Key Takeaways
- Costco’s net sales during the five-week December period improved 10% year-over-year.
- Holiday period sales beat analysts’ expectations amid improving consumer spending environment, JPMorgan said.
- Citi analysts said they expect the stock to see “modest strength” after shares pulled back from a record high last month.
Costco Wholesale (COST) posted holiday sales figures Wednesday that blew past analysts’ expectations.
The membership-based retailer reported net sales of $27.52 billion in the five-week period through Jan. 5, up 10% year-over-year. U.S. comparable sales improved more than 9% and e-commerce sales jumped 34%, with the latter “positively impacted by an estimated 15 percentage points, due to Thanksgiving / Black Friday / Cyber Monday occurring a week later this year.”
JPMorgan analysts reiterated an “overweight” rating for the company’s stock, but lowered their price target to $1,065 from $1,090. Shares of Costco closed Wednesday trading at $927.37, making JPMorgan’s target a roughly 15% premium. The analyst consensus from Visible Alpha is $1,047.06.
The results were “strongly above” Street expectations, JPMorgan said, indicating an improving “consumer spending backdrop, particularly the upper-middle class and higher-income consumer.”
Citi Expects Costco Stock to See ‘Modest Strength’ After December Sales Figures
Citi analysts expect Costco stock to see “modest strength” following the December results, particularly as shares have fallen 7% since hitting an all-time closing high of $994.69 on Dec. 11. The bank holds a “neutral” rating and $1,060 price target.
That record came a day before Costco reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ expectations, its first quarterly results since higher membership fees went into effect.