Sam's Club Follows Costco with Membership Fee Increase
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy COST?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Membership Fee Increase: Sam's Club is raising its annual membership fee from $50 to $60, following Costco's increase from $60 to $65 two years ago, indicating intensified competition in their membership models.
- Positive Market Reaction: Costco's stock price rose after Sam's Club announced its fee hike, reflecting market confidence in Costco's long-term performance, particularly after reporting a 7.4% sales increase in its latest earnings report.
- Increased Membership Appeal: With the narrowing membership fee gap, some Sam's Club members may be enticed to switch to Costco, especially given Costco's reputation for superior products and services.
- Significant E-commerce Growth: Both companies reported a 23% increase in e-commerce sales, suggesting that the expansion of online channels will be a critical factor in future competition amid rising membership fees.
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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: 987.210
Low
769.00
Averages
1061
High
1205
Current: 987.210
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.
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- Commitment to Ongoing Investment: Costco's CEO stated that the company will continue to invest in business expansion while keeping prices low, expecting to achieve good returns through increased member traffic and sales, thereby enhancing its market competitiveness.
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