Costco Sees Sales Increase, Yet Same-Store Growth Falls Short of Expectations

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

FDS-0.81%

COST+0.78%

Source: WSJ

Updated: Sep 25 2025

0mins

Source: WSJ

Sales and Profit Growth: Costco Wholesale reported a profit of $2.61 billion, or $5.87 per share, in the fiscal fourth quarter, an increase from $2.35 billion, or $5.29 per share, a year earlier.
Same-Store Sales Performance: Despite the increase in overall sales and profit, Costco's same-store sales growth fell short of Wall Street estimates.

FDS

$286.45+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on FDS

Wall Street analysts forecast FDS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for FDS is 295.91 USD with a low forecast of 253.00 USD and a high forecast of 326.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

12 Analyst Rating

1 Buy

7 Hold

4 Sell

Hold

Current: 288.790

Low

253.00

Averages

295.91

High

326.00

Current: 288.790

Low

253.00

Averages

295.91

High

326.00

Evercore ISI

In Line

maintain

$320 -> $321

2026-01-08

Reason

Evercore ISI

Price Target

$320 -> $321

AI Analysis

2026-01-08

maintain

In Line

Reason

Evercore ISI raised the firm's price target on FactSet to $321 from $320 and keeps an In Line rating on the shares. The Business Services sector is navigating a mixed landscape with opportunities in ratings and insurance brokerage, while facing headwinds in insurance premiums and genAI-related disruptions, the analyst tells investors in a year-ahead note on the group.

BMO Capital

Jeffrey Silber

Market Perform

downgrade

$311 -> $305

2025-12-22

Reason

BMO Capital

Jeffrey Silber

Price Target

$311 -> $305

2025-12-22

downgrade

Market Perform

Reason

BMO Capital analyst Jeffrey Silber lowered the firm's price target on FactSet to $305 from $311 and keeps a Market Perform rating on the shares after its "decent" Q1 earnings beat. The company's management sounded positive on the macro and ASV growth modestly accelerated, though it is still early in FY26, and thus the management only reaffirmed annual guidance, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The post-earnings share weakness was driven by continued investor skepticism on the macro and Gen-AI risk for FactSet despite a decent quarter, BMO added.

Unlock Full Analyst Thesis， Get the complete breakdown of rating reason for FDS

Unlock Now

Goldman Sachs

Sell

downgrade

$282 -> $253

2025-12-19

Reason

Goldman Sachs

Price Target

$282 -> $253

2025-12-19

downgrade

Sell

Reason

Goldman Sachs lowered the firm's price target on FactSet to $253 from $282 and keeps a Sell rating on the shares. FactSet posted mixed Q1 results, beating revenue and EPS expectations but reaffirming a muted FY26 outlook with slowing organic growth and roughly 150 bps of operating margin contraction due to ongoing technology and sales investments, the analyst tells investors in a research note. With limited pricing power, competitive and AI-related risks, and no medium-term financial targets provided, visibility into a return to simultaneous growth and margin expansion remains constrained, Goldman says.

Stifel

Hold

downgrade

$372 -> $295

2025-12-19

Reason

Stifel

Price Target

$372 -> $295

2025-12-19

downgrade

Hold

Reason

Stifel lowered the firm's price target on FactSet to $295 from $372 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares. From a demand perspective, it seems that the end-markets are improving, though the potential AI threat is "a front burner issue for Info Services stocks" and the firm expects this to be a regular discussion area for investors, the analyst says. The current environment is one of "prove to me you won't be disrupted" rather than asking how a product/company might be disrupted, the analyst added.

About FDS

FactSet Research Systems Inc. is a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider. The Company's solutions deliver financial data, analytics, and open technology to global clients, including individual users. Its segments include the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. It provides financial data and market intelligence on securities, companies, industries and people to enable its clients to research investment ideas and analyze, monitor and manage their portfolios. It supports various workflows, including investment research, quantitative research, portfolio management and trading, portfolio analytics, wealth management, ESG investing solutions, industry analysis and data solutions. It provides open and flexible technology offerings, including a configurable desktop and mobile platform, and comprehensive data feeds. Its technology also includes LogoIntern, a workflow tool to streamline the task of adding, organizing, and formatting logos into pitch decks.

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.