take us through as an analyst what you are looking for in those results after the closing bell today. Hey, good morning Tom Don. Thanks for having me on.So ju just given the monthly sales numbers that Costco reports, we already know that they're going to print uh about 6% same store sales in the US that excludes the more volatile gas category and then globally that's about 6 and a half%. So very good numbers. We just don't think this is enough for Costco.So a bit of a deceleration from the 8% last quarter. ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco's same-store sales growth in the US is projected at approximately 6%, with global sales at about 6.5%, indicating strong performance but not sufficient for the company's elevated valuation [1][2] Sales Performance - There is a deceleration in sales growth from 8% last quarter, attributed to a mini investment cycle within Costco and elevated operating expenses, which were in double digits last quarter [2] - The grocery business remains strong, accounting for over 60% of domestic sales, with mid-single-digit growth, while non-food sales need to accelerate to support overall performance [7][8] Membership Insights - Costco's membership renewal rate is around 90%, indicating strong customer loyalty, but there is a need for more growth in membership income, which is expected to see low double-digit increases this quarter [4][5] - The introduction of younger consumers through digital channels has led to some churn in membership numbers, which is being monitored [5][6] Competitive Landscape - Walmart is highlighted as a top pick in the e-commerce space, outperforming Costco and the S&P with a year-to-date increase of 14% compared to Costco's 3% [9][10] - Walmart's growth is supported by its digital business and alternative revenue streams, with significant potential for earnings per share growth in the coming years [10]

Core Viewpoint - Kodiak, an autonomous truck technology company, is set to begin trading on NASDAQ under the name Kodiak AI, highlighting the potential benefits of AI-powered trucking solutions [1]. Company Overview - Kodiak focuses on automating trucks using AI technology to address the driver shortage and challenges faced by human drivers in the trucking industry [2]. - The company has initiated its first commercial deployment in West Texas with eight fully driverless trucks operating daily [3]. Technology and Operations - The trucks are designed to operate in a remote area with moderate traffic, allowing them to navigate various road conditions while adhering to traffic rules [4][5]. - Safety is a priority, with the trucks programmed to drive conservatively, maintain speed limits, and avoid risky maneuvers [7][8]. - Kodiak's trucks have logged 3,000 hours of operation without any at-fault accidents, although they have experienced minor incidents where other vehicles hit them [8][9]. Monitoring and Safety Measures - The trucks are equipped with real-time monitoring systems that detect collisions and allow for human intervention when necessary [10][12]. - Comprehensive data logging, including speed and location, enables the company to analyze incidents in detail [12]. Future Plans - Kodiak aims to gradually expand its operations from remote areas to urban and suburban locations over the coming years, with a focus on safety and efficiency [14]. - The company operates on a "driver as a service" model, where customers own the trucks and pay Kodiak a service fee for the technology and operation [15][16]. Financial Outlook - While Kodiak has not provided specific guidance on profitability, it has begun generating revenue from its driverless operations, a milestone not achieved by many competitors in the autonomous vehicle space [17].

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in overall market sentiment, remaining in the "Greed" zone with a current reading of 56.8, down from 58.5 [1][3]. Stock Market Performance - U.S. stocks settled lower, with the Dow Jones index falling around 172 points to 46,121.28, the S&P 500 decreasing by 0.28% to 6,637.97, and the Nasdaq Composite dipping 0.33% to 22,497.86 [3]. - The S&P 500 experienced a decline for the second consecutive session, influenced by drops in Nvidia NVDA and Oracle ORCL shares [1]. Economic Indicators - Sales of new single-family homes in the U.S. increased by 20.5% from the previous month, reaching an annualized rate of 800,000 units in August [2]. - Building permits in the U.S. decreased by 2.3% to an annualized rate of 1.330 million in August [2]. Sector Performance - Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed negatively, with materials, real estate, and communication services stocks recording the largest losses [2]. - Conversely, energy and utilities stocks closed higher, bucking the overall market trend [2]. Upcoming Earnings - Investors are awaiting earnings results from Costco Wholesale Corporation COST, Accenture Plc ACN, and Jabil Inc JBL [3].

Group 1 - Costco Wholesale Corporation is expected to report quarterly earnings of $5.80 per share on revenue of $86.11 billion after the market closes [2] - Stitch Fix Inc reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and provided FY2026 guidance above estimates, but its shares fell 6.6% to $5.27 in after-hours trading [2] - Accenture Plc is anticipated to post earnings of $2.96 per share on revenue of $17.36 billion for the latest quarter, with earnings released before market opening [2] - PepGen Inc announced the launch of an underwritten public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants, resulting in a 119.6% increase in its shares to $5.84 in after-hours trading [2] - Jabil Inc is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.92 per share on revenue of $7.59 billion before the market opens, with shares gaining 0.5% to $226.39 in after-hours trading [2]

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST will release earnings results for the fourth quarter, after the closing bell on Thursday, Sept. 25.Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $5.81 per share, up from $5.29 per share in the year-ago period. Costco projects quarterly revenue of $86.06 billion, compared to $79.7 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.Costco has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in two straight quarters and in five of the last 10 quarters overall.Shares ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings results on September 25, with analysts expecting earnings of $5.81 per share, an increase from $5.29 per share in the same period last year [1] - The projected quarterly revenue for Costco is $86.06 billion, up from $79.7 billion a year earlier, indicating a strong growth trajectory [1] - Costco has consistently exceeded analyst revenue estimates, achieving this in two consecutive quarters and five out of the last ten quarters [1] Stock Performance - Shares of Costco increased by 0.2%, closing at $945.27 on Wednesday [2] - The latest analyst ratings for Costco can be accessed on the Analyst Stock Ratings page, allowing for sorting by various criteria [2] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman maintains an Outperform rating with a price target of $1,100 [4] - JP Morgan analyst Christopher Horvers has an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $1,115 to $1,160 [4] - Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintains an Outperform rating but reduced the price target from $1,075 to $1,060 [4] - Morgan Stanley analyst Simeon Gutman has an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $1,150 to $1,225 [4] - Loop Capital analyst Laura Champine maintains a Buy rating and slightly reduced the price target from $1,115 to $1,110 [4]

BT Group share price has crashed in the past few weeks, moving from the year-to-date high of 218p to the current 194p. It has moved to the lowest level since July 24 this year, but is still up by over... ...

Core Insights - Management commentary will be crucial for Costco's success in the upcoming year, beyond just headline figures like revenue and earnings per share [1][3] - Costco is set to announce its fiscal fourth quarter results, which are highly anticipated due to the company's significant market presence [2] Financial Performance - For the fiscal fourth quarter ending August 31, 2025, same-store sales excluding foreign currency movements and gasoline price changes rose by 6.4% globally, with e-commerce sales increasing by 13.5% [6] - E-commerce has become a key growth driver for Costco, with rising app downloads and high-value items contributing to increased traffic [7] Strategic Initiatives - Costco's management is expected to discuss efforts to expand digital sales logistics to meet growing demand [8] - The company is actively addressing inflationary pressures, which may be driving foot traffic due to its value proposition of low prices on essential goods [9][10] Membership Changes - Recent changes include an increase in annual fees for Gold Star and Business members by $5 to $65, and for Executive cardholders by $10 to $130 [12] - The implementation of special shopping hours for Executive cardholders has caused some discontent among Gold Star and Business members, but is seen as essential for maintaining Executive member loyalty [14][15] Membership Dynamics - Of Costco's 79.6 million global paying members, 37.6 million are Executive cardholders, who account for 73.1% of net sales [16] - Membership fees are a significant source of profit for Costco, providing a buffer against thin margins on groceries and essential items [17] Future Outlook - Management is likely to defend the new shopping-hours policy for Executive members and may provide guidance on expected upgrades from Gold Star/Business to Executive status [18] - Membership renewal rates for Executive cardholders will be critical in the coming year amid inflation concerns and backlash over the new policy [19]

Core Insights - Costco's stock fell over 2% following fourth quarter results that showed US same-store sales slightly below forecasts, amid a challenging consumer environment and competition from Walmart's Sam's Club [1] Financial Performance - Costco's revenue reached $86.16 billion, surpassing expectations of $86.03 billion, while adjusted earnings per share were $5.87, exceeding the forecast of $5.82 [2] - For fiscal year 2025, Costco reported annual revenue of $275.24 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $18.21, higher than the estimated $18.10 [4] Sales Growth - Same-store sales grew by 6.4%, slightly above the expected 6.2%, with US same-store sales increasing by 6%, just below the 6.1% forecast [3] - Canadian same-store sales grew by 8.3%, exceeding the predicted 6.8%, while international sales were up 7.2%, matching estimates [3] Consumer Behavior - CFO Gary Millerchip emphasized the importance of "everyday value items" during economic uncertainty, noting that customers are selective with discretionary spending [5] - Popular items included hot dog combos, rotisserie chickens, and Kirkland Signature bath tissue, with over 245 million hot dog combos sold in fiscal year 2025 [6] Membership and Competition - Membership fee income increased by 14% year-over-year to $1.72 billion, with a 6.1% rise in cardholders [7] - CEO Ron Vachris acknowledged the awareness of new competition in the market and the need to monitor it closely [8]