Core Insights - Costco's earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal fourth quarter was $5.87, with total revenue reaching $86.16 billion, meeting Wall Street expectations despite concerns over tariffs and inflation impacting consumer spending [1] - The company reported a net sales increase of 8% to $84.4 billion compared to $78.2 billion in the same quarter last year, with comparable sales in the U.S. rising 6% on an adjusted basis [2] Financial Performance - Wall Street had projected an EPS of $5.80 on revenue of $86 billion, with expectations for same-store sales growth of 5.9% year-over-year [3] - Membership fees generated $1.7 billion in revenue, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, highlighting strong customer loyalty with renewal rates frequently surpassing 90% [4] Market Position and Strategy - Costco's supply-chain capabilities and strong vendor relationships position it well to handle tariff-related pressures, with analysts noting that its value proposition could become more appealing in an inflationary environment [5] - The company has introduced an extra hour of shopping for executive members, which contributed an additional 1% to sales [4] Stock Performance and Valuation - Costco's stock has increased approximately 3.8% year-to-date, although it experienced a decline of less than 1% after the market closed [6] - Analysts express concerns regarding the sustainability of Costco's high valuation, indicating that the stock valuation is challenging compared to historical standards [6]