Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q4 were $84.43 billion, an increase of 8% from $78.18 billion in the same quarter last year [12] - Net income for Q4 was $2.61 billion, or $5.87 per diluted share, up 11% from $2.35 billion, or $5.29 per diluted share last year [12] - Membership fee income increased by $212 million or 14% year-over-year, reaching $1.72 billion [14] - Gross margin for Q4 was 11.13%, up 13 basis points year-over-year [17] - SG&A rate increased to 9.21%, up 17 basis points from 9.04% last year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - E-commerce sales exceeded $19.6 billion, increasing over 15% [7] - Comparable sales were up 5.7%, or 6.4% adjusted for gas deflation and foreign exchange [12] - E-commerce comparable sales were up 13.6%, or 13.5% adjusted for foreign exchange [13] - Fresh sales were up high single digits, led by double-digit growth in meat [22] - Non-foods had comparable sales in the high single digits, with strong performance in gold and jewelry, gift cards, and consumer electronics [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened 10 new warehouses in Q4, bringing the total to 914 worldwide [5] - Plans to open another 35 warehouses in fiscal year 2026, including five relocations [5] - Total paid members reached 81 million, up 6.3% year-over-year, with 38.7 million paid executive memberships, up 9.3% [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding both domestically and internationally, with significant opportunities identified in existing markets [5] - Continued investment in technology and digital enhancements to improve member experience and drive e-commerce growth [9][28] - Emphasis on sourcing more Kirkland Signature products locally to reduce costs and emissions [8][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in growing market share despite macroeconomic uncertainties [11] - The company is adapting to changes in membership dynamics, particularly with younger members joining through online sign-ups [16][41] - Management is optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, with a strong inventory position and new product offerings [27] Other Important Information - Capital expenditure for Q4 was approximately $1.97 billion, with a total of under $5.5 billion for the full year [20] - The company is focusing on improving member value through enhanced benefits and services, including extended operating hours and new membership perks [8][11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Awareness of extended member hours and potential for comp lift - Management believes they have effectively communicated the extended hours to members, with a 1% comp lift observed [32][33] Question: Expected decline in membership renewal rates - Management anticipates a continued decline in renewal rates due to a higher number of online sign-ups, but sees overall membership engagement as strong [38][41] Question: Insights on core margins and price increases - Core margins improved by 29 basis points year-over-year, with strong performance across all main categories [45][47] Question: Sustainability of membership fee income growth - Management remains optimistic about continued growth in membership income, driven by new warehouse openings and younger member engagement [56][57] Question: E-commerce and grocery demand in light of competition - Management noted strong growth in Instacart-driven traffic and is aware of increased competition, but remains confident in their offerings [65][66]

Economic Overview - The inflation-adjusted GDP for the second quarter was revised to a robust 3.8%, surpassing the previously reported 3.3% [1] - Initial jobless claims decreased to 218,000, indicating strength in the labor market [2] - Existing home sales in July rose slightly to over 4 million, reflecting ongoing demand despite economic challenges [2] Tariff Impact and Economic Resilience - Initial pessimism regarding tariffs has lessened as the actual impact has been more manageable than anticipated, with numerous negotiations and exemptions [4][5] - The AI boom is contributing positively to productivity, potentially offsetting costs associated with tariffs [5] - A new tax bill favoring capital equipment expensing has bolstered corporate profits, while a weaker dollar benefits exporters [6] Inflation and Federal Reserve Policy - Concerns about inflation are minimal, with expectations that the PCE deflator will align closely with forecasts [8] - Commodity prices, including oil and home prices, have remained stable, suggesting no imminent inflationary trends [9] - The Federal Reserve is expected to continue reducing interest rates, potentially lowering the Fed funds rate to the mid to low 3% range by next year [10] Housing Market Dynamics - Existing home sales saw a slight decline of 0.2% in August, with the median home sales price increasing by 2% to $422,600 [12] - The housing market experienced a significant price increase of 45% from 2020 to 2022, but prices are now stabilizing [13] - A decrease in mortgage rates and softening home prices may improve affordability for potential homebuyers [15] Stock Market Outlook - The current economic backdrop is viewed positively, with expectations for a continued rally in the stock market, potentially increasing by another 5% to 10% [16][17] - Historical trends suggest that October may not be a bad month for the market, especially following a stable September [19]

中新社北京9月25日电苏黎世消息：瑞士国家银行(央行)25日发布消息称，将维持政策利率在0%。路透 社称，这是该行自2024年3月启动降息周期以来，首次暂停降息。 据此前报道，美国总统特朗普7月31日公布69个贸易伙伴输美商品适用的关税税率，其中对瑞士税率高 达39%。 瑞士央行预计该国2025年全年GDP增长率为1%至1.5%。受关税与高度不确定性影响，该国2026年的增 长率将略低于1%。在这种环境下，失业率或将继续上升。瑞士经济前景仍不明朗，央行将继续监测形 势，并在必要时调整货币政策，以确保价格稳定。(完) （文章来源：中国新闻网） 据瑞士央行消息，与上季度相比，该国通胀压力基本保持不变。瑞士通胀率近几个月小幅上升，从今年 5月的-0.1%升至8月的0.2%，主要由旅游业和进口商品通胀率所贡献。尽管如此，该国通胀率在中期范 围内预计保持不变。然而，该国第二季度经济增长疲软，国内生产总值(GDP)仅增长0.5%，主要因制药 行业在该季度增长动力减退。 瑞士央行称，受美国关税及全球经济持续高度不确定性影响，全球经济增长在2025年上半年有所放缓。 美国大幅提高关税使瑞士经济前景恶化，尤其将抑制瑞士出口与投 ...

印度尼西亚和越南已经与美国就新的贸易协议进行了谈判，从而获得了更 低的关税待遇。 但根据联合国开发计划署发布的估计数据，作为美国第六大出口国，越南 可能会因为其商品被征收20%的关税而每年损失250亿美元。因此，越南将成 为该地区受影响最严重的经济体。 周三，格里尔首次与东盟成员国进行了会晤。这些成员国此前大多分别与 美国就关税问题进行了谈判。 但在这种背景下，各行业之间可能会形成更加统一的立场。因为像半导体 这样的产业面临着更高的关税风险，而这些产业对泰国、马来西亚和越南等国 家的经济贡献巨大。 （原标题：美国正在与更多东盟国家商讨贸易协议） 据曼谷邮报9月25日报道,据美国贸易代表贾米森·格里尔表示，美国预计将 在未来几个月内与更多东南亚国家敲定贸易协议。 他是在周三与东南亚国家联盟的成员国经济部长们开会时发表这些评论 的。该联盟的成员国普遍担心，美国的关税会对他们的经济产生严重影响。东 南亚国家联盟共有10个成员国，这些国家在经济上高度依赖出口。 该地区大多数国家的关税税率被设定为19%或20%；老挝和缅甸的关税税 率则为40%，而新加坡的关税税率仅为10%。 格里尔表示，与相关国家就这些关税问题进行的 ...

格隆汇9月26日｜美联储古尔斯比表示，美联储政策一直保持温和紧缩，未见关税对价格产生二次影 响。在通胀上升时保持利率稳定，等同于降息，新GDP数据并没有改变我对增长趋势的看法。 来源：格隆汇APP ...

美联储理事鲍曼：关税将对价格产生一次性影响。 来源：滚动播报 ...

The nation's trade deficit in goods sank 17% in August to a two-year low, extending a run of big ups and downs as business try to time imports and exports to pay the least amount of tariffs. ...

Market Overview - US stock index futures are all down, with Dow futures down 0.09%, S&P 500 futures down 0.39%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.53% [1] - European indices also show declines, with Germany's DAX down 1.08%, UK's FTSE 100 down 0.36%, France's CAC 40 down 0.68%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 down 0.72% [2][3] Commodity Prices - WTI crude oil is down 0.43%, trading at $64.71 per barrel, while Brent crude oil is down 0.29%, trading at $69.11 per barrel [4] Economic and Regulatory Developments - The risk of a partial US government shutdown is increasing as Democrats and Republicans are at an impasse over funding, which could impact financial regulatory operations and delay key economic data releases [5] - Analysts from Nomura Securities warn that a prolonged shutdown could lead to delays or cancellations of critical economic data, such as monthly employment and inflation reports [5] Corporate News - Bank of America defends the high valuations of US stocks, suggesting they reflect a "new normal" rather than a bubble, citing that 19 out of 20 internal indicators show the S&P 500 is at statistically high levels [6] - Accenture reported Q4 revenue of $17.6 billion, exceeding expectations, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 7% to $69.7 billion [9] - Intel is seeking investment from Apple to revitalize its business, as it faces operational challenges [10] - Goldman Sachs has downgraded global copper supply forecasts due to production disruptions at the Grasberg mine, estimating a total loss of 525,000 tons of copper supply [8] Technology and Innovation - Circle is exploring a "reversible" mechanism for stablecoin transactions to prevent fraud while maintaining finality in settlements, which contrasts with the traditional immutability principle of blockchain [12] - Apple is urging the EU to repeal the Digital Markets Act, claiming it poses privacy risks and could stifle innovation [13]

Group 1 - The Trump administration is initiating national security investigations into imports of robotics, industrial machinery, and medical devices, which may lead to future tariffs on these products [1] - In the medical sector, the products under scrutiny include prescription drugs, syringes, and imported medical equipment such as wheelchairs, pacemakers, and insulin pumps [1] - The Commerce Department is soliciting feedback from affected companies to assess whether domestic production can satisfy US demand [1] Group 2 - There is a growing concern about potential shortages in critical medical supplies, emphasizing the need for increased manufacturing within the United States [2]

Report Industry Investment Ratings - Copper: ★☆☆ (One star, indicating a bullish bias but limited operability on the trading floor) [1] - Aluminum: ☆☆☆ (Three empty stars, not specified in the given star - rating description) [1] - Zinc: ☆☆☆ (Three empty stars, not specified in the given star - rating description) [1] - Nickel and Stainless Steel: ☆☆ (Two empty stars, not specified in the given star - rating description) [1] - Industrial Silicon: ★★★ (Three stars, representing a clearer bullish or bearish trend and a relatively appropriate investment opportunity) [1] - Polysilicon: ★★★ (Three stars, representing a clearer bullish or bearish trend and a relatively appropriate investment opportunity) [1] - Tin: ★★★ (Three stars, representing a clearer bullish or bearish trend and a relatively appropriate investment opportunity) [1] - Lithium Carbonate: ★★★ (Three stars, representing a clearer bullish or bearish trend and a relatively appropriate investment opportunity) [1] Core Views - The overall performance of the non - ferrous metals market shows different trends, with some metals being affected by supply - demand relationships, cost factors, and external events [1][2][5]. - Some metals are expected to continue their current trends, while others are facing uncertainties and may enter a period of adjustment or consolidation. Summary by Metal Copper - On Thursday, Shanghai copper significantly increased its positions and continued its upward trend, actively digesting the force majeure of the Grasberg copper mine and domestic smelters' "anti - involution" statements [1]. - Global mine - end supply is tightening, and the environment for processing fee negotiations is difficult. The spot copper price has risen to 82,505 yuan, with a premium of 30 yuan in Shanghai and a refined - scrap price difference exceeding 4,500 yuan [1]. - LME copper is expected to reach $10,500, and the Shanghai copper index may break through the previous high this year and continue to rise to 84,000 yuan [1]. Aluminum - Shanghai aluminum fluctuated strongly, with the East China spot at par. The apparent demand in September was lower than expected, and the aluminum ingot social inventory decreased by 21,000 tons compared to Monday, with pre - National Day destocking less than in previous years [2]. - Shanghai aluminum is expected to fluctuate between 20,500 - 21,000 yuan. Cast aluminum alloy follows the fluctuations of Shanghai aluminum, with the Baotai spot price increasing by 100 yuan to 20,400 yuan [2]. - The operating capacity of alumina is approaching 98 million tons, hitting a new high, and the industry inventory is continuously rising. Supply is significantly in excess, and prices are falling. The current price still allows for profit in the production capacity of Shanxi and Henan, making it difficult to trigger production cuts, and alumina is weakly running towards the June low of 2,800 yuan [2]. Zinc - Driven by the sharp rise in copper prices, the non - ferrous metal sector was generally strong, and Shanghai zinc rebounded to recover the previous day's decline. LME zinc rebounded after returning to the 40 - day moving average due to low overseas inventories [2]. - Fundamentally, the domestic market is weak while the overseas market is strong, and the Shanghai - London ratio is expected to fluctuate at a low level. Domestic consumption during the peak season is weak, and due to tariff impacts, galvanized sheet exports weakened in August. Affected by the super typhoon "Saola", consumption in the Pearl River Delta region shrank temporarily, and the expectation of zinc ingot inventory accumulation strengthened [2]. - Shanghai zinc is expected to consolidate around the 22,000 - yuan mark [2]. Nickel and Stainless Steel - Shanghai nickel fluctuated, and market trading was dull. The sharp rise in external copper prices drove up nickel prices, but the improvement in its own fundamentals was limited [5]. - The upward trend of stainless steel spot prices is difficult to sustain, but the pre - National Day stocking demand is gradually emerging. Stainless steel mills are still in a state of cost inversion, and cost - side support is emerging [5]. - Nickel inventory increased by 430 tons to 41,500 tons, nickel - iron inventory decreased by 600 tons to 28,700 tons, and stainless steel inventory decreased by 5,000 tons to 897,000 tons. Shanghai nickel has exhausted its bullish themes, and nickel prices are weakly running and about to start a downward trend [5]. Tin - Shanghai tin closed up, and the spot tin price increased by 2,300 yuan to 273,700 yuan. Short - term attention should be paid to the performance of LME tin at $34,500 at night, and LME tin inventory rose to 2,740 tons. Wait for the social inventory data tomorrow and take a short - term wait - and - see approach [6]. Lithium Carbonate - Lithium prices are in a short - term strong - side oscillation, and market trading is active. The total market inventory decreased by 1,000 tons to 137,500 tons, smelter inventory decreased by 1,800 tons to 34,000 tons, and downstream inventory increased by 1,200 tons to 59,500 tons [6]. - The low - price support for lithium prices is emerging, but the selling actions in the industrial chain are basically completed. After the interest rate cut and the ebb of the "anti - involution" trend, the price is expected to be under pressure [6]. Industrial Silicon - The industrial silicon futures closed slightly up at 9,055 yuan/ton. The average price of SMM East China oxygen - containing 553 silicon remained unchanged at 9,500 yuan/ton [6]. - The operating rate in Xinjiang continued to increase slightly, while Sichuan and Yunnan maintained their high operating rates during the wet season. However, the incremental release of demand from polysilicon and organic silicon was insufficient, and the social inventory of industrial silicon increased week - on - week [6]. - Driven by market sentiment and the expected increase in costs, the futures price is short - term strong, but the support for continuous rise is insufficient, and it will mainly continue to oscillate [6]. Polysilicon - The polysilicon futures closed slightly up. On the spot side, the quoted price range of N - type re - feeding materials was basically stable at 50,100 - 55,000 yuan/ton (SMM) [6]. - In September, the polysilicon industry's production plan was about 130,000 tons (SMM), with limited month - on - month change. In October, due to industry self - discipline, the production plans of silicon wafers and polysilicon are expected to be synchronously reduced, and polysilicon still faces a slight inventory accumulation pressure [6]. - On the policy side, the capacity clearance continues to be gradually promoted, and the futures price is temporarily oscillating at the lower end of the range [6].