Key Takeaways Costco benefits from high member renewal rates, global scale and a resilient fee-based model.COST posted 8.6% sales growth in October and 16.6% growth in digitally-enabled comparable sales.BJ's club comps rose 1.8% ex-gas, with digital members driving stronger engagement and larger baskets.Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ) operate in the warehouse retail space. Costco, which boasts a market capitalization of about $396.6 billion, runs a membership- ...

Core Insights - Costco continues to experience sales growth, indicating strong consumer demand and effective business strategies [1] Sales Performance - The warehouse retailer reported another month of sales gains, reflecting a positive trend in its revenue generation [1]

Core Insights - Two leading U.S.-based retailers have experienced significant increases in their Growth metrics, indicating a potential turnaround in performance [1][3] Group 1: Costco Wholesale Corp. - Costco Wholesale Corp. saw its Growth score rise from 57.41 to 90.06 within a week, attributed to strong fourth-quarter performance that exceeded analyst expectations [4] - The company is expanding its warehouse footprint with over 30 new openings planned, which is expected to enhance its revenue base [4] - Despite high scores in Growth and Quality, Costco performs poorly in Momentum and Value, with unfavorable price trends across all time frames [5] Group 2: Village Super Market Inc. - Village Super Market Inc.'s Growth score increased from 58.47 to 90.1 in just one week, driven by strong earnings growth and improved net profit margins despite external economic challenges [6] - The modest top-line growth has been offset by margin expansion, contributing to a better Growth ranking [6] - The stock scores high in Growth and Value but struggles in Momentum and Quality, also showing unfavorable price trends over short, medium, and long terms [7]

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].

Core Insights - Costco's stock experienced a 3% increase to nearly $943 following the release of its September sales data, which showed a year-over-year sales rise of 5% to approximately $26.6 billion, indicating positive investor sentiment ahead of the holiday season [2][3]. Sales Performance - September sales for Costco rose 9% in 2024, but this was perceived positively by investors despite a slowdown compared to the previous year, attributed to unique circumstances such as Hurricane Helene and port strikes that inflated last year's figures [5][7]. - Global same-store sales increased by 5.7%, and a new metric for "digitally-enabled" comparable sales showed a significant rise of over 26% [6]. Market Reaction - The stock's rise occurred on a day when U.S. indexes were down, suggesting that investors viewed Costco's sales performance as a strong indicator of resilience [2][4]. - Analysts remain optimistic about Costco's stock, with a mean price target of $1,065, representing a potential upside of about 13% from the recent closing price [6].

Costco Wholesale Corporation - Costco reported net sales of $26.58 billion for September 2025, representing an 8.0% increase year-over-year [2][8] - Comparable sales increased by 5.7% overall, with U.S. sales rising 5.1%, Canadian sales up 6.3%, and international markets growing by 8.5% [3][8] - Digitally-enabled sales surged by 26.1%, reflecting the company's adaptation to changing shopping habits [3][8] Amazon - Amazon is launching electronic pharmacy kiosks at One Medical locations starting December 2025, aimed at simplifying the prescription process [4][5][8] - The kiosks will allow patients to pick up medications shortly after their doctor's appointments, enhancing medication adherence [5][8] - This initiative integrates Amazon's healthcare acquisitions into a seamless patient experience, potentially disrupting traditional pharmacy models [5][8]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale reported net sales of $269.9 billion for fiscal 2025, showcasing its dominance in the retail sector [1] - The company has experienced a 160% increase in share price over the past five years, reflecting strong investor confidence [1] Durable Demand - Despite macroeconomic challenges, Costco demonstrated resilience with a same-store sales growth of 5.7% in Q4, driven by increased foot traffic and higher transaction sizes [4] - The global membership renewal rate reached 89.8% in Q4, with a year-over-year membership increase of 6.3%, indicating strong customer loyalty [5] Ongoing Growth - Costco opened 24 net new warehouse stores during fiscal 2025, bringing the total to 629 in the U.S. and 285 internationally, with plans for 30 new locations in fiscal 2026 [6] - E-commerce sales grew by 13.6% year over year in Q4, totaling nearly $20 billion, which represents 7% of the company's total sales [8]

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]

Core Insights - Costco is experiencing consistent foot traffic despite changing consumer spending patterns influenced by inflation [1] - The current market conditions may present a long-term investment opportunity in Costco, as the company continues to expand its store presence and market reach [2][3] Group 1: Business Strategies - Costco is actively mitigating the impact of newly implemented tariffs by rerouting imported goods, negotiating with suppliers, and shifting private-label sourcing [4][5] - The company prioritizes customer loyalty, which is seen as beneficial for long-term growth [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - Costco's revenue growth is supported not only by sales but also by membership fees, which range from $65 to $130 annually [6][7] - The current share price is $983.08, with a market cap of approximately $435 billion, indicating a strong financial position [7] - Costco has a 52-week high of $1,078.23 and a low of $793, reflecting its stable stock performance [7]

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]