Why Costco stock is the boring investment your portfolio needs

Core Insights - Costco has a competitive advantage due to its large membership base, which allows for lower prices and contributes significantly to its profits [2][3] - The company reported a 9.3% increase in paid executive memberships year-over-year, totaling 38.7 million, which represents 47.7% of paid members and 74.2% of worldwide sales [3] - Costco's total paid members reached 81 million, up 6.3% from the previous year, with a total of 145.2 million cardholders, reflecting a 6.1% year-over-year increase [3] Membership and Profitability - Membership fees account for approximately 60% of Costco's profits, allowing the company to maintain low margins [2] - Basic Gold membership costs $65 annually, while Executive membership is priced at $130, offering benefits such as 2% cash back and exclusive operating hours [3] Expansion and Sales Performance - In Q4, Costco opened 10 new warehouses, bringing the total to 914 worldwide, with plans to open an additional 35 warehouses in fiscal year '26 [4][5] - Net sales for the fiscal year reached just under $270 billion, marking an increase of over 8% compared to the previous year [5] - E-commerce sales surpassed $19.6 billion, reflecting a growth of over 15% [5] - The company achieved record gas volumes, aided by extended gas station hours and new gas station openings [5]