Core Viewpoint - Analysts project that Costco will report quarterly earnings of $5.81 per share, reflecting a 12.8% year-over-year increase, with revenues expected to reach $86.23 billion, an 8.2% increase from the same quarter last year [1]. Earnings Projections - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised upward by 0.4%, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [2]. - Changes in earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor reactions, as empirical studies show a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price movements [3]. Revenue Estimates - Analysts expect 'Geographic Revenue - Canada' to be $12.02 billion, an 8.5% increase from the prior year [5]. - 'Geographic Revenue - Other International' is projected at $11.74 billion, reflecting a 9.7% year-over-year change [5]. - 'Geographic Revenue - United States' is forecasted to reach $62.63 billion, indicating an 8.2% increase from the previous year [5]. Comparable Sales - 'Comparable sales - Total Company' are expected to be 5.5%, slightly up from 5.4% a year ago [6]. - 'Changes in comparable sales excluding foreign-currency and gasoline prices - Total Company' are projected at 6.5%, down from 6.9% in the previous year [6]. - 'Comparable sales - U.S.' are anticipated to reach 5.6%, compared to 5.3% in the same quarter last year [10]. Warehouse Growth - The total number of warehouses worldwide is projected to reach 913, up from 891 a year ago [7]. - The number of warehouses in the United States and Puerto Rico is expected to be 629, compared to 614 in the previous year [7]. International Sales Performance - 'Changes in comparable sales excluding foreign-currency and gasoline prices - Other International' are expected to be 6.8%, down from 9.3% in the same quarter last year [8]. - For Canada, the estimate for 'Changes in comparable sales excluding foreign-currency and gasoline prices' is 7.1%, down from 7.9% a year ago [9]. - The consensus for the U.S. stands at 6.0%, compared to 6.3% in the previous year [9]. Stock Performance - Costco shares have seen a -0.8% change over the past month, contrasting with a +4% move in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [11].
Costco (COST) Q4 Earnings Preview: What You Should Know Beyond the Headline Estimates