to $20.12 from $20.09 and projected fiscal 2027 EPS at $22.14, citing margin leverage and steady comparable store sales growth [6] Additional Analyst Insights - Bank of America reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $1,095 based on a 52 times multiple of its fiscal 2027 EPS estimate of $21 [6] - Bank of America also projects fiscal 2026 EPS at $19.70, supported by fee increases and planned warehouse openings, with long-term EPS expected to reach $22.15 by fiscal year 2028 [7]