Core Insights - Costco's stock experienced a 3% increase, closing at nearly $943, despite a general decline in U.S. indexes, driven by strong September sales figures [1][2]. Sales Performance - September retail sales for Costco rose 5% year-over-year, reaching approximately $26.6 billion, indicating a positive start to the holiday season [2]. - The company's September sales growth of 9% in 2024 was viewed positively by investors, despite being lower than the previous year's figures, which were influenced by external factors such as Hurricane Helene and port strikes [4][7]. Investor Sentiment - Investors anticipated a potential slowdown in sales growth but reacted favorably to the results, considering the context of last year's unusually high demand [3][7]. - Analysts from UBS noted that the results reflect a strong performance, with a mean price target for Costco shares set at $1,065, suggesting a potential upside of about 13% from the recent close [5][6]. Additional Metrics - Global same-store sales for Costco increased by 5.7%, and the newly introduced metric for "digitally-enabled comparable sales" surged over 26%, highlighting the growing importance of digital sales channels [5].

Chris Allan / Getty Images Shares of Costco rose Thursday after the company reported September sales data. Key Takeaways Retail giant Costco reported September sales showing a rise a bit less upbeat than it reported a year ago. The stock rose Thursday anyway. One likely reason why: Investors noted that last year's September sales were higher for reasons associated with port strikes and a hurricane. Costco stock got a lift on a day when U.S. indexes fell. Strong September sales numbers helped. Share ...

Key TakeawaysCostco Wholesale Corporation (COST) reported robust September net sales of $26.58 billion, marking an 8% year-over-year increase, driven by strong comparable sales across all regions and a significant 26.1% surge in digitally-enabled sales.Amazon Pharmacy, a division of Amazon (AMZN), is set to launch innovative electronic prescription kiosks at One Medical locations, beginning in December 2025, to streamline medication access.This strategic move by Amazon further integrates its healthcare ecos ...

Key Points The warehouse retailer continues to see greater foot traffic and transaction sizes. Despite its massive size, the business has plans to open many more warehouse clubs. The stock has been a huge winner to date, but the market now has lofty expectations. 10 stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale › Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) dominates the retail landscape and raked in $269.9 billion of net sales in its fiscal 2025 (ended Aug. 31). The business has a loyal following, thanks to its ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco reported strong earnings and revenue results, demonstrating its pricing power and resilience in a challenging economic environment, making it a favorable investment option [1][11][12] Financial Performance - For the 16-week quarter, Costco achieved net sales of $84.43 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, and total revenue of $86.16 billion, surpassing estimates [2] - The net income for the quarter was $2.61 billion, translating to $5.87 in earnings per diluted share, exceeding expectations of $5.80 per share [2] - For the full fiscal year 2025, Costco's net sales reached approximately $269.9 billion, up from $249.6 billion in the previous year, with diluted EPS rising to $18.21 from $16.56 [3] Sales Trends - Comparable sales for Q4 showed strong performance, with adjusted U.S. sales increasing by 6%, Canada by 8.3%, and international sales by 7.2%, leading to an overall increase of 6.4% for the quarter [4] - E-commerce sales saw a significant rise, with adjusted comp sales increasing by 16.1% over the 52-week period [5] Membership and Cash Flow - Membership fees increased by 14% to $1.72 billion in Q4, highlighting the strength of Costco's membership model [5] - The company maintained robust free cash flow, with operating cash inflows of $13.34 billion and total cash/equivalents rising to $14.16 billion from $9.9 billion the previous year [6] Market Position and Consumer Behavior - Despite economic headwinds such as inflation and consumer spending cuts, Costco's commitment to low prices on essential goods has attracted more customers [7] - The company is strategically reinvesting a portion of its fee increases to enhance pricing competitiveness, benefiting both members and shareholders [7] Long-term Outlook - Although comparable sales growth has slowed in recent quarters, Costco's ability to grow in e-commerce and maintain a strong capital position suggests it remains a solid long-term investment [11] - The modest headline beat in earnings reflects Costco's defensive strength and potential for upside, reinforcing its value as a portfolio asset [12]

It doesn’t get any bigger, or more appropriately bulkier, than the multinational retail corporation Costco. In general, retail performance over the past year has been influenced by consumers changing spending patterns amid inflation spikes, but ultimately, Costco stores consistently improve foot traffic. Consider This: I’m a Self-Made Millionaire: 5 Stocks You Shouldn’t Sell Learn More: 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement Even with shoppers restricting their spending on discretionary items i ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco's quarterly earnings and revenue exceeded Wall Street forecasts, yet shares traded 1% lower in pre-market trading [1] Group 1: Earnings Performance - The company reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $5.87 per share, surpassing consensus expectations of $5.81 [1] - Net income rose to $2.61 billion for the quarter ended August 31, compared to $2.35 billion a year earlier [2] Group 2: Revenue and Sales - Revenue came in at $86.16 billion, slightly above analyst estimates of $86.08 billion [2] - Net sales grew 8% year-on-year to $84.4 billion [2] - Excluding fuel, same-store sales increased by 6.4%, just shy of the 6.44% projection [2] Group 3: Market Dynamics - Strong customer traffic and solid sales helped offset higher costs during the period [1]

Core Insights - Costco's stock experienced a 2.5% decline following the release of its fourth-quarter results, which, while solid, did not meet the high expectations set by its valuation [2][5] - Management's comments regarding a decrease in discretionary spending raised concerns among investors [2][5] Financial Performance - Same-store sales increased by 6.4% after adjusting for fuel prices and currency exchange, leading to total revenue of $86.2 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, surpassing estimates of $86.1 billion [4] - Membership fee income rose by 14% to $1.72 billion, supported by a fee increase implemented a year ago, with global renewal rates at 90% [5] - Earnings per share grew by 11% to $5.87, exceeding the consensus estimate of $5.81 [5][6] Market Position and Valuation - Costco primarily generates revenue from essential items, but higher margins are associated with discretionary products such as electronics and furniture [7] - The company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around 50, which may exert pressure on the stock and create elevated expectations for future earnings reports [6][8] Future Outlook - Although management does not provide specific guidance, Costco's results are typically stable from quarter to quarter [8] - The company remains resilient, but it is not immune to potential economic downturns [8]

Costco on Thursday reported fourth-quarter sales that came up shy of Wall Street's estimates, though the membership warehouse retailer's per-share profit topped expectations. ...

Group 1 - Costco's stock experienced a significant increase of nearly 18% in early 2025, peaking at $1,078.23 on February 13, but has since fallen 11.8% [1][2] - Despite the decline, Costco maintains strong credibility with investors and analysts, with 18 out of 36 analysts rating the stock as a buy or strong buy [2][6] - The company is set to report its fiscal 4th-quarter results, which are projected to be decent, with revenue expected to be $86.1 billion, up 8% year-on-year, and earnings of $5.80, up 12.6% [3][8] Group 2 - Costco continues to grow, opening approximately 25 stores annually, and its membership fees provide a stable base for profitability [6][10] - The retail environment is challenging, with consumers shopping more cautiously and facing increased costs due to tariffs [9] - In contrast to Costco's sluggish stock performance, rival Walmart's shares have increased by 13.3% for the year and 4.6% for the quarter, highlighting competitive pressures [7]