Key Points RTX's stock price is up almost 45% year to date on concerns about rising geopolitical tensions as well as a recent strong quarterly report. Revenue and earnings growth accelerated last quarter, with the company's contract backlog growing even faster. Steady gains, coupled with the dividend, could lead to solid, steady returns for investors over the next year. 10 stocks we like better than RTX › RTX (NYSE: RTX), best known for its defense business, also happens to be what's known as a de ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation's recent sales data indicates its strength as a defensive retail stock, achieving an 8% year-over-year growth in net sales to $26.44 billion, reflecting its value-driven membership model [1][4] Sales Performance - U.S. comparable sales increased by 4.7%, while Canada and other international markets saw gains of 6.7% and 10.9%, respectively, with total comparable sales growing 6.2% in June when excluding gas and forex impacts [2][8] - E-commerce sales rose by 11.5% in June, enhancing Costco's ability to capture consumer spending across various channels [3][8] Market Position - Costco's consistent traffic and resilient comparable sales, along with digital growth, reinforce its reputation as a reliable performer in a challenging retail environment [4] - The stock has outperformed the industry, with shares rising 14.4% over the past year compared to the industry's 6.6% growth [7] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Costco's sales and earnings per share to grow by 8.1% and 11.6% year-over-year, respectively [10] - Current financial-year sales are estimated at $274.97 billion, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 8.06% [13]