Group 1 - Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is currently viewed as a strong investment opportunity despite its stock reaching an all-time high earlier this year and experiencing a recent decline under new leadership [1] - The stock is trading at 45 times earnings, which is considered high, but it is suggested that starting a position could be worthwhile as Costco is regarded as the best buy in the industry [1] - Recent negative sentiment surrounding Costco, stemming from a major magazine article suggesting that the company's best times may be over, is not seen as a valid concern [1] Group 2 - Costco operates membership-based warehouses that offer a variety of food and non-food merchandise, along with services such as fuel stations, pharmacies, optical centers, and e-commerce operations [2]