A Costco membership is often a good investment for families looking to save money on groceries, household goods, electronics and even furniture. If you purchase the Gold Star membership, you’re likely to save more than the $65 membership cost within a year. Meanwhile, the $130 Executive membership pays 2% rewards good toward future Costco purchases. But what if you literally invested those membership fees into Costco stock five years ago? How much extra cash would you have today? Check Out: Amazon, Costco ...

Very few companies have a true moat around there business. In most cases, a rival can find a way to beat its prices, match any services it offers, and compete in unexpected ways. Costco  (COST)  does not have a unique business as Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale operate under the same model, but it does have a moat. Once members are in, they're very likely to stay members and, if there's some sort of drop in renewals, the chain usually sees that a year out, giving it time to adjust its strategies. It's not ...

As gold prices hit record highs, demand for the precious metal is running hot at Costco. The price of the yellow metal topped $4,000 an ounce for the first time on Tuesday, and is driving strong sales for the wholesale club.While the company didn't break out exact sales figures for the products in its fiscal year earnings call in September, it said the category continued to be a top seller online. Analysts previously estimated that the company sells around $200 million of gold and silver each month. Forme ...

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) announced today the must- have toys for the holiday season as shopping begins earlier than ever. Offering the hottest toys from brands like Disney, Barbie, LEGO®, Play-Doh and Hot Wheels, BJ's has something for everyone, all at unbeatable prices. BJ's is also making it easier than ever to get ahead of the holiday rush with free shipping on all toys and the convenience of shopping through the BJ's mobile app, online at BJs.com/To. ...

Group 1 - The author has been a Costco member since 2008 but has not invested in its stock, which is now seen as a painful oversight given the company's performance [1] - The author has a background as a corporate lawyer with an MBA and has been operating a boutique law firm for the last 10 years, focusing on investment transactions and disputes [1] - The author's investment goals include identifying reasonably priced companies with steady long-term growth and uncovering small- and mid-cap companies with potential for exponential growth through fundamental analysis [1] Group 2 - The author believes that educated individuals can outperform the market if they have the right temperament and are willing to learn basic accounting and financial principles [1]

Core Insights - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. is significantly advancing its digital transformation, with a 34% increase in digitally enabled comparable sales in Q2 of fiscal 2025, resulting in a two-year stacked increase of 56% [1][7] - The company processes over 90% of digital orders through its clubs, enhancing efficiency and member loyalty, with digitally engaged customers being twice as valuable as traditional shoppers [2][7] - Membership has reached an all-time high of 8 million, with higher-tier memberships representing 41% of the base, indicating deeper engagement [3] Digital Strategy - The mobile app plays a central role in member engagement, with over half of members using it for various services, contributing to record membership fee income of $123.3 million, a 9% year-over-year increase [2][7] - The hybrid model of integrating physical clubs with online services is a key differentiator for BJ's, positioning the company to capture long-term growth opportunities [6] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Walmart and Costco are also enhancing their digital capabilities, with Walmart reporting a 25% increase in e-commerce sales and Costco achieving a 15.6% growth in e-commerce comparable sales for the fiscal year [4][5] - BJ's faces the challenge of sustaining its momentum against these formidable competitors while continuing to expand its digital capabilities [6]

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale is expected to announce a special dividend this December, potentially exceeding $10 per share, with a yield of approximately 1% to 1.5% [2][3] Financial Performance - In FQ4, Costco achieved 8.1% year-over-year revenue growth, surpassing market expectations, driven by a 6.4% system-wide comparable sales increase and growth in membership [2][3] - Net income rose nearly 10% and GAAP earnings increased by 11%, indicating strong cash flow to support capital spending and special dividends [4][5] Membership and Growth Metrics - Membership increased by 6.3%, and digital sales grew by 13.6%, contributing to overall growth [3] - The company plans to open up to 35 new stores in FY2026, representing a 3.8% increase in store count [4] Balance Sheet Strength - Costco's cash reserves increased by 43% in F2025, with current assets rising by $4.1 billion (12%) and total assets by $7 billion (10%) [5] - The company's leverage remains low, with total liabilities approximately 1.6 times equity, supporting its ability to pay special dividends [6] Analyst Sentiment and Stock Forecast - Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy rating for Costco, with a 12-month price forecast averaging $1,069.58, indicating a potential upside of 16.77% [7][8] - Institutional ownership stands at 58%, with a bullish trend in buying activity throughout the year [9] Technical Outlook - The stock is currently holding above critical support levels, with expectations of a rebound as dividend hunters enter the market [10] - A move to new highs could initiate a sustained rally, potentially reaching the analysts' high-end target near $1,225 [11]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a rise on Friday, with the S&P 500 increasing by 0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 299 points (0.7%), and the Nasdaq composite adding 0.4%, helping to reduce weekly losses [1][2] Inflation and Economic Impact - Inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 2.7% in August from 2.6% in July, which, while above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, aligned with economists' forecasts [2][3] - The expectation of continued interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve is critical for Wall Street, as it has contributed to a significant rise in U.S. stocks since April [3][4] Tariffs and Market Reactions - President Trump's announcement of new tariffs on imports, including pharmaceutical drugs and heavy trucks, has the potential to increase inflation, although details were limited [5][6] - The stock market reacted with mixed results; Paccar, associated with truck brands, rose by 5.2%, while major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer saw slight increases of 1.4% and 0.7%, respectively [6] - Companies in the home furnishings sector experienced volatility, with Williams-Sonoma fluctuating between gains and losses, while RH dropped by 4.2% [7] Company-Specific Performance - Costco Wholesale's stock fell by 2.9% despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, attributed to slower membership renewal rates and disappointing underlying revenue growth [8]

Core Insights - Costco is experiencing increased traffic in its warehouses and is strategically expanding its locations to tap into new markets and enhance capacity in existing areas [1][4] - The company plans to open 35 new locations in the current fiscal year, a significant increase from 27 openings in the previous year, indicating a busy expansion phase [2] - New warehouse openings are strategically placed near successful existing locations to optimize sales and alleviate congestion [3][4] Expansion Plans - The first four new locations will open in October in Fruitport, Michigan; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Indian Land, South Carolina; and Mississauga, Ontario [3] - This year's expansion includes five relocations of existing warehouses, which are expected to enhance sales and customer access [4] Operational Strategy - The average age of Costco warehouses in the US is around 20 years, and relocations provide an opportunity to refresh operations and maintain high service standards [8] - Old warehouses that are vacated can be repurposed into Costco Business Centers, catering to larger-volume customers [8] - New locations also create job opportunities for individuals seeking to start or advance their careers within the company, which is recognized as a competitive employer in the retail sector [9]

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST will release earnings results for the fourth quarter, after the closing bell on Thursday, Sept. 25.Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $5.81 per share, up from $5.29 per share in the year-ago period. Costco projects quarterly revenue of $86.06 billion, compared to $79.7 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.Costco has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in two straight quarters and in five of the last 10 quarters overall.Shares ...