Costco wants its members to either join as Executive Members or pay the $65 it costs to upgrade from a Gold Star membership. That's because Executive members not only pay twice as much to join ($130 instead of $65), they also have incentive to visit the chain. The higher-level membership comes with 2% cash back on most purchases up to $1,250. If you spend the extra money for the pricier membership, it's likely that you will want to get more cash back in order to justify that expense. "For Costco, member ...

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceSmart, Inc. ("PriceSmart" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PSMT), operator of 56 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory, today announced results for the fiscal first quarter of 2026, which ended on November 30, 2025. First Quarter Financial Results Total revenues for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 increased 9.9% to $1.38 billion compared to $1.26 billion in the comparable period of the prior year. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, net me ...

The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.Top 5 Upgrades: Wells Fargo upgraded Hershey (HSY) to Equal Weight from Underweight with a price target of $182, up from $157. The firm says cocoa prices are down over 50% from the peak this time last year, which is a "welcome development" for Hershey.Goldman Sachs upgraded Coinbase (COIN) to Buy from Neutral with a price target ...

Core Insights - Costco operates with a limited selection of approximately 4,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs), significantly fewer than the 30,000 typically found in supermarkets, focusing on quality, price, brand, and features [1] - Despite rising costs due to inflation, Costco has maintained the price of its hot dog and soda combo at $1.50 since its introduction in 1985, subsidized by sales and membership revenue [2] - The company offers three membership types: Business ($65), Gold Star ($65), and Executive ($130), with over 145 million members, more than double that of its closest competitor, Sam's Club [3] Company History - Costco was founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeff Brotman, focusing on a members-only retail model, and quickly expanded its warehouse locations [4][5] - The merger with Price Club in 1993 created a significant player in the warehouse retail industry, initially named PriceCostco, which later became simply Costco [5][18] - The company has seen substantial growth since its inception, with sales exceeding $1 billion by 1984 and continuing to expand internationally [4][18] Leadership and Expansion - Costco has had three CEOs since its merger: James Sinegal (1983–2011), W. Craig Jelinek (2012–2023), and Ron Vachris (2024–present), with each contributing to the company's growth and expansion [8][10][11] - Under Jelinek, Costco's sales surpassed $100 billion in 2013, and the company successfully navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic [10] - Vachris has ambitious plans for expansion, targeting the opening of 28 new stores in the U.S. and internationally in 2026, as part of a $6.5 billion expansion strategy [11][12] Financial Performance - Costco's revenue from membership fees has shown consistent growth, reaching $5.3 billion in 2025, with total sales approaching $250 billion [39] - The company’s net income exceeded $8 billion in 2025, reflecting its strong market position and operational efficiency [39] - Costco's market capitalization has grown significantly, surpassing $475 billion by 2025, indicating robust investor confidence and market performance [39]

“The most important item we sell is the membership card,” Costco CEO Ron Vachris told Fortune in an April interview Costco has steadily added to its membership base. "Revenue from membership fees increased 5% to $4.8 billion, and our membership base grew to nearly 137 million cardholders, with a 90% renewal rate," the chain shared in its 2024 annual report. The chain raised its membership fees in September, 2024. "In July, we announced our first membership fee increase in seven years, increasing our G ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) shows strong member engagement with a 3.1% increase in global comparable traffic and a 3.2% rise in average transaction value in Q1 fiscal 2026, indicating the effectiveness of its value proposition [1][8] Member Engagement - The implementation of scanning memberships and pre-scanning of baskets has enhanced the member experience, improving checkout productivity by up to 20% in some locations [2] - Digital enhancements have led to a 24% increase in e-commerce site traffic and over 40% growth in app traffic, with digitally enabled comparable sales rising by 20.5% [3] Membership Growth - Paid memberships grew by 5.2% to 81.4 million, while executive memberships increased by 9.1% to 39.7 million, despite a slight 10-basis-point dip in the worldwide renewal rate to 89.7% [4] Industry Comparisons - Walmart reported a 4.5% growth in comparable sales, with transaction growth of 1.8% and an average ticket increase of 2.7% [5] - BJ's Wholesale Club achieved its 15th consecutive quarter of traffic growth, with digitally enabled comparable sales growing by 30% year over year [6] Stock Performance and Valuation - Costco's stock has declined by 5.3% over the past year, contrasting with the industry's growth of 6.4% [7] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Costco stands at 41.95, higher than the industry average of 29.91 [9] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco's current financial-year sales implies a year-over-year growth of 7.5%, while earnings per share are expected to grow by 11.7% [10] - Current quarter sales are estimated at $68.75 billion, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 7.88% [13]

PriceSmart ( PSMT ) is going to report the company’s fiscal Q1 results from the September-November period on the 7 th of January after market close. The warehouse club operator is once againI am an avid investor with a major focus on small cap companies with experience in investing in US, Canadian, and European markets. My investment philosophy to generating great returns on the stock market revolves around identifying mispriced securities by understanding the drivers behind a company's financials, and ulti ...

Costco didn't have a headline-grabbing year in 2025, and that's precisely what the company intended.Costco Wholesale (COST 0.65%) ended 2025 in a familiar position: operationally strong, strategically disciplined, and still trading at a premium that divides investors. While the stock didn't outperform the broader market this year, the underlying business continued to execute in ways that reinforce why Costco remains one of the most closely watched names in retail.As investors look ahead, three themes from 2 ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is included among the 15 Dividend Stocks with Low Payout Ratios and Strong Upside. Costco’s (COST) Global Growth Story Gains Momentum, Says Northcoast Niloo / Shutterstock.com On December 24, Northcoast upgraded Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) to Buy from Neutral and set a $1,100 price target. Analyst Chuck Cerankosky pointed to Costco’s strong competitive position in the US, along with clear room to expand overseas. He said the company’s internation ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is included among the 13 Best Debt Free Dividend Stocks to Buy Now. Wells Fargo Trims Costco (COST) Target Amid Mixed Retail Backdrop Niloo / Shutterstock.com On December 19, Wells Fargo analyst Edward Kelly lowered the firm’s price target on Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) to $900 from $1,000 and kept an Equal Weight rating. The firm sees a mixed setup for 2026 across the group, though opportunity remains. Wells is constructive on broadlines and foo ...