Retail stocks have long been a favorite sector for long-term investors. Why? Well, we all need to shop for things like groceries and clothes. Without these retail companies providing us with stores or websites, where would we get the things we need to survive? Because of this, retail stocks oftentimes provide a floor of safety and stability, as well as the potential for upside growth. These stocks are also a bellwether for the strength of the economy and consumer sentiment. When retail companies do well, it ...

PM Images This week, we have three new dividend increases, including dividend king H.B. Fuller (FUL)! They extend their 55-year streak with an 8.3% increase. This week features an average increase of 10.9% and a median of 10.5%. I follow a dividend-growth strategy and enjoy receiving increasing dividend payouts. Companies that increase dividends regularly perform better, so I monitor them. I have a list of top stocks that will increase dividends soon. Use it to make timely purchases and build your portfolio ...

Costco's yield may seem low, but that doesn't mean you won't earn a lot of income from this stock.If you're looking for a quality dividend stock to add to your portfolio, it may be easy to skip over Costco Wholesale (COST -0.11%). The big-box retailer pays a dividend yield of less than 1%, which may look a bit bland. But long-term shareholders know that dividend yields can be misleading in this case. If you had held on to Costco's stock over the past five years, the dividend income you would have received f ...

Investors interested in stocks from the Retail - Discount Stores sector have probably already heard of Target (TGT) and Costco (COST) . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong ear ...

The start of a new earnings season is a good time to look back at the earnings season that recently ended. When you do, you can find some earnings winners that are likely to beat expectations in the coming quarter as well.  But before you do, it’s worthwhile to look at the recent economic data. If anyone was starting to believe inflation was going to go quietly, the March reading of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) dispelled that notion. Remember, even at the Federal Reserve’s preferred target of 2% (which is ...

Tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are up this year. The tax agency reports the average refund issued so far in 2024 is worth $3,182, up 5.1% from $3,028 last year. This is good news for tax filers who likely already have in mind what they will do with their refund. And it’s a safe bet that a lot of people will spend at least a portion of their tax refund at retail outlets. After all, spending by consumers accounts for nearly 70% of the American economy.The retail sector in the U.S. remains ...

Key PointsWalmart and Costco are the largest and 3rd largest retailers in the worldCostco has a club membership system and offers selected bulk goodsWalmart has a wider ranger of product lines and services a larger customer base5 stocks we like better than WalmartFew companies are more synonymous with retail in the United States than Costco Wholesale Corp NASDAQ: COST and Walmart Inc. NYSE: WMT. While both retail giants have rewarded investors over the years, their business models and strategies differ dras ...

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.What are the Zacks Style Sc ...

slobo Costco (NASDAQ:COST) continues to grow at an exceptional rate as the firm continues to add new retail locations, both domestic and international. The firm has shown strength in adding new stores, even when located within regions with existing locations. This growth has allowed management to increase shareholder value through both dividends and buybacks, increasing the quarterly dividend to $1.16/share. I believe that Costco has a significant edge in growing their international retail footprint as ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) continues to excel due to its strategic growth initiatives, effective pricing strategies and steady membership trends. These factors have propelled the company's performance, leading to strong sales figures. Additionally, Costco underscores its commitment to shareholders by announcing yet another dividend increase.Sales Performance OverviewIn March, Costco reported a significant increase in comparable sales, with 7.7% growth during the five-week period ended Apr 7, 2024. ...