Costco Stays Neutral
We reaffirm our long-term Neutral recommendation on Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) with a target price of $115.00, as risk and reward balances itself. The stock also carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Why the reiteration?
Costco continues to be a dominant retail wholesaler based on the breadth and quality of merchandises it offers. The company’s strategy to sell products at heavily discounted prices has helped it maintain positive growth amid the beleaguered economic conditions as budget-conscious customers continue to see it as a viable option for low-cost necessities. Having delivered comparable-store sales growth consistently, Costco is well positioned in the warehouse club industry.
Costco delivered comparable-store sales growth of 5% in May, following an increase of 4% in April, and reflecting comparable sales growth of 5% at its U.S. locations and 6% at international outlets.
We believe that Costco’s differentiated product range enables it to provide an upscale shopping experience to its members, resulting in market share gains and higher sales per square foot. Moreover, it continues to maintain a healthy membership renewal rate.
Costco recently came out with its third-quarter fiscal 2013 results. The quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share surged 18.2% from 88 cents earned in the prior-year period. The bottom-line improvement was buoyed by top-line growth due to a rise in membership fees and improved sales of discretionary items, as consumers seeking discounts started flocking to warehouse clubs.
The warehouse retailer’s total revenue, which includes net sales and membership fee, climbed 7.9% to $24,083 million from the prior-year quarter.
However, both the top and bottom lines missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $25,096 million and $1.06 per share, respectively.
Moreover, Costco faces stiff competition from Target Corporation (TGT) and Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), which follows a similar business model that pushes through high volumes of merchandise at low prices in membership-only warehouse clubs. Thus, aggressive pricing to gain market share and drive traffic amid stiff competition may depress sales and margins.
Going by the pulse of the economy, we believe that budget-constrained consumers will remain watchful of their spending and look for discounts. Consequently, we could see more competitive pricing, compelling products and innovative ways to attract shoppers.
Other Stocks Worth Considering
The other stock worth considering in the non-food retail-wholesale sector is Bon-Ton Stores Inc. (BONT) that carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Read the Full Research Report on COST
Read the Full Research Report on WMT
Read the Full Research Report on TGT
Read the Full Research Report on BONT
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