Stockchase Opinions

Stan Wong Costco Wholesale Corporation COST-Q BUY ON WEAKNESS Jun 06, 2024

Great performer, hitting all-time highs, continues to like it. Combination of steady earnings with good secular growth. No meaningful competition. Charts don't get better than this, a series of higher highs and higher lows for the last couple of years. 200-day MA trending higher, and price is above that. Overbought at 77 RSI, so not buying for new clients.

Earnings are pretty steady. 10% growth rate, decent. Member loyalty is astounding, price has been increased slowly over time. Pricing power is so powerful because they have fewer different items, but in higher volumes.

(Analysts’ price target is $835.00)
$842.630

Stock price when the opinion was issued

department stores
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BUY ON WEAKNESS

They had a terrific quarter, but fell 6% anyway. Is -13% from all-time high of a few weeks ago. But it usually sells off on good quarters, but bounces back, so you must buy it into weakness. Almost always. They reported a revenue beat, but earnings miss. Same-store sales were +6.8%, beating the street. Operating margin barely missed as did EPS. Costco shoppers are still spending, but getting picky about value. Non-food same-store sales growth was around 15%, good. Only one-sixth of their goods come from China, Canada and Mexico, so they are fairly insulated from tariffs; and they can replaced those tariffed items with non-tariffed ones. Shares are hit because it's a high-PE stock and the market is down. Shares now are a buying opportunity.

DON'T BUY

A great company based on a fantastic model with nearly all profits covered by membership fees, but trades in the mid-40x PE, which is too high for a retailer, even after this pullback. Great company, but not a great stock.

TOP PICK

Profitability is improving; expanding due to e-commerce growth, Kirkland signature, and ad revenue. Reputable brand. Opens 25-30 stores a year. Adding footprint in China. Likes the stability and steady growth. Performs well even in uncertain markets. Impressive membership renewal rate over 90%, and that recurring revenue is a major strength. Sales are still growing from both price and traffic increases. Yield is 0.51%.

(Analysts’ price target is $1067.36)
TOP PICK

Profitability is improving; expanding due to e-commerce growth, Kirkland signature, and ad revenue. Reputable brand. Opens 25-30 stores a year. Adding footprint in China. Likes the stability and steady growth. Performs well even in uncertain markets. Impressive membership renewal rate over 90%, and that recurring revenue is a major strength. Sales are still growing from both price and traffic increases. Yield is 0.51%.

Its stability can weather volatility long term. Expecting 9% EPS growth in both 2025 and 2026. Fundamental score is 9/10.

(Analysts’ price target is $1067.36)
PARTIAL BUY
Are defying Trump's DEI policy

They boast profits and growth, and shares are -12% in the past month, making this a buy. No, it's not rolling over. Buy some now, and buy some next week.

TOP PICK

Managed to combine recurring revenue (membership fees) with traditional retail. Business model is still the best in the retail space. Big push toward lower-cost merchandisers. Second to none in its ability to not only survive, but thrive, in what could be a difficult economic environment. Yield is 0.48%.

(Analysts’ price target is $1063.88)
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick May 29/24, Up 19%)

Any time it opens up a store, it's successful. Model is easy to replicate in other countries. Exceptional customer loyalty. Produce will probably be impacted less by tariffs, as it's sourced locally; hardware goods may be impacted.

SELL

Recently sold. PEG ratio just got too high.

BUY

They will survive this tariff war, because they can source cheap, bulk products.

SELL

Great company and franchise, but valuation got expensive.