Group 1 - Costco has raised its membership fee just before a period of consumer distress, which may create mixed feelings among investors [1] - The company is operating in an uncertain global environment, which could impact its performance [1] Group 2 - The focus on long-term growth and dividend growth investing is emphasized, highlighting the importance of profitability over low valuation [1] - Key metrics such as margins, free cash flow stability and growth, and returns on invested capital are crucial for assessing the company's performance [1]

Group 1: Market Overview - Trump's trade policies have caused volatility in broader equities, leading to investor concerns about future market conditions [1] - Despite short-term uncertainties, the stock market is expected to provide competitive returns over the long term [1] Group 2: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola has outperformed the market this year, benefiting from its position in the consumer staples industry, which is perceived as a safe haven during economic downturns [4] - The company's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 24.2, which is reasonable compared to the industry average of 22.2 [4] - Coca-Cola's extensive global presence and local manufacturing reduce the impact of tariffs, making it resilient to trade policy changes [5] - The brand's strong recognition and adaptability to changing consumer demands provide a competitive advantage [6][7] - Coca-Cola has a remarkable dividend track record, having increased payouts for 63 consecutive years, indicating robust underlying operations [8] Group 3: Costco - Costco's stock appears expensive with a forward P/E of 56.7, which is significantly above the average for consumer staples [9] - The company's membership model fosters customer loyalty and encourages repeat visits, enhancing its competitive position [10] - Costco has substantial growth opportunities, particularly in international markets, with 69% of its warehouses located in the U.S. [11] - The company holds a 1.5% share of the U.S. e-commerce market, with e-commerce sales growing faster, providing a long-term growth tailwind [12] - Although tariffs may impact margins, Costco's strong brand and global expansion strategy are expected to sustain its appeal and performance in the long run [13]

Financial Performance & Membership - BJ's Wholesale Club's net sales increased by 4.7% to $5.0 billion in Q1 FY25 compared to Q1 FY24[7] - Comparable club sales, excluding gasoline impact, grew by 3.9% in Q1 FY25 compared to Q1 FY24[7] - Adjusted EPS increased by 34.1% to $1.14 in Q1 FY25 compared to Q1 FY24[7] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 20.9% to $285.8 million in Q1 FY25 compared to Q1 FY24[7] - The company has over 7.5 million members[7] with a tenured renewal rate of 90%[7, 17] Strategic Growth & Expansion - The company opened 5 new clubs and 4 new gas stations in Q1 FY25[7] and operated 255 clubs and 190 gas stations as of May 3, 2025[7, 8, 42] - The company expects to open 25-30 new clubs over the next two fiscal years[45, 46] - The company's digital penetration is 13% of merchandise sales as of FY24[37] Market Position & Capital Allocation - The total addressable market in the U.S. for warehouse clubs is $298 billion[19] - The company returned $166.9 million to shareholders via share repurchases in the last twelve months ending Q1 FY25[7] - The company's net debt to LTM adjusted EBITDA is 0.4x[7, 63]

Core Viewpoint - Analysts forecast BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) will report quarterly earnings of $0.91 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.1% and revenues of $5.18 billion, up 5.2% from the previous year [1] Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised upward by 0.1% over the past 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [2] - Analysts project 'Revenues- Net sales' to reach $5.06 billion, representing a year-over-year change of +5.3% [4] - The average prediction for 'Revenues- Membership fee income' is $119.86 million, suggesting a year-over-year increase of +7.6% [5] Group 2: Operational Metrics - Analysts expect the number of 'Warehouse Clubs' to increase to 256, up from 244 in the same quarter last year [5] - The forecast for 'Gas Stations' is set at 192, compared to 176 reported in the same quarter of the previous year [5] Group 3: Market Performance - BJ's shares have decreased by -1.8% in the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's increase of +13.1% [6] - With a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), BJ is anticipated to closely follow overall market performance in the near term [6]

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale is experiencing strong stock performance, particularly in times of economic volatility, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1] Group 1: Business Model and Performance - Costco operates a unique business model that combines annual membership fees with low prices, attracting affluent customers and fostering loyalty [2] - The company tends to perform exceptionally well during economic downturns as consumers seek to save money by shopping at Costco instead of more expensive retailers [3] - In the fiscal second quarter of 2025, Costco reported a 9.1% year-over-year increase in sales and an 8.3% rise in comparable sales, with earnings per share growing from $3.92 to $4.02 [4] Group 2: E-commerce and Membership Metrics - E-commerce sales surged by 20.9% in the first quarter, becoming a significant growth driver as Costco enhances its digital capabilities [6] - Membership renewal rates in the U.S. and Canada reached 93%, with a global renewal rate of 90.5%, and paid household members increased by 6.8% year-over-year [7] Group 3: Market Position and Stock Performance - Despite market downturns, Costco's stock has risen by 11% this year, contrasting with a 4% decline in the S&P 500, indicating its status as a safe investment [9] - The company recently raised its quarterly dividend by 12% to $1.30, appealing to passive income investors, despite a relatively low yield of 0.47% [10] Group 4: Valuation and Investment Outlook - Costco's stock is considered expensive, with a valuation near 60 times trailing-12-month sales, yet the market continues to support this premium valuation due to its established, low-risk profile [11] - For long-term investors, Costco stock presents a viable opportunity, especially as it maintains low prices in a challenging tariff environment, benefiting from its recurring revenue from memberships [12]

Core Points - PriceSmart, Inc. has announced the appointment of Gualberto Hernandez as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective June 1, 2025, following the resignation of Michael McCleary by mutual agreement [1] - Michael McCleary will continue to serve as an Executive Vice President until September 30, 2025, and will provide consulting support for three months post-resignation [1] Group 1: Leadership Transition - Gualberto Hernandez has extensive experience, having served as Vice President Finance & Strategy for Latin America at The Estée Lauder Companies since January 2016, and held various leadership roles within the company [2] - Robert Price, Interim CEO, expressed gratitude for Michael McCleary's contributions over his 20-year tenure, highlighting the company's growth during his leadership, including a doubling of club count and an eight-fold increase in revenues [3] Group 2: Company Overview - PriceSmart operates 55 warehouse clubs across 12 countries and one U.S. territory, with plans to open a new club in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala in summer 2025, bringing the total to 56 [4]

Affirm is partnering with Costco to offer online shoppers the option to pay over time for transactions.The financial services company announced the collaboration Thursday (May 8) in a shareholder letter. Customers, if approved, will be to able select monthly Affirm payment plans when shopping on Costco’s website.“[We] are proud to announce our online partnership with Costco — a brand and a retailer I have personally admired for a long time because of their unwavering commitment to customer experience and tr ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco's internal investigation policies are criticized for being overly broad and potentially infringing on employee rights, particularly regarding confidentiality agreements that employees must sign when raising complaints [1][7]. Group 1: Case Background - The case involves Jessica Georg, who filed a sexual harassment complaint against a co-worker in 2022 using Costco's "Open Door" policy [2]. - Georg was required to sign a confidentiality agreement that prohibited her from discussing the matter with coworkers, which raised concerns about the implications for employee rights [3][6]. Group 2: Legal Arguments - Costco's lawyer argued that confidentiality rules are designed to protect the integrity of investigations and encourage candid employee statements, especially in the retail industry [4]. - The lawyer emphasized that the rules are not meant to deter discussions about wages, working conditions, or union formation [5]. Group 3: NLRB Findings - The NLRB found that the individual Georg complained about had multiple prior complaints against him, and Georg expressed concerns that sharing information could jeopardize her job [6]. - NLRB attorneys suggested that a more tailored confidentiality agreement could protect sensitive information while ensuring workers' rights against harassment [7]. Group 4: Judge's Decision - Judge Gollin proposed that Costco post a notice in the warehouse where the violation occurred, as the NLRB did not conclusively prove that similar confidentiality forms were used across all US locations [8]. - The case will proceed to the NLRB's board, with exceptions to the decision due by June 2 [8].

Summary of Conference Call Company Overview - The conference call was led by Andrew Yoon, director of finance and investor relations, discussing sales results for the retail month of April, comparing it to the same period last year [1] Key Financial Metrics - Net sales for April reached $21.18 billion, marking a 7% increase from $19.8 billion in the previous year [2] - The month had one less shopping day compared to last year due to the shift in Easter, negatively impacting total and comparable sales by approximately 1.5% to 2% [2] Comparable Sales Performance - Reported comparable sales for April were as follows: - US: 5.2% - Canada: 1.5% - Other International: 3.2% - Total Company: 4.4% - E-commerce: 12.6% [3] - Comparable sales excluding impacts from gasoline prices and foreign exchange were: - Total Company: 6.7% - E-commerce: 13% [3] - Comp traffic increased by 4.2% worldwide and 5% in the US [3] Impact of External Factors - Foreign currency fluctuations negatively impacted total and comparable sales: - Canada: -1.6% - Other International: -2.5% - Total Company: -0.6% [3] - Gas price deflation negatively impacted total reported comparable sales by approximately -1.7%, with the average worldwide selling price per gallon down about 13.4% year-over-year [4] Regional Performance - Strongest comparable sales in the US were observed in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions [5] - Internationally, the best results were seen in Mexico, Korea, and Taiwan [5] Merchandise Highlights - Foods and sundries showed positive high single-digit growth [5] - Better performing departments included: - Fresh foods: high single digits - Meat and bakery: strong performance - Non-foods: mid to high single digits, with jewelry, majors, and home furnishings performing well [6] - Ancillary business sales were down mid to high single digits, while pharmacy, optical, and food court were the top performers [7] Future Outlook - The May reporting period will cover the four weeks beginning May 5 and ending June 1, compared to the same period last year [7]

Core Insights - Costco reported net sales of $21.18 billion for April 2025, a 7.0% increase from $19.80 billion in April 2024 [1] - For the first 35 weeks of the fiscal year, net sales reached $180.05 billion, up 8.2% from $166.44 billion in the same period last year [1] - Comparable sales for the four weeks ended May 4, 2025, showed a total company increase of 4.4%, with U.S. sales up 5.2% and Canadian sales up 1.5% [1][2] Sales Performance - Comparable sales excluding gasoline price and foreign exchange impacts were 6.7% for the four weeks and 8.1% for the first 35 weeks [2] - E-commerce sales saw significant growth, with a 12.6% increase for the four weeks and a 16.3% increase for the first 35 weeks [1][2] Operational Insights - Costco operates 905 warehouses globally, with 624 located in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and additional locations in Canada, Mexico, Japan, the U.K., and other countries [4] - The company also runs e-commerce sites in multiple countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia [4] Calendar Impact - April 2025 had one less shopping day compared to the previous year due to the Easter calendar shift, negatively impacting total and comparable sales by approximately 1.5% to 2% [3]