Costco Is Launching Standalone Gas Stations. Why the Heck Does Wall Street Care?

Costco is a global membership-only warehouse club that provides high-quality, brand-name merchandise at substantially lower prices than traditional retail outlets. Costco operates on a membership-fee model, which drives most of its operating income, allowing for low retail margins and high-volume sales. The company caps its markups at 14% for national brands and 15% for its private label, Kirkland Signature, compared to 25% to 50% at typical retailers. Costco is currently the world’s third-largest retailer, ...