NASDAQ:COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)
921.63
+11.29 (1.24%)
as of Oct 1, 2026, 3:38:26 pm Market Open.
656 watching
Financials 
Technical Analysis 0
STRONG BUY
BUY
COST vs. WMT vs. AMZN Good management team, good long-term grower. Strategic, smart decisions. Walmart just jumps around too much. They should stick to their knitting, but instead management is always trying to play catch up in different arenas. But, quite frankly, the one to own in this space is Amazon.
department stores
TOP PICK
With Covid, we all changed our habits. Has taken a lot of market share from small businesses. People want to shop once, in a big space. Everything's under one roof. Likes the membership plan and services like travel and delivery. Trading at an expensive 36x, but not a lot of businesses are comparable. Yield is 0.82%. (Analysts’ price target is $353.79)
David BaskinOwned
department stores
COMMENT
Best retailer to invest in. He would hold off in investing in any of them right now. Large cap retailers are capturing market share and growing revenues. However, it's not going to last forever and the valuation has climbed up very quickly. Longer-term they are great retail franchises but expensive right now.
department stores
TOP PICK
A great all-weather company. Revenue has always remained stable going back 20 years. The stock cannot lose. The value proposition for customers is hard to argue. The gross margin is very low compared to peer groups. Retention rates are at 90%. Their e-commerce segment is also growing at 75%. (Analysts’ price target is $336.46)
Shane ObataOwned
department stores
WEAK BUY
Sobeys had an 18% increase in earnings even after the extra cost of front line workers. A lot of people are flocking to local supermarkets. As people become more comfortable wearing masks, visits to Costco will become much more meaningful. Longer term this company is effectively a tax on consumption. He prefers other options and would prefer to see this one a little bit cheaper.
department stores
TOP PICK
There is more growth coming as people are scared to go to restaurants. They care about their shareholders and there are years and years of growth ahead for their stores. (Analysts’ price target is $319.28)
Barry SchwartzOwned
department stores
TOP PICK
A defensive, low-beta name. COST hasn't participated in the current rally, but are a dominant name. Their membership renewal rates rate 90%. Their strategy is to sell high-quality goods at reasonable prices attracts customers. Also, they carry 3,700 items vs. 147,000 items at Walmart, so Costco can leverage their buying power. In a post-pandemic world, retail heavyweights like this will capture more market share. (Analysts’ price target is $319.28)
Stan WongOwned
department stores
TOP PICK
Great story. Throwing off almost 3.1B of free cash flow, and this continues to grow. Very good recent numbers. Very well run. Thinks about costs very aggressively. House brand has done incredibly well and continues to grow. Will take away market share from the Metros of the world. Yield is 0.93%. (Analysts’ price target is $321.76)
Paul Harris, CFAOwned
department stores
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Premium contentTOP PICK
Another safe, long-term buy is Costco. Panicked Americans are loading up on toilet paper and paper during this scare--there's other way to describe the sudden reaction to the coronavirus in the U.S. Costco is already a darling of many analysts like Hap Sneddon who sees steady support at $300, though the price target is $308-315. (It's trading on March 6 around $308.) Costco's membership format builds customers loyalty and profits. However, another technical analyst,Javed Mirza, finds support at $280 and $260. The consensus says to buy on a pullback and during current volatility, investors will find that opportunity.
department stores
Premium contentTOP PICK
Analyst Norman Levine isn’t a fan of retail stocks, but cheers this wholesale giant. Costco relies on membership fees (making up 90% of revenue), and members keep coming. In fact, the stock’s five-year chart shows a steady climb, with the price doubling over this period and enduring only occasional pullbacks. In the past 12 months, Costco has shot up 45%, reflecting the strength of the American consumer. Unfortunately, its PE has also climbed, to 35x. Javed Mirza expects a 5-10% correction this month, with support at $260 and $280. It now trades right below $290.
department stores
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It reported great numbers yesterday. New customers will stick with them after Covid. Analysts keep underestimating the staying power of these Covid stocks. The stock went down after strong earnings, because analysts are skeptical about the duration of the pandemic. Memberships rise 5% annually. They have excellent managers who pay their staff well. With colder weather, their patio heaters will sell well, he predicts, because Costco sells it cheaper than Amazon. Let's face it: America has royally screwed up controlling the virus, so expects these Covid stocks to endure.