It has an evergreen retail model.Costco Wholesale (COST +0.54%) is typically a reliable, market-beating stock. However, it's roughly flat over the past year, while the S&P 500 index is up more than 21%.The stock had actually lost about 6% of its value in 2025, but it's already soaring after an excellent December performance report. Even after a rare down year, investors keep coming back to this top stock. Here are three reasons why. 1. The resilienceCostco continues to demonstrate strong and steady growth d ...

Core Viewpoint - AW Supermarket represents a new exploration in the domestic high-end organic supermarket sector, targeting health-conscious middle-class and young families [3][6]. Group 1: Store Overview - AW Supermarket's first store opened in July in Beijing, replacing a closed Hualian Supermarket, and spans approximately 5,000 square meters with 6,000 SKUs [5][11]. - The store emphasizes low-sugar, low-fat, and organic products, with organic items accounting for about 25% of the offerings, including over 200 items of pesticide-tested fruits and certified organic vegetables [11][13]. - The supermarket aims to create a full-service system centered on "category selection, strict certification, rapid cold chain, and transparent traceability" to ensure product freshness and health [13][14]. Group 2: Market Positioning - AW Supermarket directly targets consumers who demand higher health quality and are willing to pay a premium, drawing inspiration from international brands like Whole Foods and Erewhon [14][15]. - The store's design breaks traditional supermarket layouts, incorporating a food theater concept that allows customers to see the production processes of baked goods, meats, and seafood [16][20]. Group 3: Membership Innovation - AW Supermarket has introduced a prepaid membership system where customers can become VIP members by depositing 1,000 yuan, allowing access to member prices on 40% of products, with the deposit being refundable [21]. - This membership model is seen as more cost-effective for consumers and creates stronger customer loyalty compared to traditional membership fees [21]. Group 4: Industry Trends - The current retail landscape is characterized by a division into survival-type and development-type supermarkets, with new players emerging in the market [22][23]. - New retail formats and brands are learning from international counterparts while localizing their strategies to meet regional consumer habits [24][26]. - The focus for new brands like AW Supermarket is on establishing a lifestyle-oriented approach, providing differentiated products and services to build deep customer reliance [28][29].