Core Viewpoint - BJ's Wholesale Club is positioned to capitalize on the growing wholesale retail market, which is expected to expand by 50% by 2033, despite facing competition from larger players like Costco and Walmart's Sam's Club [2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - BJ's Wholesale Club has over 7.5 million paying members and 255 club locations as of Q1 2025, making it the smallest among the 'Big Three' wholesale clubs in the U.S. [5][3] - The company plans to open 25 to 30 new stores over the next two years, which would exceed the total openings of the previous three years combined [6]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, BJ's reported net sales of $5 billion, a 4.7% year-over-year increase, and EPS of $1.14, surpassing expectations of $0.91 [7]. - BJ's gross margin expanded by 30 basis points year-over-year, and EPS grew over 34% year-over-year [7]. - The current P/E ratio for BJ's is 25.39, significantly lower than Costco's 55.75, indicating a more attractive valuation [4][16]. Group 3: Market Position and Competition - Costco has over 79 million paying members and operates 896 stores, significantly outpacing BJ's in scale and revenue [3][8]. - BJ's comp sales grew less than 3% in Q1 2025, while Costco's adjusted comp sales grew 8% year-over-year, highlighting the competitive pressure BJ's faces [9]. - Despite this, BJ's shares have increased by 27% over the last 12 months, outperforming Costco's 14% gain [13]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Analysts have a 12-month price target for BJ's at $116.12, suggesting a 7.27% upside from the current price of $108.25 [15]. - BJ's is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% through 2033, indicating potential for healthy competition in the wholesale sector [15].

Core Insights - The previous investment stance on BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings (NYSE: BJ) was a hold rating due to high valuation concerns [1] - Recent developments have prompted a reevaluation of the investment approach, focusing on long-term investments while also considering short-term opportunities for alpha generation [1] - The investment strategy emphasizes bottom-up analysis to assess the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of individual companies, targeting those with solid fundamentals, sustainable competitive advantages, and growth potential [1]

Costco is about to find out how popular its gas really is. The wholesale club is planning to build a stand-alone 40-bay gas station in Mission Viejo, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.The project comes after the company recently extended operating hours at several of the gas stations at its warehouses. Executives said the strategy led to a distinct uptick in sales. The new development will be about two miles from two existing Costco warehouses, one of which already has a gas station. Many other Costco g ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) reported a 10.4% year-over-year increase in membership fee income for Q3 of fiscal 2025, totaling $1,240 million, driven by a membership fee hike and an expanding member base [1][8] - Paid household memberships rose 6.8% year-over-year to 79.6 million, with executive memberships growing 9% to 37.6 million, representing 47.3% of paid memberships and driving 73.1% of worldwide sales [2][8] - The membership fee increase, effective from September last year, was complemented by product innovations and enhanced digital offerings, which helped maintain customer loyalty [4][3] Membership Growth and Retention - Costco achieved a 92.7% renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada, with a global renewal rate of 90.2%, indicating strong member retention despite some volatility in new digital memberships [2][8] - The growth in executive memberships, which are the most lucrative, highlights Costco's ability to enhance recurring revenues through pricing power and scale without alienating its core customer base [3][2] Competitive Landscape - Walmart Inc. reported a 15% rise in membership income in Q1 of fiscal 2026, with a 9.6% increase in U.S. membership income, showcasing its successful diversification of revenue streams [5] - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. experienced an 8.1% year-over-year increase in membership fee income to $120.4 million, attributed to strong member acquisition and retention [6] Financial Performance and Valuation - Costco's stock has outperformed the industry, rallying 14.1% over the past year compared to the industry's 5.6% growth [7] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Costco stands at 50.75, significantly higher than the industry average of 32.42, indicating a premium valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects year-over-year growth of 8% in sales and 12% in earnings per share for the current financial year [10]

Group 1 - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] - The Zacks Style Scores are complementary indicators that help investors select stocks likely to outperform the market in the short term [2][3] Group 2 - Each stock is rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A being the highest score indicating better chances of outperforming [3] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [3][4] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential based on earnings and sales projections [4] - The Momentum Score assesses stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes to identify favorable buying opportunities [5] Group 3 - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors looking for attractive value, growth, and momentum [6] - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988 [7][8] Group 4 - BJ's Wholesale Club has become a preferred shopping destination by simplifying product assortments and enhancing digital capabilities, leading to increased membership signups [12] - The company offers significant savings on groceries compared to traditional supermarkets, with a focus on value for customers [12] - BJ's Wholesale Club holds a 2 (Buy) rating on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of A, indicating strong investment potential [13][14] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of 26.03 and has seen upward revisions in earnings estimates, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.29 per share for fiscal 2026 [13]

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying strong candidates involves significant risk and volatility [1] Group 1: Growth Stock Identification - The Zacks Growth Style Score system aids in identifying promising growth stocks by analyzing real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - BJ's Wholesale Club is currently highlighted as a recommended growth stock, possessing a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is a critical factor for growth investors, with double-digit growth being particularly attractive [3] - BJ's historical EPS growth rate stands at 10.4%, with projected EPS growth of 6% this year, surpassing the industry average of 4.6% [4] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - Higher-than-average cash flow growth is essential for growth-oriented companies, enabling expansion without relying on external funding [5] - BJ's year-over-year cash flow growth is currently at 5.3%, exceeding the industry average of 3.3% [5] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 17.1%, compared to the industry average of 5.5% [6] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Positive trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [7] - BJ's current-year earnings estimates have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 1.5% over the past month [7] Group 5: Overall Assessment - BJ's has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of A, indicating its potential as a solid choice for growth investors [9]

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. BJ reported mixed first-quarter results on Thursday.The company registered adjusted earnings per share of $1.14, beating the analyst consensus estimate of 92 cents. Quarterly revenues of $5.15 billion (+4.7% year over year) missed the Street view of $5.20 billion.“We reported a strong start to the year, demonstrating the power of our model and continued momentum in our long-term growth priorities,” said Bob Eddy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “ ...

Financial Performance - BJ's Wholesale Club reported a 4.7% increase in net sales to $5 billion for fiscal Q1 2025, with comparable sales (excluding gas) up 3.9% and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.14. Operating income increased by 27% and net income rose by 35% year over year [1]. Membership Growth - The share of higher-tier memberships grew by over 100 basis points sequentially to surpass 40% for the first time, driven by product and benefit enhancements, with a January fee increase not affecting uptake [2][3]. This shift to premium membership tiers enhances customer lifetime value, improves renewal rates, and raises average spend [3]. Digital Sales and Engagement - Digitally enabled comparable sales surged by 35% year over year, contributing significantly to total sales growth, and have maintained double-digit growth for four consecutive years. Enhanced fulfillment technology utilizing AI and robotics reduced order picking time by over 45% [4][5]. Expansion and Real Estate Strategy - The company opened five new clubs and four gas stations during the quarter, including a new location in Staten Island, with plans for 25 to 30 new clubs over the next two years. There was a 2% increase in comparable gas gallons, contrasting with a decline in broader U.S. industry volumes [6][7]. Future Outlook - Management reaffirmed fiscal 2025 guidance for comparable sales growth (excluding gas) of 2% to 3.5% and adjusted EPS of $4.10 to $4.30, exercising caution due to potential macroeconomic conditions. The first half of fiscal 2025 is expected to be the strongest for same-store sales comps, with a focus on margin discipline amidst ongoing investments [8].

Group 1 - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. reported fiscal Q1 results on May 22, showing sales nearly in line with Wall Street's consensus [1] - Profitability metrics indicated a decline compared to previous periods, raising concerns about the company's financial health [1] Group 2 - The company operates in the wholesale retail sector, which has been facing challenges due to changing consumer behaviors and economic conditions [1] - Analysts are closely monitoring BJ's performance as it reflects broader trends in the retail industry, particularly among small-cap companies [1]

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Sc ...