Costco Reports Better-Than-Expected Q3 Earnings Amid Rising Fuel Prices
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 10 hours ago
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Strong Performance: Costco reported revenue of $70.52 billion for the fiscal third quarter ending May 10, reflecting an 11.5% year-over-year increase that surpassed analysts' expectations of $69.81 billion, demonstrating the company's resilience amid economic uncertainty.
- Record Fuel Sales: Rising fuel prices led to record-breaking gas volumes at Costco's stations, with CEO Ron Vachris noting that many members used the gas stations for the first time, which is expected to enhance customer loyalty and drive future spending growth.
- Membership Revenue Growth: Membership fees increased by 10.7% to $1.37 billion, with paid memberships growing by 4.1% in the quarter, providing a stable income source and encouraging repeat purchases from customers who are incentivized to utilize their memberships.
- Digital Transformation Success: Costco's digital operations thrived, with website and app traffic up 37% year-over-year, and personalized e-commerce recommendation tools achieving conversion rates three times higher than site averages, resulting in nearly $5 billion in e-commerce sales, showcasing the effectiveness of the company's digital strategy.
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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: 995.200
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
Current: 995.200
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.
Costco Reports Record Fuel Sales Amid High Oil Prices
- Record Fuel Sales: Costco achieved record fuel sales volumes in Q3, with all three four-week fiscal periods setting new all-time company sales records, indicating strong consumer demand for lower gas prices amid high oil costs.
- Increased Member Loyalty: The high price sensitivity led many members to use Costco's gas stations for the first time in Q3, which not only boosted sales but is expected to enhance member loyalty in the future.
- Sales Growth Exceeds Expectations: Costco reported a Q3 comparable sales growth of 9.8%, significantly above the consensus estimate of 7.8%, with gas price inflation contributing approximately 2.2% to this growth.
- Competitive Pricing Advantage: By widening price gaps, Costco ensures attractive pricing for members, reflecting the increased share of gas spending in total member expenditures due to rising prices, thereby reinforcing its market position.
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- Increased AI Revenue Forecast: The company now expects AI revenue to reach $60 billion for 2023, a 20% increase from the previous forecast of $50 billion made in February, reflecting robust market demand and Dell's competitive positioning in the AI sector.
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- Record Fuel Sales: Costco achieved record fuel sales volumes in Q3, with all three four-week fiscal periods setting new all-time company sales records, indicating strong consumer demand for lower gas prices amid high oil costs.
- Increased Member Loyalty: The high price sensitivity led many members to use Costco's gas stations for the first time in Q3, which not only boosted sales but is expected to enhance member loyalty in the future.
- Sales Growth Exceeds Expectations: Costco reported a Q3 comparable sales growth of 9.8%, significantly above the consensus estimate of 7.8%, with gas price inflation contributing approximately 2.2% to this growth.
- Competitive Pricing Advantage: By widening price gaps, Costco ensures attractive pricing for members, reflecting the increased share of gas spending in total member expenditures due to rising prices, thereby reinforcing its market position.
See More
Market Dynamics and Corporate Performance Analysis
- Dell's Quarter Performance: Dell reported a quarter that exceeded expectations, with shares rising over 30%, indicating strong performance across all business levels, particularly in data center servers, which is expected to boost overall market confidence.
- Costco Membership Renewal Rates Up: Costco's latest earnings report showed improved membership renewal rates in the U.S. and Canada; although market reaction was muted, record performance in its gas business is likely to enhance membership loyalty and solidify its market position.
- Anthropic Surpasses OpenAI: Anthropic raised $65 billion at a $965 billion valuation, becoming the most valuable AI startup, a significant increase from $380 billion in February, showcasing explosive revenue growth and wealth creation potential in the AI sector.
- Cybersecurity Market Volatility: Okta beat expectations in its earnings report, with shares rising over 8%, while Zscaler's stock fell due to disappointing guidance, highlighting a divergence in the cybersecurity industry that affected the performance of other companies, including CrowdStrike.
See More
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- UnitedHealth Group Update: UnitedHealthcare plans to eliminate nearly two-thirds of prior authorization requirements for patients under 18 by the end of 2026, enhancing access to diagnostic services and surgical procedures, which is expected to significantly improve patient experience and operational efficiency.
- Autodesk Acquisition Impact: Autodesk's announcement of acquiring MaintainX led to a 7% drop in premarket trading despite beating first-quarter estimates, indicating that while analysts remain positive, the acquisition may have raised concerns about future integration and market positioning.
- Costco Refund Strategy: Costco revealed plans to return tariff refunds to customers during its earnings call, with submissions expected over the next few months, which could impact short-term cash flow and customer satisfaction as the company navigates the refund process.
- Johnson & Johnson Drug Approval: Johnson & Johnson received FDA approval to expand the label for its Tremfya therapy for psoriatic arthritis, which generated $5.2 billion in sales last year, representing nearly 6% of total revenue, and is anticipated to further bolster the company's growth trajectory.
See More
Major Wall Street Rating Changes Overview
- Dell Upgrade: Susquehanna upgraded Dell from neutral to positive, citing increased confidence in a sustainable 8-10% operating margin and a 6% free cash flow margin, which supports a potential rerating of its EV/sales multiple to 3x, indicating strong market potential.
- Viper Energy Initiation: RBC initiated coverage of Viper Energy with an Outperform rating and a $58 price target, highlighting its advantages in scale and core Permian focus, positioning it as a best-in-class mineral and royalty company.
- SentinelOne Buy Rating: Bank of America upgraded SentinelOne from neutral to buy, viewing its solid quarterly performance as a strong entry point after an 18% decline in after-hours trading, reflecting confidence in its future growth prospects.
- XPeng Upgrade: Macquarie upgraded XPeng from neutral to outperform, noting its volume growth in the Chinese EV market, while future investments in humanoids and robotaxis provide additional upside potential for its stock.
See More
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- Strong Earnings from Dell: Dell Technologies reported its fastest revenue growth since returning to the public market in 2018, with an impressive 88% annual increase driven by surging AI demand, and now expects $60 billion in AI revenue for the year, up from a previous forecast of $50 billion, highlighting its robust position in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the earnings report, Dell's shares soared 39% in after-hours trading, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company's growth potential and underscoring the market's keen interest in AI-related technologies.
- Defense Contract Boost: This week, Dell secured a $9.7 billion deal with the Pentagon, which not only provides substantial revenue but also strengthens its market position in the government and defense sectors, indicating potential for sustained growth in the future.
- Economic Environment Impact: Despite facing inflationary pressures and a drop in consumer savings rates to the lowest level since 2022, Dell's strong performance suggests resilience in the tech sector, potentially attracting more investor interest in opportunities within this field.
See More
Dell Technologies Surges After AI-Driven Earnings Beat
- Strong Earnings Report: Dell Technologies reported an impressive 88% year-over-year revenue growth in its latest earnings, marking the fastest pace since its public return in 2018, with shares soaring as much as 39% in after-hours trading.
- Increased AI Revenue Forecast: The company now expects AI revenue to reach $60 billion for 2023, a 20% increase from the previous forecast of $50 billion made in February, reflecting robust market demand and Dell's competitive positioning in the AI sector.
- Defense Contract Boost: Dell secured a $9.7 billion deal with the Pentagon this week, further solidifying its presence in the government and defense markets while providing strong support for future revenue growth.
- Retail Market Dynamics: Despite Dell's success, American Eagle reported a 10% revenue decline, while Gap's comparable sales surged 10%, highlighting a divergence in retail performance that could impact overall consumer confidence.
See More
