Costco tops quarterly estimates as Americans seek bargains amid inflation

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale exceeded fourth-quarter revenue and profit expectations as consumers sought lower-priced essentials amid inflation and a weakening labor market [1][5] - The company's strategy of limited product categories and local sourcing has helped mitigate the impact of tariffs from the Trump administration's trade policies [2] - Strong sales of private-label brands and maintaining lower prices on key items contributed positively to Costco's performance [3] Financial Performance - Costco reported revenue of $86.16 billion, surpassing analysts' average estimate of $86.06 billion [5] - Same-store sales, excluding gas, increased by 6.4%, slightly below the estimated 6.44% [5] - Earnings per share, excluding items, were $5.87, exceeding the analysts' average estimate of $5.80 [5] Membership and Pricing Strategy - The company is reinvesting part of the increased membership fees into sharper pricing for members, benefiting both members and shareholders [4] - Earnings from membership fees rose by 14% to $1.72 billion for the quarter ended August 31 [4]