Costco (COST) Is Considered a Good Investment by Brokers: Is That True?

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Costco (COST), and suggests that while the average brokerage recommendation (ABR) indicates a favorable outlook, investors should exercise caution and consider additional analysis tools like the Zacks Rank for better investment decisions [1][5][10]. Brokerage Recommendations - Costco has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.95, which is between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 33 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 33 recommendations, 15 are Strong Buy (45.5%) and 4 are Buy (12.1%) [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Studies indicate that brokerage recommendations have limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the best price increase potential [5]. - Brokerage firms often exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of Strong Buy recommendations compared to Strong Sell [6][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is distinct from the ABR, as it is a quantitative model based on earnings estimates rather than solely on brokerage recommendations [9]. Current Earnings Estimates for Costco - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco's earnings for the current year remains unchanged at $17.97, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - The recent consensus estimate change, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) for Costco, suggesting a cautious approach despite the favorable ABR [14].