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]