Costco Wholesale (COST) is scheduled to announce its earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, May 25th. According to analysts, Costco Wholesale is expected to report earnings of $3.35 per share for the quarter.
In its previous quarterly earnings report on Thursday, March 2nd, Costco Wholesale surpassed analysts’ consensus estimates. The company disclosed earnings of $3.30 per share, exceeding expectations by $0.10. During that quarter, the retailer generated $55.27 billion in revenue, slightly lower than analysts’ projections of $55.61 billion. Furthermore, its revenue for the quarter saw a 6.5% increase compared to the same period the previous year, with earnings per share amounting to $2.92. Analysts currently anticipate Costco Wholesale to report $14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year and $15 earnings per share for the next fiscal year.
Q1 Earnings Analysis:
Regarding the stock performance, COST opened at $495.00 on Thursday. The stock’s 50-day moving average stands at $493.77, while the 200-day moving average is recorded at $492.85. Over the past year, Costco Wholesale shares have ranged from a low of $406.51 to a high of $564.75. Presently, the company holds a market capitalization of $219.52 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 36.37, a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 4.19, and a beta of 0.79. Additionally, Costco Wholesale maintains a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.56, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.
Costco Wholesale has also announced an increase in its quarterly dividend payout. On Friday, May 19th, shareholders who were recorded as of Friday, May 5th, will receive a dividend of $1.02 per share. This marks a rise from the company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Based on the new dividend, Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio currently stands at 29.98%. The annualized dividend of $4.08 reflects a dividend yield of 0.82%.
COST Stock Analysis & Forecast
Based on the predictions of 29 analysts, the average target price for Costco Wholesale Corp over the next 12 months is estimated to be USD 549.11. The average analysts rating for Costco Wholesale Corp is Strong Buy. According to Stock Target Advisor’s analysis, which considers 13 positive signals and 5 negative signals, the outlook for Costco Wholesale Corp is Bullish. As of the last closing, the stock price of Costco Wholesale Corp stood at USD 498.10. In the past week, the stock price has experienced a change of -0.76%, while over the past month it has increased by +0.24%. Looking at the broader picture, the stock price has risen by +16.00% over the course of the last year.
Investors and market participants eagerly await Costco Wholesale’s upcoming earnings report, which will shed light on the company’s financial performance for the quarter. With the recent positive earnings surprise, analysts will closely monitor whether the retail giant can maintain its growth trajectory and meet or exceed market expectations.
