Pokémon Card Market Experiences Renaissance
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Price Surge: According to an index by Collectors, Pokémon card prices have skyrocketed by 1,350% since 2020, significantly outpacing traditional asset classes, attracting high-net-worth individuals and cryptocurrency investors, indicating robust market demand and investment potential.
- Market Hype: In 2023, The Pokémon Company continues to release new card sets, particularly special 30th-anniversary products, driving excitement and attracting a wave of young collectors and investors, creating a new collecting frenzy.
- Increased Speculation: Due to the scarcity of cards, many scalpers quickly buy up new releases and resell them at inflated prices, leading to market volatility and panic among consumers who feel compelled to purchase quickly to avoid missing out, further driving up prices.
- Collectors vs. Speculators: Despite the influx of speculators, many genuine collectors are still pursuing complete card sets, providing stability to the market and demonstrating the enduring appeal of collecting culture.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy COST?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on COST
Wall Street analysts forecast COST stock price to rise
24 Analyst Rating
19 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1050.450
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
Current: 1050.450
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
About COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco) operates membership warehouses and e-commerce sites that offer a selection of nationally branded and private-label products in a wide range of categories. The Company buys the majority of its merchandise directly from suppliers and route it to cross-docking consolidation points (depots) or directly to its warehouses. It operates 891 warehouses, including 614 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 108 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 35 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 19 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden. It also operates e-commerce sites in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. The Company provides wide selection of merchandise, plus the convenience of specialty departments and exclusive member services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Market Trends and Key Earnings Reports This Week
- IPO Developments: OpenAI is reportedly preparing to file for an IPO next week in collaboration with bankers, which could mark one of the largest public debuts in history, reflecting strong market interest and investment enthusiasm in the AI sector.
- Earnings Reports: Salesforce is set to release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with analysts anticipating that macroeconomic uncertainties and delays in new contract signings may extend sales cycles, potentially impacting the company's growth outlook.
- Consumer Spending Data: The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report will be released on Thursday, with economists forecasting a 0.5% increase in April, indicating that consumer spending remains robust, albeit slower than March's figures.
- Retail Performance Focus: On Thursday, earnings from Costco, Best Buy, and Dollar General will provide insights into the health of the retail sector, with investors closely monitoring these results to assess consumer confidence and spending trends.
See More
Consumer Staples Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential
- Costco Stock Performance: Costco Wholesale trades at nearly 57 times earnings, and while its dividend yield is only 0.5%, its quarterly payouts have more than doubled over the past five years, with discussions of a potential stock split since 2000, indicating resilience and future growth potential amidst market volatility.
- International Business Expansion: Costco's international operations are rapidly growing and are expected to significantly contribute to future revenue and profit growth, with a management team that balances innovation and discipline to maintain a competitive edge in a challenging market.
- Coca-Cola's Growth Potential: Coca-Cola Consolidated, with a market cap of $11.5 billion, has outperformed its parent company over the past five years, showcasing strong competitiveness in the North American market; despite a 0.6% dividend yield, improved cash flow and debt reduction lay the groundwork for future dividend growth.
- Financial Health: Coca-Cola Consolidated's operational cash flow surged in Q1 while eliminating $150 million in debt, and if it can effectively manage selling and administrative expenses, it is poised for double-digit sales and gross profit growth, potentially rewarding investors significantly over the next five years.
See More
Investment Strategy Amid Market Highs
- Market Correction Anticipation: The S&P 500 has surged nearly 80% over the past five years and is hovering near record highs with a P/E ratio of 32, leading investors to expect a market correction due to geopolitical tensions and inflation, prompting a reassessment of stock holdings.
- Costco's Resilient Performance: As the world's largest warehouse club retailer, Costco leverages membership fees to sell at low margins, achieving revenue and EPS CAGRs of 10.5% and 15.1% from fiscal 2020 to 2025, demonstrating its resilience during economic downturns.
- Amazon's Growth Potential: Amazon's Prime ecosystem boasts over 240 million global subscribers, and its AWS platform controls nearly one-third of the cloud market, with analysts projecting revenue and EPS CAGRs of 14% and 21% from 2025 to 2028, indicating sustained growth in a competitive landscape.
- Investment Strategy Adjustment: Despite Costco and Amazon's P/E ratios of 50 and 31, respectively, investors are advised to consider increasing their positions in these stocks during a market downturn to capitalize on their strong market positions and future growth potential, especially amid rising economic uncertainties.
See More
Costco and Amazon's Growth Potential Amid Market Uncertainty
- Costco's Resilience: Costco's business model, primarily driven by membership fees, allows it to sell products at low margins, achieving revenue and EPS CAGRs of 10.5% and 15.1% respectively from fiscal 2020 to 2025, demonstrating its resilience during economic downturns.
- Membership Growth and Renewal Rates: As of the first half of fiscal 2026, Costco's membership increased from 105.5 million to 147.2 million, although its global renewal rate dipped to 89.7%, the company is actively stabilizing this through targeted digital communications and enhanced services, reflecting its commitment to member retention.
- Amazon's Market Edge: Amazon's Prime ecosystem has locked in over 240 million subscribers, and its AWS platform controls nearly a third of the cloud market, with revenue and EPS CAGRs of 11% and 22% respectively from 2021 to 2025, showcasing its strong profitability.
- Future Growth Expectations: Analysts project Amazon's revenue and EPS CAGRs to reach 14% and 21% from 2025 to 2028, and despite a current P/E ratio of 31, its expansion in e-commerce and advertising will support future growth prospects.
See More
Wall Street Trading Week Outlook and Focus
- Salesforce Earnings Outlook: Salesforce is set to report earnings on Wednesday, with market concerns about its AI business still prevalent; analysts expect revenue of $11.05 billion and EPS of $3.12, and strong revenue growth could alleviate worries about slowing growth in its legacy business.
- Costco Membership Renewal Challenges: Costco will report earnings on Thursday, with expected revenue of $69.73 billion and EPS of $4.93; while high oil prices may pressure profit margins, its membership model and bulk selling strategy are likely to attract consumers, especially during periods of rising gas prices.
- Economic Data Focus: The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index will be released on Thursday, with a year-over-year increase expected at 3.8% and a core increase of 3.3%, which will influence the Federal Reserve's rate hike decisions, leaving the market uncertain about future rate changes.
- Investor Conference Season: This week marks the start of investor conference season, with Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, and others attending the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, where analyst questions may reveal insights into market perceptions of company futures, making it a key event to watch.
See More
Walmart and Costco's Recession-Proof Advantages
- Operational Efficiency Analysis: Walmart and Costco have operating margins of 4.2% and 3.8%, respectively, and despite these low margins, both companies maintain stable growth by leveraging massive sales volumes and efficient supply chains to deliver customer value amid economic pressures.
- Private Label Competitiveness: Walmart's Great Value and Costco's Kirkland Signature private labels undercut name brands on price, catering to consumers' demand for value during economic downturns, thereby further solidifying their market share.
- E-commerce and Service Expansion: Walmart is rapidly expanding its e-commerce through Walmart+ while offering services like fuel, auto care, and pharmacy, enhancing customer loyalty and driving revenue growth despite challenges in the overall retail market.
- Valuation and Investment Recommendation: With Walmart's and Costco's P/E ratios at 44.4 and 54.6, indicating high valuations, Walmart's advantages in AI application and dividend growth make it a more attractive investment choice, especially in the current market environment.
See More
Market Trends and Key Earnings Reports This Week
- IPO Developments: OpenAI is reportedly preparing to file for an IPO next week in collaboration with bankers, which could mark one of the largest public debuts in history, reflecting strong market interest and investment enthusiasm in the AI sector.
- Earnings Reports: Salesforce is set to release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with analysts anticipating that macroeconomic uncertainties and delays in new contract signings may extend sales cycles, potentially impacting the company's growth outlook.
- Consumer Spending Data: The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report will be released on Thursday, with economists forecasting a 0.5% increase in April, indicating that consumer spending remains robust, albeit slower than March's figures.
- Retail Performance Focus: On Thursday, earnings from Costco, Best Buy, and Dollar General will provide insights into the health of the retail sector, with investors closely monitoring these results to assess consumer confidence and spending trends.
See More
Consumer Staples Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential
- Costco Stock Performance: Costco Wholesale trades at nearly 57 times earnings, and while its dividend yield is only 0.5%, its quarterly payouts have more than doubled over the past five years, with discussions of a potential stock split since 2000, indicating resilience and future growth potential amidst market volatility.
- International Business Expansion: Costco's international operations are rapidly growing and are expected to significantly contribute to future revenue and profit growth, with a management team that balances innovation and discipline to maintain a competitive edge in a challenging market.
- Coca-Cola's Growth Potential: Coca-Cola Consolidated, with a market cap of $11.5 billion, has outperformed its parent company over the past five years, showcasing strong competitiveness in the North American market; despite a 0.6% dividend yield, improved cash flow and debt reduction lay the groundwork for future dividend growth.
- Financial Health: Coca-Cola Consolidated's operational cash flow surged in Q1 while eliminating $150 million in debt, and if it can effectively manage selling and administrative expenses, it is poised for double-digit sales and gross profit growth, potentially rewarding investors significantly over the next five years.
See More
Investment Strategy Amid Market Highs
- Market Correction Anticipation: The S&P 500 has surged nearly 80% over the past five years and is hovering near record highs with a P/E ratio of 32, leading investors to expect a market correction due to geopolitical tensions and inflation, prompting a reassessment of stock holdings.
- Costco's Resilient Performance: As the world's largest warehouse club retailer, Costco leverages membership fees to sell at low margins, achieving revenue and EPS CAGRs of 10.5% and 15.1% from fiscal 2020 to 2025, demonstrating its resilience during economic downturns.
- Amazon's Growth Potential: Amazon's Prime ecosystem boasts over 240 million global subscribers, and its AWS platform controls nearly one-third of the cloud market, with analysts projecting revenue and EPS CAGRs of 14% and 21% from 2025 to 2028, indicating sustained growth in a competitive landscape.
- Investment Strategy Adjustment: Despite Costco and Amazon's P/E ratios of 50 and 31, respectively, investors are advised to consider increasing their positions in these stocks during a market downturn to capitalize on their strong market positions and future growth potential, especially amid rising economic uncertainties.
See More
Costco and Amazon's Growth Potential Amid Market Uncertainty
- Costco's Resilience: Costco's business model, primarily driven by membership fees, allows it to sell products at low margins, achieving revenue and EPS CAGRs of 10.5% and 15.1% respectively from fiscal 2020 to 2025, demonstrating its resilience during economic downturns.
- Membership Growth and Renewal Rates: As of the first half of fiscal 2026, Costco's membership increased from 105.5 million to 147.2 million, although its global renewal rate dipped to 89.7%, the company is actively stabilizing this through targeted digital communications and enhanced services, reflecting its commitment to member retention.
- Amazon's Market Edge: Amazon's Prime ecosystem has locked in over 240 million subscribers, and its AWS platform controls nearly a third of the cloud market, with revenue and EPS CAGRs of 11% and 22% respectively from 2021 to 2025, showcasing its strong profitability.
- Future Growth Expectations: Analysts project Amazon's revenue and EPS CAGRs to reach 14% and 21% from 2025 to 2028, and despite a current P/E ratio of 31, its expansion in e-commerce and advertising will support future growth prospects.
See More
Wall Street Trading Week Outlook and Focus
- Salesforce Earnings Outlook: Salesforce is set to report earnings on Wednesday, with market concerns about its AI business still prevalent; analysts expect revenue of $11.05 billion and EPS of $3.12, and strong revenue growth could alleviate worries about slowing growth in its legacy business.
- Costco Membership Renewal Challenges: Costco will report earnings on Thursday, with expected revenue of $69.73 billion and EPS of $4.93; while high oil prices may pressure profit margins, its membership model and bulk selling strategy are likely to attract consumers, especially during periods of rising gas prices.
- Economic Data Focus: The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index will be released on Thursday, with a year-over-year increase expected at 3.8% and a core increase of 3.3%, which will influence the Federal Reserve's rate hike decisions, leaving the market uncertain about future rate changes.
- Investor Conference Season: This week marks the start of investor conference season, with Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, and others attending the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, where analyst questions may reveal insights into market perceptions of company futures, making it a key event to watch.
See More
Walmart and Costco's Recession-Proof Advantages
- Operational Efficiency Analysis: Walmart and Costco have operating margins of 4.2% and 3.8%, respectively, and despite these low margins, both companies maintain stable growth by leveraging massive sales volumes and efficient supply chains to deliver customer value amid economic pressures.
- Private Label Competitiveness: Walmart's Great Value and Costco's Kirkland Signature private labels undercut name brands on price, catering to consumers' demand for value during economic downturns, thereby further solidifying their market share.
- E-commerce and Service Expansion: Walmart is rapidly expanding its e-commerce through Walmart+ while offering services like fuel, auto care, and pharmacy, enhancing customer loyalty and driving revenue growth despite challenges in the overall retail market.
- Valuation and Investment Recommendation: With Walmart's and Costco's P/E ratios at 44.4 and 54.6, indicating high valuations, Walmart's advantages in AI application and dividend growth make it a more attractive investment choice, especially in the current market environment.
See More
