Core Insights - TimesSquare Capital Management's "U.S. Focus Growth Strategy" reported a gross return of 4.00% and a net return of 3.78% for Q3 2025, outperforming the Russell Midcap Growth Index's return of 2.78% [1] Company Overview - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. operates warehouse clubs offering groceries, general merchandise, gasoline, and ancillary services, with a market capitalization of $12.17 billion as of December 11, 2025 [2] - The stock price of BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. closed at $92.37 per share, reflecting a one-month return of -2.13% and a 52-week loss of 5.30% [2] Performance Analysis - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. experienced a 14% drop in stock value, despite second-quarter profits and earnings exceeding consensus expectations; however, revenues and same-store sales fell short [3] - The company's Northeast and Mid-Atlantic stores were adversely affected by unseasonable weather, impacting general merchandise sales, although groceries and sundries performed well [3] - Membership rolls for BJ's Wholesale Club continue to grow, indicating potential for future revenue [3] Market Position - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. was held by 37 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, a decrease from 44 in the previous quarter, suggesting a decline in popularity among hedge funds [4] - While the company shows investment potential, certain AI stocks are perceived to offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Costco Wholesale has reported an 8.2% increase in net sales in the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal 2026, which ended on 23 November 2025. The US-based retailer reported net sales of $65.98bn for the period, up from $60.99bn in the same quarter of the previous year. Comparable sales increased 6.4% across the business. Net income increased from $1.79bn to $2bn, a 11.7% rise year-on-year. The company recorded gains of 5.9% in the US, 6.5% in Canada, and 8.8% in other international markets. Online sales grew ...

Group 1: Lululemon and Costco - Lululemon announced the departure of CEO Calvin McDonald, effective end of January, with interim leadership in place while searching for a permanent successor [1] - Lululemon reported better-than-expected earnings for Q3, but has been underperforming for over a year, with shares up more than 9% following the earnings report [2] - Costco exceeded Wall Street forecasts for its first quarter, driven by e-commerce growth, with Black Friday marking a record-breaking day for its digital business [2] Group 2: Disney and OpenAI - Disney made a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, allowing users on OpenAI's Sora platform to create content featuring Disney's copyrighted material, including over 200 characters [3][4] - Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that the deal provides a pathway into AI and helps reach younger consumers, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned there will be restrictions on the use of Disney characters in Sora videos [4] Group 3: Fiber Market Trends - There is a growing consumer focus on fiber, with 22% of shoppers listing high fiber content as a top-three factor when shopping, up from 17% four years ago [9] - Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé are launching fiber-focused products, and PepsiCo plans to introduce high-fiber versions of Smartfood and SunChips next year [9]

Core Insights - Costco reported strong financial results for Q1 fiscal 2026, with earnings per share of $4.50 and revenue of $67.31 billion, both exceeding expectations [2][6] - The company's net sales increased by 8.2% year-over-year, with comparable sales rising by 6.4%, driven by robust consumer demand [3][6] - Membership fees reached approximately $1.33 billion, up from $1.17 billion in the same quarter last year, contributing significantly to Costco's success [4][6] Financial Performance - Earnings per share for Q1 fiscal 2026 were $4.50, surpassing the estimated $4.26 [2] - Revenue for the quarter was $67.31 billion, exceeding the anticipated $67.12 billion [2] - Net sales increased by 8.2% year-over-year, with total comparable sales rising by 6.4% [3][6] Market Position - The U.S. market saw a 5.9% increase in sales, Canada experienced a 6.5% rise, and other international markets surged by 8.8% [3] - Costco's membership fee increase, which began in September 2024, has attracted new sign-ups and renewals, particularly among younger customers [4] - The company maintains a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 47.3, a price-to-sales ratio of 1.4, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of 1.35, indicating high expectations for future growth [5]

Core Insights - Costco's fiscal first quarter demonstrated strong digital transformation with double-digit growth in digital comparable sales and increased app engagement, indicating member spending consistency despite economic uncertainty [1][2] Sales Performance - The company reported net sales growth of 7.2% to nearly $66 billion, with comparable sales increasing by 6.4% [2] - Digitally enabled comparable sales surged by 21%, while U.S. comparable sales rose by 5.9%, ticket sizes increased by 3.2%, and traffic grew by 2.6% [2] Membership Growth - Paid memberships reached 81.4 million, up 5.2%, and cardholders totaled nearly 146 million, up 5.1% [3] - Management anticipates over 30 net new store openings annually [3] Digital Initiatives - CEO Ron Vachris highlighted advancements in technology, including scanning memberships at entry and the Costco digital wallet, which improved member experience and productivity, with checkout speed enhancements of up to 20% in early adopters [4] - Digital sales growth was driven by increased app traffic (over 40%) and a 24% rise in eCommerce site traffic, alongside a 13% increase in average eCommerce order values [4] Consumer Behavior - Fresh grocery sales experienced mid- to high single-digit growth, with meat sales showing double-digit increases, and Kirkland Signature private label products outpacing overall sales growth [5] Pharmacy Operations - AI is utilized in the pharmacy inventory system to compare drug pricing and autonomously reorder inventory, achieving over 98% in-stock rates and mid-teen growth in pharmacy scripts filled [6] Future Technology Initiatives - The company is focusing on enhancing core systems to support future growth, with expectations that digital sales will continue to outpace overall sales as more members engage digitally [7][9] - CFO Millerchip noted the potential for retail media to deliver personalized communication at scale, indicating early successes but recognizing it as an ongoing opportunity [8][9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net income for Q1 2026 was $2.001 billion, or $4.50 per diluted share, up from $1.798 billion, or $4.04 per diluted share in Q1 2025, reflecting a growth of 11.3% [12] - Net sales increased by 8.2% to $65.98 billion from $60.99 billion in the same quarter last year [13] - Comparable sales grew by 6.4%, with digital sales showing a significant increase of 20.5% [13][24] - Membership fee income rose to $1.329 billion, a 14% increase year over year [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fresh sales were up mid to high single digits, with double-digit growth in meat categories [20] - Non-foods had comparable sales in the mid-single digits, with strong performance in health and beauty, gold jewelry, and small appliances [21] - Pharmacy scripts filled grew in the mid-teens, contributing to improved margins [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic increased by 3.1% worldwide, and average transaction size rose by 3.2% [13] - The U.S. and Canada renewal rate was 92.2%, with a slight decline in overall renewal rates due to an increase in online memberships [16][52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 30-plus new warehouses annually in the future, with a total of 921 warehouses worldwide [4][5] - Digital initiatives focus on enhancing member experience and driving sales through technology, including AI integration in inventory management [9][10][45] - The company aims to maintain its reputation for low prices while investing in technology and member engagement [31][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in consistent sales growth and member engagement despite some monthly fluctuations [34][35] - The company is optimistic about future warehouse openings and market expansion, particularly in international markets [49][58] - Inflation trends are expected to remain stable, with mixed impacts across different product categories [26][64] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for Q1 were approximately $1.53 billion, with an estimated total of $6.5 billion for the fiscal year [19][20] - The company reported record sales in its food court and e-commerce business during the holiday season [20][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Has Costco embraced technology and different retail modes more under current management? - Management confirmed a focus on technology and operational efficiency, emphasizing that maintaining low prices remains a priority [30][31] Question: Are there concerns about traffic and the need to invest in pricing? - Management noted consistent member behavior and sales patterns, indicating no immediate concerns about traffic [32][35] Question: What is the outlook for warehouse openings and membership strategies? - Management indicated a balanced approach to openings, focusing on both established and new markets [39][40] Question: How is Costco leveraging digital engagement and logistics? - Management highlighted significant growth in digital traffic and ongoing enhancements to the digital experience for members [55] Question: What are the dynamics affecting SG&A leverage? - Management discussed headwinds from healthcare costs and investments in employee agreements impacting productivity [60][62] Question: How is inflation impacting sales and pricing strategies? - Management confirmed mixed inflation impacts across categories, with a focus on maintaining value for members [64][65]

Customers walk in the parking lot outside a Costco store on Dec. 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.Costco said on Thursday surpassed Wall Street's quarterly expectations as its sales rose 8.2% year over year.The warehouse club does not share a full-year outlook. The company is expected to share more details about the quarter during an earnings call, which starts at 5 p.m. ET.Here's how Costco did in its fiscal first quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:Earni ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Core Insights - The BBH Select Series - Mid Cap Fund experienced a total return decrease of -0.9% in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell Midcap Index, which returned 5.3% [1] - Year-to-date, the fund's total return is -1.8%, compared to the Index's 10.4% [1] - The third quarter saw a continuation of the low-quality rally that began late last year, gaining momentum throughout 2025 [1] Company Highlights - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) was highlighted as a key stock in the fund's Q3 2025 investor letter [2] - BJ's Wholesale Club's one-month return was -4.66%, and its shares declined by 9.05% over the past 52 weeks [2] - As of December 10, 2025, BJ's stock closed at $89.61 per share, with a market capitalization of $11.806 billion [2] Investment Actions - The fund initiated new positions in ITT Inc. and BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. during Q3 2025 [3] - The fund exited positions in Globant, Bruker, and Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. [3]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale is set to announce earnings on December 11, 2025, with a market capitalization of $394 billion and revenue of $275 billion over the past 12 months, resulting in an operating profit of $10 billion and net income of $8.1 billion [3]. Historical Performance - Over the past five years, Costco has recorded 19 earnings data points, yielding 12 positive and 7 negative one-day (1D) returns, resulting in a positive return rate of approximately 63%. This rate decreases to 55% when examining the last three years [9]. - The median of the 12 positive returns is 2.4%, while the median of the 7 negative returns is -2.4% [9]. Trading Strategies - Two approaches are suggested for event-driven trading: familiarizing with historical odds and positioning ahead of the earnings announcement, or observing the relationship between immediate and medium-term returns post-earnings to inform positioning after results are disclosed [4]. - A low-risk strategy involves understanding the correlation between short-term (1D) and medium-term (5D) returns post-earnings, allowing traders to take a "long" position for the subsequent 5 days if the 1D post-earnings return is positive [6]. Peer Comparison - The performance of peers can influence post-earnings stock reactions, with historical data showing Costco's stock performance compared to peers reporting earnings just prior [7]. - For smoother investment options, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which includes 30 stocks, has consistently outperformed benchmarks like the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices [8].