Core Insights - Costco's sales are experiencing significant growth, with net sales increasing by 8.5% year over year to $29.86 billion for the five weeks ending January 4 [2] - The company's stock price rose over 3% following the release of its December sales figures, reflecting positive market sentiment [1] Sales Performance - Comparable sales in the U.S. grew by 6.3%, while companywide comparable sales increased by 6.2%, excluding the effects of gasoline price fluctuations and foreign exchange rates [2] - Digitally enabled sales surged by 18.3%, indicating strong performance in Costco's online retail segment [4] Market Position - Costco's strategy of offering quality merchandise at low prices is resonating well with consumers, particularly in a cash-strapped environment [4] - The company's large scale allows it to provide a curated selection of goods at competitive prices, making it difficult for rivals to match [4] Customer Loyalty and Growth Strategy - The savings provided by Costco help build loyalty among its members, driving repeat traffic and stable profits [5] - Expansion of store count, along with growing sales at existing locations, is expected to continue fueling Costco's earnings growth in the future [5]

Whether you’re already a member or considering joining, buying in bulk at a warehouse club like Costco can lead to significant savings. The key caveat is discipline: to truly save money, you need to keep impulse purchases to a minimum. Costco is a membership-only warehouse-style retailer. It’s the third-largest retailer in the world by revenue, (1) and nearly one-third of U.S. consumers shop there. (2) Costco offers two tiers of membership. For basic access, there is the Costco Gold Star Membership, whi ...

Juan Llauro/Getty Images Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. For bargain hunters, Costco has long been a go-to destination. The warehouse giant famously still sells its hot dog and soda combo for $1.50 — the same price it launched with back in the mid-1980s. But not every Costco item has held its price as stubbornly as the hot dog combo. Case in point: gold bars. In late 2023, Costco began selling 1-ounce gold bars. At the time, shoppers c ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco has experienced a disappointing year in 2025, with its stock price down 6% despite strong operational performance [1] Group 1: Same-Store Sales Performance - Costco's same-store sales (SSS) have shown impressive growth, indicating strong productivity at existing locations [4] - In fiscal 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Costco reported positive SSS of 7.7%, followed by 16% in fiscal 2021 and 14.4% in fiscal 2022, with the positive trend continuing [5] - The company is expected to maintain its SSS growth in 2026, driven by increased foot traffic and higher average ticket sizes [6] Group 2: Growth Strategy - Costco currently operates 921 warehouses, with approximately two-thirds located in the U.S., and plans to open 28 net new warehouses in fiscal 2026 [6] - There are significant opportunities for expansion in the U.S. and international markets, particularly in China, which is promising for revenue growth in 2026 and beyond [7] Group 3: Valuation Considerations - Despite a strong operational performance in 2025, with net sales and net income increasing by 8% and 10% year over year, the stock has faced valuation concerns [8] - The current price-to-earnings ratio stands at 46, down from 63 earlier in 2025, indicating a potentially better valuation setup for investors [9]

Core Insights - Costco's stock has struggled in 2025, but a positive quarterly result could lead to a turnaround [1] - The company is expected to report strong fiscal first-quarter earnings, driven by its membership model [1] Financial Performance - Q1 EPS is projected at $4.26, an 11.5% year-over-year increase, with total revenues anticipated at $67.3 billion, up 8.3% from the previous year [2] - Preliminary sales data indicates Q1 net sales of $65.98 billion, reflecting an 8.2% rise [2] Competitive Positioning - Costco's membership-based model and bulk sales strategy differentiate it from traditional competitors [3] - Comparable sales rose 6.4%, with U.S. gains of 5.9%, Canada at 6.5%, and Other International markets at 8.8% [3] E-commerce Growth - E-commerce sales are a key growth driver, with digitally enabled comparable sales surging over 20% in the quarter [4] - This follows a 15.6% growth in Q4 FY25, supported by investments in logistics and targeted online promotions [4] Membership Trends - Global membership renewal rates remain above 90%, with membership fee income expected to rise by 9% in FY26 [6] - Online sign-ups are attracting younger demographics, enhancing higher-margin revenue [6] Consumer Behavior - Consumer spending is shifting towards value and essentials, favoring Costco's bulk model [7] - There is a noted decline in non-essential spending, such as apparel, reflecting broader economic caution [8] Market Outlook - Costco's premium positioning and high renewal rates suggest potential outperformance during the holiday season [8] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating steady expectations despite stretched valuations [10] - Investors are keenly awaiting results for signs of sustained momentum and growth strategies [11]

Core Viewpoint - Costco's recent stock performance has lagged behind the broader market, but a deeper analysis reveals that it has outperformed over the long term [1]. Short-Term Performance - An investment of $10,000 in Costco stock six months ago would have decreased to $8,769, reflecting a total return of negative-12.3% and an annualized return of negative-22.8% [2]. - In contrast, a similar investment in the S&P 500 index would have grown to $11,480, while the Nasdaq-100 index would have reached $11,820 [3]. Long-Term Performance - Over a three-year period, Costco investors have outperformed the S&P 500, although keeping pace with the Nasdaq-100 during the AI boom has been more challenging [5]. - If the investment in Costco stock was held for five years, it would have outperformed both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100 [8]. Valuation and Economic Environment - Costco's stock was trading at a high valuation of 95 times free cash flow (FCF) in spring 2025, but has since decreased to a multiple of 50, which is still considered high for value investors [10]. - The company faces challenges from increasing operating costs due to tariffs and inflation, impacting its low-margin warehouse retail model [11]. Financial Performance and Investor Sentiment - Despite the stock's price dip, Costco's financial results are strong, with trailing-12-month sales up 19% compared to three years ago and FCF nearly tripling [13]. - Supporters of Costco view the current price dip as a buying opportunity, emphasizing the company's resilience in various economic conditions [14].

Key Points The famous $1.50 hot dog combo symbolizes the chain’s low-price strategy to drive traffic. Costco's Kirkland Signature private label gives it cost control and product differentiation. Recurring membership fees are Costco’s profit engine. 10 stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale › Warehouse retailer Costco (NASDAQ: COST) is famous for low prices on bulk products. It doesn't get much cheaper (or bulkier) than the $1.50 hot dog combo, a quarter-pounder plus drink. That's enough bang ...

Core Argument - Costco has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful and seeking a full refund of all levies paid under these tariffs [2][3]. Group 1: Legal Basis of the Lawsuit - The lawsuit argues that the IEEPA does not clearly authorize the President to set tariffs, thus rendering the challenged tariff orders invalid [2]. - Costco is requesting the Court of International Trade to consider all tariffs collected under IEEPA as illegal [2]. Group 2: Implications for Costco - The company claims it is facing "imminent and irreparable harm" due to anticipated liquidation of entries for which it paid IEEPA duties as early as December 15 [3]. - Costco emphasizes the necessity of the lawsuit, stating that without judicial relief, it is "not guaranteed a refund for those unlawfully collected tariffs" [6]. Group 3: Context of the Lawsuit - Costco joins other companies, including Revlon, Kawasaki, and Bumble Bee Foods, in legal action against the White House regarding tariffs [3]. - The lawsuit coincides with the U.S. Supreme Court's consideration of the legality of these tariffs, following challenges from multiple states and businesses [3][4].

Costco is looking to get a refund on the tariffs it has paid so far under the Trump administration's tariffs. Kevin Carter / Getty Images Close Key Takeaways Warehouse retail giant Costco Wholesale (COST) has joined the list of companies looking for a refund on tariffs. The company filed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Trump administration on Friday. In the Court of International Trade, Costco said that it would seek a refund of the tariffs it has paid on imports in the last sev ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation and BJ's Wholesale Club operate in the warehouse retail space, with Costco having a market capitalization of approximately $396.6 billion and BJ's at roughly $11.8 billion [1][2] - Both companies are navigating a challenging consumer environment characterized by tighter budgets, with Costco leveraging its global scale and BJ's focusing on operational efficiency and market-specific execution [3] Costco's Strengths - Costco's membership-based business model provides a steady revenue stream, with membership renewal rates of 92.3% in the U.S. and Canada and 89.8% worldwide in Q4 of fiscal 2025 [3][4] - The company reported a 14% increase in membership fee income to $1,724 million in the quarter [3] - Costco's net sales for October increased by 8.6% year-over-year to $21.75 billion, demonstrating its ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences [5] - Digitally-enabled comparable sales surged by 16.6% in October, reflecting the effectiveness of Costco's digital initiatives [6] BJ's Wholesale Strengths - BJ's Wholesale has a membership-driven model with a tenured renewal rate of 90% and a higher-tier penetration level of 41%, ending Q3 of fiscal 2025 with 8 million members [7] - The company reported a 30% increase in digitally enabled comparable sales, driven by its focus on convenience and digital engagement [9] - BJ's continues to invest in curated assortments and fresh offerings, enhancing its competitive position against national brands [10] Sales and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco's current fiscal-year sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 7.7% and 11%, respectively [13] - For BJ's Wholesale, the current financial-year sales and EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 4.5% and 7.4%, respectively [15] Stock Performance and Valuation - Costco shares have decreased by 12.2% over the past six months, while BJ's Wholesale has seen a steeper decline of 22.3% [18] - Costco's forward P/E ratio is 43.85, below its one-year median of 50.09, while BJ's stands at 19.37, below its median of 23.60 [19] Investment Outlook - Both companies carry a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), but Costco is viewed as the stronger investment option due to its broader scale, strong member loyalty, and consistent execution in challenging consumer conditions [21]