Costco shares key plan to keep prices down

Core Insights - The rising cost of groceries and other products is significantly impacting consumers, with tariffs contributing to increased prices [2][3] - Consumers are absorbing approximately 55% of the costs associated with tariffs, indicating a substantial financial burden [3] Company Strategy - Costco's Kirkland Signature brand is a key asset that helps the company maintain competitive pricing despite rising costs from tariffs [4][6] - The Kirkland brand has established a reputation for quality, allowing Costco to consolidate its private-label products under one name, which differentiates it from competitors [5][6] - Costco's inventory management strategy, which limits the number of SKUs to about 4,000, enables the company to adapt quickly to market changes and negotiate better prices with suppliers [7][8] Financial Performance - During the Q4 2025 earnings call, Costco's CEO highlighted the increasing sales penetration of the Kirkland Signature brand, which is contributing to value for members [6] - The company's CFO noted that Costco has the flexibility to adjust its product offerings based on perceived value, further supporting its pricing strategy [7]