A sea change in the market might be starting to occur. The June Consumer Price Index showed that inflation in the U.S. declined to an annualized rate of 3%, its lowest level in three years.That increased the likelihood that the U.S. Federal Reserve will start lowering interest rates in coming months. It also seems to have prompted a rotation out of the mega-cap technology stocks that dominated the market rally in the year’s first half.While it’s difficult to predict exactly where the market is headed as we ...

Retailers' profits are seeing a pinch as inflation cools — and in some categories, even reverses.For Costco, raising membership fees can offset some of that deflationary bite.The wholesale club prides itself on ultra-low markups, and membership fees help it do that. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Email addre ...

Stick to long-term investing and you'll be thrilled with Costco stock.Costco (COST -0.44%) stock is an investor favorite. It's a reliable, market-beating stock, and it pays a dividend, has a self-generating revenue model and plenty of expansion opportunities.Wall Street analysts, though, don't see too much upside over the next 12 to 18 months, possibly because the stock keeps climbing and has become highly valued. But you might want to consider buying it anyway.The self-generating revenue modelI don't think ...

Key TakeawaysCostco increased its membership fees earlier this week for the first time in seven years.The warehouse store already had higher fees than competitors BJ's and Sam's Club. The warehouse memberships also include deals on gas and other benefits. Costco (COST) on Wednesday announced its first membership-price increase in seven years. Members are looking at a $5 increase, to $65 annually, for the Gold Star membership and a $10 increase, to $130, for the Executive membership. The increase will take ...

Key TakeawaysAfter Costco said it would raise membership fees for the first time in seven years, several analysts raised their price targets for Costco stock, anticipating it could lead to higher profits. Costco said its "Gold Star" and business membership fees will rise $5 to $65, while executive membership fees will rise $10 to $130.The price increases will take effect in the U.S. and Canada starting in September, impacting about 52 million memberships. After Costco (COST) said Wednesday it plans to raise ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation announced a membership fee increase, adding $5 for Gold Star and Business memberships and $10 for Executive memberships, effective September 1, impacting approximately 52 million members [1] Membership Fee Increase Impact - Analysts estimate the membership fee increase could add around $377 million in revenues over the next 24 months, translating to about $189 million annually [4] - The fee increase is expected to contribute approximately 31 cents to earnings per share in 2025 [4] - The membership fee increase is viewed positively as it supports Costco's value proposition, potentially increasing shopper frequency and store traffic [3][5] Sales Performance - Non-food comparable sales rose by low double digits in June, marking the eighth consecutive month of positive segment growth, indicating potential market share gains [2] - Traffic increased by 6.6% globally and 5.9% in the U.S. [3] - Strong growth was noted in non-food categories such as jewelry, gift cards, toys, and gold bars [5] Regional Performance - The best performing regions in the U.S. included the Northeast, Texas, and the Southeast, while international performance was led by Mexico, Australia, and Korea [6] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Stifel raised its price target from $900 to $950, maintaining a Buy rating [2] - Bank of America raised its price target from $874 to $962, also maintaining a Buy rating [2] - DA Davidson maintained a Neutral rating with a price target of $780 [2] - Goldman Sachs and Telsey analysts also provided positive outlooks, with price targets of $851 and $925 respectively [2]

The company hopes to give its members even more reason to be loyal customers. It's been the top question from the analyst community for some time already. But on July 10, warehouse-style retail chain Costco Wholesale (COST -3.66%) finally made a highly anticipated announcement: Membership fees are going up, starting on Sept. 1. In May, Costco's new CFO Gary Millerchip pointed out that it's historically raised prices for its memberships every five years. But the last time the retail giant raised its membersh ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) yesterday raised membership prices in North America for the first time since 2017. Starting in September, "Gold Star" memberships in the U.S. and Canada will cost $65 instead of $60, while the "Executive" memberships will go up to $120 to $130. Plus, the maximum annual 2% reward moved higher to $1,250 from $1,000. The stock attracted no fewer than eight price-target hikes in response, with the highest coming from Jefferies to $1,050 from $860.Shares were last seen ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) announced significant updates, including robust June sales figures and an upcoming membership fee increase. These developments highlight Costco's strong operational performance and its ability to drive revenue growth. This Issaquah, Washington-based company continues to excel due to its strategic growth initiatives, effective pricing strategies and steady membership trends.Sales Performance OverviewIn June, COST reported an impressive increase in comparable sales, achievi ...

It's already zooming higher in the second half after a highly anticipated fee raise.Costco Wholesale (COST -0.29%) stock gained 29% in the first half of the year. The stock has been demonstrating incredible resilience, and sales growth is accelerating. It also issued a juicy special dividend to shareholders. And shareholders have been anticipating a lot more.Costco is unstoppableCostco enjoyed elevated sales growth early in the pandemic, and that decelerated when high inflation hit. There was a short lap pe ...