Key Takeaways Shares of Costco Wholesale have been getting cheaper for nearly a year, dropping from early 2025 highs. They got a little less cheap today. The warehouse retailer's shares were up some 5% Thursday afternoon to levels last seen in about a month. The driver: a measure of optimism about the direction of Costco's (COST) business following the company's announcement of December sales that rose 8.5% year-over year and same-store sales that were 7% higher. Bakery, meat and candy sales powered the foo ...

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's reported a smaller-than-expected decline in first-quarter sales and plans to maintain competitive pricing, while not ruling out potential price increases due to tariffs [1][5][12] Sales Performance - The company experienced a 1.7% drop in same-store sales for the quarter ended May 2, which was better than analysts' average estimate of a 2% decline [12] - Steady demand from construction professionals contributed to the smaller-than-expected sales drop [6] Pricing Strategy - CEO Marvin Ellison emphasized the importance of competitive pricing to avoid losing market share to competitors [1] - CFO Brandon Sink indicated that profit margins are expected to remain flat this fiscal year, with tariff impacts anticipated in the second half of the year [2] Tariff Impact - The imposition of tariffs has raised concerns in the retail sector, with Walmart warning of potential price increases and Target lowering its sales and profit forecasts [3] - Lowe's and Home Depot have both been affected by tariff fears, which have negatively impacted consumer sentiment and renovation projects [4][8] Supply Chain Management - Lowe's has diversified its supply chain and increased local suppliers to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs [7] - Approximately 60% of Lowe's purchase volume comes from the U.S., while 20% is sourced from China, with specific items like holiday trees and tools being affected by tariffs [10] Future Outlook - The company expects comparable sales for 2025 to be flat to 1% higher, with earnings per share projected between $12.15 and $12.40 [11]