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]

Core Viewpoint - Costco is set to report its quarterly results, and while Wall Street analysts have generally expressed positive sentiments, there are lingering concerns about the sustainability of investor satisfaction [1] Group 1 - Analysts have had favorable opinions about Costco ahead of the earnings report [1] - There are questions regarding how long Costco can maintain its appeal to investors [1]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation is expected to report fourth-quarter revenue of $86.11 billion, an increase from $79.7 billion in the same quarter last year [1] - Analysts predict earnings per share of $5.80, up from $5.15 in the previous year’s fourth quarter [2] - Costco has consistently beaten revenue estimates, achieving this in two consecutive quarters and five out of the last ten quarters [2] Earnings Estimates - Fourth-quarter revenue is projected at $86.11 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 15.3% [1] - Expected earnings per share of $5.80 indicates a year-over-year growth of 12.6% [2] Consumer Behavior and Store Traffic - Costco stores in Northern New Jersey showed significant traffic, outperforming competitors like Amazon Fresh and Walmart [3] - The grocery section was noted as the busiest area, with consumers seeking value amidst anticipated price increases due to tariffs [4] - Overall visits to Costco increased by 3.2% year-over-year in April, May, and June, with a further increase of 5.5% in August [6] Membership and Revenue Streams - Membership fees generated $1.24 billion in the third quarter, up from $1.12 billion the previous year, highlighting the importance of this high-margin revenue [9] - The recent membership fee increase in September 2024 is expected to contribute positively to profitability [9] Operational Improvements - Early openings for executive members have been implemented to improve store operations and customer experience [5] - This strategy has reportedly reduced congestion and improved the flow of visitors, enhancing the overall shopping experience [6] Comparable Sales and Growth - Comparable sales rose by 5.7% year-over-year in the third quarter, with growth observed across the US, Canada, and other international markets [8] - Continued growth in store traffic and new store openings will be critical indicators for future performance [7]

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of the Leverage Shares 2X Long COST Daily ETF (NASDAQ:COTG) aims to provide investors with double daily exposure to Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST), capitalizing on the company's strong performance in the consumer spending sector [1][3]. Group 1: ETF Overview - The new ETF was listed on September 18 and is designed to offer 200% of Costco's daily performance, both gains and losses [1][3]. - The fund features an industry-low expense ratio of 0.75% for single-stock leveraged ETFs, targeting active traders interested in short-term fluctuations [4]. Group 2: Market Positioning - By including Costco, the ETF diversifies beyond technology giants, reflecting a strategic move towards consumer-oriented sectors [2][5]. - Costco's business model, characterized by low-cost and high-volume sales, positions it as a reliable indicator of consumer demand, especially in an inflationary environment [3][5]. Group 3: Investor Sentiment - The ETF is expected to attract investors looking to leverage Costco's loyal customer base and its potential for growth in the bulk-buying market [2][6]. - Themes ETFs' Chief Revenue Officer highlighted Costco's fantastic growth and customer loyalty as key reasons for the ETF's introduction [4].

Core Insights - Costco's decision to extend shopping hours for executive members is proving to be beneficial, as foot traffic data indicates an increase in shopper visits and frequency [1][3] - The adjustment has led to a shift in foot traffic patterns, with more shoppers visiting during the 9 a.m. hour, suggesting a positive reception of the new schedule [2][3] - Shorter shopping trips are being reported, with visits decreasing from an hour to 30-45 minutes, which is expected to drive additional visits and enhance overall shopping experience [4] Financial Impact - Costco's fiscal year ended on August 31, and the upcoming fourth-quarter results will provide insights into the financial effects of the extended hours, with analysts anticipating a positive contribution to sales growth [3][14] - The extended hours are expected to be "accretive" to the company's already strong sales performance this year [3] Customer Behavior - The extended hours have resulted in a more balanced flow of foot traffic, improving the shopping experience for all customers, regardless of membership tier [3] - There is a noted increase in younger consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, who are starting families, contributing to a slight decrease in average income among Costco's customer base [12] Membership Dynamics - The potential for new shoppers to become long-term members is significant, especially with the upgrade from Gold Star to Executive membership, which doubles fee revenue from those members [13] - The upcoming earnings call may provide further insights into the growth of Costco's membership tiers [14] Operational Strategies - Costco is testing various strategies to manage increasing store traffic, with extended hours being one of the most visible initiatives [5] - A new "scan and go" approach is being trialed, allowing store workers to scan items in customers' carts to streamline the checkout process [6]