Core Insights - Costco has generated a total return of 159% over the past five years, with net sales reaching $270 billion in fiscal 2025, although shares are currently 17% off their peak [1] Group 1: Membership Model - Costco's membership model is a key differentiator, requiring customers to pay an annual fee of $65 to shop at its warehouses, with 81 million membership households globally, reflecting a 6.3% year-over-year increase in Q4 2025 [3][4] - The high renewal rate of around 90% for memberships fosters customer loyalty and encourages repeat visits to warehouses [4] Group 2: Sales Performance - Same-store sales (SSS) increased by 5.9% in fiscal 2025, indicating consistent growth and strong operational stability [5][6] - The company's strategy of offering high-quality merchandise at competitive prices contributes to its ability to maintain steady demand across various economic conditions [6] Group 3: Valuation Concerns - Costco shares are considered expensive, trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 49.2, which raises concerns about potential returns if purchased at high valuations [8] - The elevated P/E ratio suggests that the market may consistently reward Costco with a premium valuation, but this leaves little margin for safety and could lead to future contraction as the company matures [9]

BJ's Wholesale Club Investor Presentation Forward-Looking Statements: This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this presentation that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward- looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position; our anticipated fiscal 2025 outlook; our membership fee in ...

Key Takeaways WMT shares rose 6.5% on strong Q3 results and a raised fiscal 2026 outlook. E-commerce surged 27%, while membership income and global advertising delivered strong gains. WMT generated $27.5B in operating cash flow and issued upbeat fiscal 2026 sales and EPS targets. Walmart Inc. (WMT) shares jumped 6.5% yesterday, as investors’ sentiment got a spark from the company’s robust third-quarter results and raised fiscal 2026 outlook. The quarter showed strength across all key areas — healthier reven ...

Key Takeaways Walmart posts Q3 revenue and earnings growth, surpassing consensus estimates.E-commerce drives gains with strong pickup, delivery and marketplace performance.Walmart raises net sales and adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026. Walmart Inc. (WMT) raised its fiscal 2026 guidance once again after posting robust third-quarter results. During the quarter, both the top and bottom lines increased year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. E-commerce remained a standout performer, with WMT w ...

Core Insights - Walmart reported revenue of $179.5 billion for the quarter ended October 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.8% and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $177.14 billion by 1.33% [1] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $0.62, an increase from $0.58 in the same quarter last year, also exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.61 by 1.64% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - U.S. comparable store sales (YoY change) for Walmart U.S. (excluding fuel impact) were 4.5%, above the average estimate of 4% [4] - U.S. comparable store sales (YoY change) for Sam's Club (excluding fuel impact) were 3.8%, slightly below the average estimate of 4% [4] - Reported sales growth (YoY change) for Walmart International was 10.8%, significantly higher than the average estimate of 5.9% [4] - Total U.S. comparable store sales (YoY change, excluding fuel impact) were 4.4%, matching the average estimate of 4% [4] - Membership and other income revenues were $1.73 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $1.71 billion, representing a 9% year-over-year increase [4] - Net sales for Walmart U.S. were $120.68 billion, surpassing the average estimate of $119.52 billion, reflecting a 5.1% year-over-year increase [4] - Total net sales reported were $177.77 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $175.33 billion, with a year-over-year change of 5.8% [4] - Net sales for Walmart International were $33.54 billion, above the average estimate of $32.07 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of 10.8% [4] - Net sales for Sam's Club were $23.55 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $23.74 billion, representing a 3.1% year-over-year increase [4] Stock Performance - Walmart's shares have returned -6.1% over the past month, compared to a -0.3% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Walmart and Costco are two leading retail giants that emphasize value-driven shopping globally, with Walmart being the largest retailer and Costco operating on a membership-based model [1][2][3] Walmart Overview - Walmart operates over 10,750 stores in 19 countries, serving approximately 270 million customers weekly, with a market capitalization of about $846.5 billion as of October 29, 2025 [1] - The company benefits from a diverse business model, generating growth from stores, digital advertising, memberships, and marketplace operations, which provide new profit streams [4] - Walmart's digital and logistics capabilities have improved significantly, using its store network as fulfillment hubs for faster delivery [5] - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Walmart's total revenues increased by 5.6% in constant currency, with comparable sales in Walmart U.S. up by 4.6% and international sales rising by 10.5% [6] - Management anticipates operating income to grow faster than sales for the full year, with expected consolidated net sales growth of 3.75-4.75% and adjusted EPS in the range of $2.52-$2.62 for fiscal 2026 [8] Costco Overview - Costco operates around 914 warehouses globally, with a market capitalization of approximately $404.4 billion [2] - The company's membership fees increased by 14% in Q4, with renewal rates above 89.8% worldwide, indicating strong customer loyalty [10][11] - Costco's business model focuses on bulk purchasing and efficient supply chains, allowing it to maintain low prices [11] - In Q4 of fiscal 2025, Costco's e-commerce sales rose by 13.6% year-over-year, with digitally enabled sales exceeding $27 billion [14] - The company plans to open 35 new locations in fiscal 2026, reflecting its commitment to expansion [13] Comparative Performance - Over the past year, Walmart shares gained 25%, significantly outperforming Costco's 4.4% increase [21] - Walmart's forward P/E ratio is 36.02, while Costco's is 45.01, with Costco appearing more appealing based on its valuation relative to its one-year median [24] - In the current inflationary environment, Walmart is viewed as a stronger near-term investment due to its diversified revenue streams and strength in groceries [25]

Core Insights - Costco is not just a retailer but a phenomenon with a strong following in North America due to its unique business model and low prices [1] Membership Model - The membership model is Costco's secret weapon, with customers paying $65 for a basic membership or $130 for an executive membership, generating over $5.3 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 [3] - Membership revenue covers about one-fifth of overhead expenses, allowing Costco to sell products at lower gross margins [4] - Costco's renewal rates exceed 90%, creating a loyalty flywheel that is difficult for competitors to replicate [6][7] Growth Strategy - Despite operating 890 warehouses globally, Costco plans to increase this number to 914 by the end of fiscal 2025 and to 944 by fiscal 2026, representing a disciplined growth strategy focused on high-return locations [8] Financial Performance - In the last fiscal year, Costco generated $275 billion in revenue (+8% year-over-year) and $8.1 billion in net income (+10% year-over-year), with a return on invested capital of over 20% [9]

Core Membership Model - Costco's worldwide membership renewal rate decreased to 89.8% in Q4 of fiscal 2025 from 90.2% in the previous quarter, with U.S. and Canada rates at 92.3%, down 40 basis points sequentially [1][9] - The decline is linked to an increase in online sign-ups, particularly from a Groupon campaign in December 2023, which attracted younger members [2][9] - Nearly half of new members are under 40, indicating a generational shift in the membership base [3][9] Digital Expansion and Member Engagement - Management views the rise in online membership as a positive trend, despite slightly lower renewal rates for these members, as it broadens Costco's demographic reach [2][4] - The company faces the challenge of effectively engaging digital-first shoppers through auto-renewal programs and targeted communication to enhance brand loyalty [3][4] Financial Performance - Costco reported a 14% year-over-year increase in membership fee income in Q4 of fiscal 2025, totaling $1,724 million [5] - The stock has increased by 4.7% over the past year, underperforming the industry growth of 6.9% [8] - Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 46.02, significantly higher than the industry average of 29.94, indicating a lower Value Score of D [10] Sales and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Costco's current financial-year sales and earnings per share to grow by 7.7% and 11%, respectively [11] - Current quarter sales are estimated at $67.20 billion, with year-over-year growth of 8.12% [14] - Earnings per share for the current quarter are estimated at $4.24, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 10.99% [15]

Market Trends - The current trend for stocks remains bullish, particularly for technology and AI stocks, despite signs of economic slowdown [1] - The government shutdown may have a larger ripple effect on the economy, contrasting with the government's previous rescue actions in 2021 [2] - Investors are advised to consider adding defensive stocks due to ongoing economic uncertainty [2] Costco Wholesale - Costco has proven its value to consumers and investors, with a steady increase in membership fees and strong sales growth [4][5] - The stock has provided a total return of over 175% due to year-over-year comparable sales growth, buybacks, and dividends [5] - Despite its high share price of over $930, Costco's valuation remains reasonable compared to its historical performance [6] Chevron - Chevron has faced challenges as energy stocks have not performed well for growth investors, with crude oil prices not rising as expected [7] - The company is well-positioned in the LNG market, particularly in Asia, which is expected to drive revenue growth as markets shift away from coal [8] - Analysts forecast earnings growth of over 16.5%, suggesting Chevron stock may be undervalued at around 13x earnings [9] Clorox - Clorox is viewed as a contrarian pick among defensive stocks, with its stock trading near six-year lows due to post-pandemic demand struggles [11] - The company is modernizing operations and improving operating margins, which may present a buying opportunity despite bearish sentiments [12] - Clorox's stock has established a solid technical support base around $118, but it needs to demonstrate revenue and earnings growth to regain investor confidence [13]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results, highlighting stable growth and a loyal membership base, which has historically allowed it to navigate economic challenges better than competitors [1] Financial Performance - Shares of Costco fell 3.4% post-earnings release due to a top-line miss, despite year-over-year improvements in revenues and earnings driven by membership growth, resilient traffic, and e-commerce gains [2] - Comparable sales, excluding gasoline prices and foreign exchange impacts, rose 6.4%, with U.S. comparable sales increasing by 6%, and Canada and Other International markets seeing gains of 8.3% and 7.2%, respectively [2] - Membership fee income grew 14% year over year to $1,724 million in Q4, with less than half of this growth attributed to fee increases introduced last September [7] Membership and Growth Strategy - Costco ended the quarter with 81 million paid members, a 6.3% increase from the previous year, with executive memberships growing 9.3% to 38.7 million, accounting for 47.7% of all paid members and driving 74.2% of worldwide sales [3] - The company's high membership renewal rates stood at 92.3% in the U.S. and Canada, and 89.8% worldwide, reflecting strong member loyalty [6] E-commerce and Digital Expansion - E-commerce comparable sales rose 13.6% year over year, with site traffic up 27% and Costco Logistics deliveries increasing by 13% [9] - Management reported that "digitally enabled" sales exceeded $27 billion in fiscal 2025, indicating a strong digital performance [9] Capital Expenditures and Future Outlook - Costco generated $13,335 million in operating cash flow and ended the year with $14,161 million in cash and equivalents, with plans for modestly higher capital expenditures in fiscal 2026 to support 35 new store openings [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current fiscal year increased by 16 cents to $20.01, while the estimate for the next fiscal year declined by 3 cents to $21.86, indicating expected year-over-year growth rates of 11.2% and 9.3%, respectively [4] Competitive Landscape - Costco's stock has underperformed relative to the industry, falling 6.2% over the past month compared to the industry's decline of 4.1% [13] - The stock is trading at a significant premium, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 45.11, higher than the industry average of 29.45 and the S&P 500's 23.65 [15]