Costco has built a reputation on low prices, bulk deals, and member-exclusive perks. But one of the warehouse club's most recognizable attractions is also one of its most controversial: the food court.
For many shoppers, a trip to Costco isn't complete without a $1.50 hot dog and soda, a slice of pizza, or another inexpensive bite after navigating the warehouse's crowded aisles.
The food court has become an important part of the Costco experience, reinforcing the retailer's value-focused image and giving members another reason to shop.
The hot dog deal, whose $1.50 price point has been locked in since 1985, is particularly iconic.

#built #bulk #deals #exclusive

Costco is famously rooted in Washington state, with its headquarters in Kirkland (which is also the name of its signature brand) and its first official store operating out of Seattle's industrial SoDo neighborhood. But did you know that the wholesale club behemoth can trace its true origins much further south, and to a famous connection? As it turns out, a line can be drawn from Costco to Howard Hughes, the famous movie producer, aviator, and eccentric business tycoon.
Among his many properties, Hughes once owned a rather large warehouse in San Diego, California, that was eventually turned into an early wholesale store called Price Club. It went on to merge with Costco in the 1990s, forever cementing the Costco-Hughes connection. Sure, it may not be the strongest celebrity-Costco connection ever, and Hughes himself never set foot inside one of the chain's stores, but it's one that Costco can be proud to have as part of its storied history nonetheless.
Read more: 9 Store-Bought Canned Chili Brands Ranked Worst To Best
Bettmann/Getty Images
While it's unclear exactly how long Howard Hughes' San Diego building served as a hangar, or if any remodeling was done prior to its wholesale club days, what is known is that it reopened as Price Club in the summer of 1976 after being purchased by local businessman Sol Price and his son, Robert. It looks pretty similar today compared to old photos of the building in its Price Club days and as an aviation hangar, with its vaulted ceilings and massive walls. The coolest part though? If you're a history buff in San Diego, you can actually go shop at the Costco that once housed Hughes' airplanes (assuming you're also a Costco member, of course). The store sits on Morena Boulevard, at the exact same address as its preceding incarnations.

#price #connection #famous

Clark Howard calls Medicare Advantage plans "disadvantage plans," warning the new SCAN Costco HMO prioritizes cost savings over patient care through prior authorization denials.
In a serious illness year, a $0-premium Advantage plan can cost $6,807 more than Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G, which caps costs at $283 annually.
Choosing Advantage at 65 may permanently lock you out of Medigap coverage if you get sick later, since most states allow insurers to deny or upcharge applicants.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
"Costco. Do you know what you're doing here? You know who you're messing around with?" Consumer advocate Clark Howard, usually one of the warehouse club's biggest fans, said that on his show on October 5.

#clark #plan #plans

Costco is expanding its same-day delivery network as it looks to grow e-commerce sales and compete with retailers like Walmart and Target.
The retailer this week launched collaborations with DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) and Uber (NYSE: UBER) to pick up online orders at U.S. stores and drive them to the customer's door. The arrangements give Costco more channels to reach customers through ultra-fast delivery, made possible by gig drivers who use the platforms to select ******* ignments.
DoorDash, best known for delivering restaurant food, announced that Costco (NASDAQ: COST) members can now order groceries, dry goods, household essentials and other products from its marketplace and then arrange fast delivery from their local store, all through the DoorDash app. The U.S. launch extends the existing relationship between the companies in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Iceland and Puerto Rico.
DoorDash now serves eight of the 10 largest food retailers in North America.
On Wednesday, Uber announced a major expansion of its partnership with Costco to deliver products in 47 states, up from 17 states. Nearly 600 Costco locations are now available on the Uber Eats app, where shoppers can arrange on-demand and scheduled delivery.

#Food #announced

If you thought a decline in oil prices would bring some relief at gas and diesel outlets, we're sorry. It didn't happen.
Oil prices did fall on Sept. 16, as much as 3.5% during the day. But the story was different for motorists.
Nationally, the price of gasoline climbed nearly 1% from a day earlier and is up more than 50% so far in 2026.
Related: Costco limits motor oil purchases as crude hits 4-month highs
AAA Fuels put the average price of gasoline at $4.367 a gallon on Sept. 16, up 0.9% from a day earlier and 7% in September alone. GasBuddy's late-afternoon average was $4.423 a gallon, up from $4.359 a day earlier.

#sept #Gallon

Over the last seven years, I've **** yzed hundreds of stocks and cryptocurrencies to see if they might be worth an investment. At the end of the day, I only end up buying a select few, like two of my longtime favorites, Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).
Here's an abridged version of my research process -- hopefully it'll contain something useful to adapt as your own.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
I typically start by getting the lay of the land regarding the company in question.
Step zero is comparing the stock's total returns to the S&P 500 over a range of different periods, starting from one month and extending to five years. Ideally, like both Apple and Costco, the company being evaluated will have outperformed the index over the last five years.

#NASDAQ #flashing #total

Interested in Walmart Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Target trades at roughly 15 times earnings with a 3% yield, presenting value relative to Walmart and Costco ahead of the holiday season.
Aggressive price cuts on over 10,000 items and October Deal Days discounts of up to 40% could drive market-beating Q3 and holiday results.
Dividend growth exceeding 50 years, buyback capacity, and heavy institutional ownership near 80% help limit downside risk into 2026.
Believe it or not, the holiday shopping season is here, so it's time to consider the best plays. As it stands, seasonal sales growth is expected to accelerate year over year to 4.55% to 4.8%, topping $1.7 trillion for the first time, underpinned as always by e-commerce. Digital sales are expected to top 8% seasonally and may outpace expectations as AI adoption accelerates. Hyperscalers, business services, and merchants are embedding AI throughout the digital retail stack, and it is resonating with consumers. An estimated 25% to 30% of shoppers say they will use AI this season for help with research, price comparisons, and budgeting.

#time

Sept 16, 2026, 12:53 pm EDT
Earnings from Costco
COST
+0.02%
Wholesale next week could fall short of Wall Street forecasts, but an upcoming announcement from the retailer could be an enticement t0 investors.
COST
+0.02%
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

#wholesale #wall #jones #company

Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) and Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) have expanded their US delivery partnership to 47 states, up from 17, making nearly 600 Costco locations available through the Uber Eats platform.
The companies said the expanded service allows Costco members to place orders for on-demand or scheduled delivery through the Uber Eats app.
Customers can purchase fresh produce, bulk groceries and household products, link their Costco membership during checkout and track their deliveries in real time.
The expansion increases the geographic reach of Costco's delivery service through Uber Eats, giving members access to products from participating warehouses.
Nearly 600 Costco locations are now available on the platform, according to the companies' joint statement.

#costco #expanded #available #platform

The U.S. fuel crisis stemming from the ongoing war in Iran has now reached the retail shelf, with Costco Wholesale (COST) nearly doubling the price of its Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil from roughly $30 to $58 per 5-quart two-pack, while simultaneously capping purchases at two units per membership every seven days.
It's an extraordinary move for a retailer whose entire brand identity rests on bulk buying at deep discounts, and it signals that severe supply chain disruptions are spreading well beyond the gasoline pump.
Goldman Sachs Expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Raise Rates This Week — But Not Because of Oil Prices.
Crude Prices Soar as Global Oil Supplies Continue to Tighten
Middle East Supply Constraints Lift Crude Oil Prices

#supply #wholesale

Auxier ******* et Management, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Following a strong rebound from the first-quarter decline, the S&P 500 gained 15.2% as accelerating capital spending toward artificial intelligence infrastructure drove significant gains across technology hardware companies. Semiconductor and data-center-related businesses benefited from supply constraints and strong demand, while enterprise software remained under pressure as investors reassessed AI disruption risks and compressed valuations. In the quarter, Auxier Focus Fund's Investor Class gained 8.82% and 10.70% for the six months ended June 30, 2026. Despite strong earnings growth across the broader market, Auxier highlighted concerns around rising margin debt, increased leverage, and elevated capital flows into high-growth technology areas that could amplify future volatility. The firm continues to focus on identifying enduring businesses with strong competitive advantages, resilient cash flows, and sustainable long-term growth potential. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Auxier ******* et Management highlighted The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR). The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is a leading supermarket chain that operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. On September 14, 2026, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) closed at $60.91 per share. Over the past month, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) returned 10.12%, but its shares are down 7.06% over the past year. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) has a market capitalization of $37.32 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $54.15 to $76.58.
Auxier ******* et Management stated the following regarding The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Consumer staples underperformed during the quarter. Elevated inflation, high interest rates and rising gas prices contributed to lower consumer spending, impacting companies like The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) and PepsiCo. Although Kroger's stock has been weak, its new CEO Greg Foran brings exceptional leadership that promises positive change. While he was President of Walmart US from 2014-2019, the company achieved 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth and scaled its online grocery pickup. Since joining Kroger he has aggressively reduced prices and boosted the growth in private label and organic offerings. The stock trades at a mere 12 times earnings which is a significant discount to both Costco and Walmart."

#Growth #asset

Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
The oil crisis is leaking into other parts of the car. Costco, the land of big and cheap, flipped the script and doubled the price of its full-synthetic motor oil and started rationing purchases. As crude pushes toward $100 a barrel, a 10-quart case that cost roughly $30 now runs $57.99, with purchases capped at two units per member per week.
U.S. diesel crossed $6 a gallon for the first time this week, and global oil inventories have drawn down more than 500 million barrels since the U.S.-Iran conflict began. This is affecting the entire crude industrial complex.
Base oil, which is the feedstock for motor oil, comes from the same barrel as gasoline and diesel so when refiners can earn more finishing crude into fuel than into lubricants, lubricant stock gets squeezed first.
The pressure for Costco, however, is more intense: Its signature Kirkland oil carries GM's Dexos1 Gen 3 certification, which requires manufacturers to pay GM separately per product and per unit sold. As a result, and much against its brand ethos, changing your own oil with Kirkland product now costs roughly what an independent shop would charge, thus eroding the DIY savings case entirely.

#crude #motor #case #week

Jim Cramer raised concerns about The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) during the September 10 episode of Mad Money, as he said:
We had our CNBC Investing Club meeting today… I review each of the Charitable Trust positions on the call. This time, it was pretty clinical until I got to TJX, the off-price retailer. Candidly, I lost it on TJX. I've owned the stock for the Trust for as long as I can remember, and I've never felt so worried about this franchise. They have a bunch of divisions, but the biggest one, Marmaxx, consisting of TJ Maxx and Marshalls, really blew it. Management told us that they had figured out what had gone wrong and they've already fixed it, but because of competitive reasons or whatever, they wouldn't tell us what went wrong and they wouldn't tell us how they fixed it. I found that infuriating…
I came close to saying, forget it, Jim, it's retail. Sometimes retail is seductive. I love my local TJ Maxx, and I think Home Goods is a fun place to shop. The company's almost always about the best in the industry, crushing Burlington and Ross Stores. But this time, shockingly, Ross Stores upside surprised. It crushed TJX, much better than expected... So why bother sticking your neck out for something in this group? Simple. Because some of the greatest stories of all time have come from retail. Costco's been an incredible long-term performer. Walmart's been terrific. And TJX, it's been a wonder, one of the best stocks ever.
Could they really suddenly have lost it? Did they go all LULU? I don't think so. What happens, though, is you have to be conscious that TJX is right now being buffeted by its group, which is trading down because of the decline in discretionary income from the tax that is higher gasoline. We can't tell how much of its underperformance comes from that alone or maybe the mistakes that management made and says they've corrected. In other words, these retail stocks are very hard to own, even as they seem so easy to grasp.
TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 sales of $15.18 billion, up 5% year over year, while consolidated comparable sales increased 4%. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 11% to $1.22, and the company raised its full-year diluted EPS outlook to $5.31-$5.36, or $5.15-$5.20 excluding an expected $0.16 net benefit from tariff refunds. The weakness was concentrated in Marmaxx, which includes TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Sierra. Comparable sales increased just 1%, down from 6% in the first quarter, while HomeGoods, TJX Canada and TJX International each posted comparable-sales growth of 6% or more.

#year

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) cut its full-year 2026 identical-sales forecast excluding fuel to 0.2%–0.8% from 1%–2%, reflecting a sharper-than-expected slowdown in consumer demand. Second-quarter identical sales rose just 0.2%, down from 3.4% a year earlier and below the 0.9% ****** yst estimate.
The weakness reflects pressure on middle- and lower-income consumers, while a Cyclospora outbreak reduced quarterly identical sales by roughly 35 basis points and Medicare prescription-drug pricing changes created an approximately 140-basis-point headwind for pharmacy revenue. Importantly, Kroger maintained its full-year adjusted FIFO operating-profit forecast of $5.0 billion–$5.2 billion and delivered adjusted EPS of $1.09, ahead of the $1.06 consensus.
The strongest bullish argument is that The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is currently protecting earnings despite the deterioration in sales momentum. Second-quarter adjusted EPS increased 5% year over year to $1.09, while adjusted FIFO operating profit was $1.076 billion. Kroger's gross margin rate actually increased by 13 basis points, although the overall gross-margin percentage was 22.4% versus 22.5% a year earlier, suggesting that pricing, sourcing, and cost-management initiatives are helping offset weaker volumes. The company's higher-margin businesses are also becoming increasingly important: adjusted e-commerce sales grew 20% in the quarter, and Kroger Precision Marketing profit increased 24%. That mix shift gives Kroger an earnings lever even when supermarket traffic and comparable sales are weak.
There is also evidence that management is actively responding to the competitive pressure rather than simply accepting slower growth. CEO Greg Foran has been pursuing tighter sourcing, simpler operations and lower prices, with Reuters reporting plans to cut prices across thousands of products to regain shoppers from Walmart, Costco and Aldi. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)'s balance sheet provides room to fund that strategy: its net debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio was 1.91x, below its stated target range of 2.30x–2.50x, while the company repurchased $1.0 billion of shares in the second quarter and $1.2 billion year to date. It also raised its dividend 11%, marking the 20th consecutive year of increases. If sales stabilize while e-commerce, retail media and cost efficiencies continue expanding, the unchanged $5.0 billion–$5.2 billion operating-profit forecast could prove more important to valuation than the reduced top-line outlook.

#year

Auxier ***** et Management, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Following a strong rebound from the first-quarter decline, the S&P 500 gained 15.2% as accelerating capital spending toward artificial intelligence infrastructure drove significant gains across technology hardware companies. Semiconductor and data-center-related businesses benefited from supply constraints and strong demand, while enterprise software remained under pressure as investors reassessed AI disruption risks and compressed valuations. In the quarter, Auxier Focus Fund's Investor Class gained 8.82% and 10.70% for the six months ended June 30, 2026. Despite strong earnings growth across the broader market, Auxier highlighted concerns around rising margin debt, increased leverage, and elevated capital flows into high-growth technology areas that could amplify future volatility. The firm continues to focus on identifying enduring businesses with strong competitive advantages, resilient cash flows, and sustainable long-term growth potential. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Auxier ***** et Management highlighted The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR). The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is a leading supermarket chain that operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. On September 14, 2026, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) closed at $60.91 per share. Over the past month, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) returned 10.12%, but its shares are down 7.06% over the past year. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) has a market capitalization of $37.32 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $54.15 to $76.58.
Auxier ***** et Management stated the following regarding The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Consumer staples underperformed during the quarter. Elevated inflation, high interest rates and rising gas prices contributed to lower consumer spending, impacting companies like The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) and PepsiCo. Although Kroger's stock has been weak, its new CEO Greg Foran brings exceptional leadership that promises positive change. While he was President of Walmart US from 2014-2019, the company achieved 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth and scaled its online grocery pickup. Since joining Kroger he has aggressively reduced prices and boosted the growth in private label and organic offerings. The stock trades at a mere 12 times earnings which is a significant discount to both Costco and Walmart."

#NYSE #quarter #Growth #strong

Our ****** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
The oil crisis is leaking into other parts of the car. Costco, the land of big and cheap, flipped the script and doubled the price of its full-synthetic motor oil and started rationing purchases. As crude pushes toward $100 a barrel, a 10-quart case that cost roughly $30 now runs $57.99, with purchases capped at two units per member per week.
U.S. diesel crossed $6 a gallon for the first time this week, and global oil inventories have drawn down more than 500 million barrels since the U.S.-Iran conflict began. This is affecting the entire crude industrial complex.
Base oil, which is the feedstock for motor oil, comes from the same barrel as gasoline and diesel so when refiners can earn more finishing crude into fuel than into lubricants, lubricant stock gets squeezed first.
The pressure for Costco, however, is more intense: Its signature Kirkland oil carries GM's Dexos1 Gen 3 certification, which requires manufacturers to pay GM separately per product and per unit sold. As a result, and much against its brand ethos, changing your own oil with Kirkland product now costs roughly what an independent shop would charge, thus eroding the DIY savings case entirely.

#costco #Stock #roughly

Jim Cramer raised concerns about The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) during the September 10 episode of Mad Money, as he said:
We had our CNBC Investing Club meeting today… I review each of the Charitable Trust positions on the call. This time, it was pretty clinical until I got to TJX, the off-price retailer. Candidly, I lost it on TJX. I've owned the stock for the Trust for as long as I can remember, and I've never felt so worried about this franchise. They have a bunch of divisions, but the biggest one, Marmaxx, consisting of TJ Maxx and Marshalls, really blew it. Management told us that they had figured out what had gone wrong and they've already fixed it, but because of competitive reasons or whatever, they wouldn't tell us what went wrong and they wouldn't tell us how they fixed it. I found that infuriating…
I came close to saying, forget it, Jim, it's retail. Sometimes retail is seductive. I love my local TJ Maxx, and I think Home Goods is a fun place to shop. The company's almost always about the best in the industry, crushing Burlington and Ross Stores. But this time, shockingly, Ross Stores upside surprised. It crushed TJX, much better than expected... So why bother sticking your neck out for something in this group? Simple. Because some of the greatest stories of all time have come from retail. Costco's been an incredible long-term performer. Walmart's been terrific. And TJX, it's been a wonder, one of the best stocks ever.
Could they really suddenly have lost it? Did they go all LULU? I don't think so. What happens, though, is you have to be conscious that TJX is right now being buffeted by its group, which is trading down because of the decline in discretionary income from the tax that is higher gasoline. We can't tell how much of its underperformance comes from that alone or maybe the mistakes that management made and says they've corrected. In other words, these retail stocks are very hard to own, even as they seem so easy to grasp.
TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 sales of $15.18 billion, up 5% year over year, while consolidated comparable sales increased 4%. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 11% to $1.22, and the company raised its full-year diluted EPS outlook to $5.31-$5.36, or $5.15-$5.20 excluding an expected $0.16 net benefit from tariff refunds. The weakness was concentrated in Marmaxx, which includes TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Sierra. Comparable sales increased just 1%, down from 6% in the first quarter, while HomeGoods, TJX Canada and TJX International each posted comparable-sales growth of 6% or more.

#sales #time #NYSE

Costco has raised the price of its Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil and begun limiting how much any one member can purchase, as a global lubricant shortage tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict pushes crude oil toward $100 a barrel.
That 10-quart case — two 5-quart bottles, enough for a typical V6 or V8 oil change — has jumped to $57.99, compared with the roughly $30 price members had grown accustomed to paying, according to The Drive. Stores are capping purchases at two units per customer per week. The retailer has also imposed a five-per-member limit on Mobil 1, with six quarts of that brand running $44.
The rationing reflects pressure from multiple directions. The connection to fuel prices runs through the refinery: base oil shares its crude-oil origins with gasoline and diesel, so when margins on finished fuel are strong, refiners have a financial reason to favor fuel production over lubricant stock, according to The Auto Wire. EIA data showed the gasoline crack spread sitting roughly a dollar per gallon higher than where it stood at the same point in 2025, a gap that has squeezed base oil availability and pushed its price upward.
Regulatory and licensing costs add a separate layer of expense. The Kirkland 5W-30 displays the dexos1 Gen 3 certification, GM's proprietary specification, and earning that mark is not free — manufacturers must put their formulation through GM's independent testing protocol and obtain a license from the automaker, paying separately for each product and each unit sold, according to The Auto Wire. Layered on top of that is an industry-wide burden: when the API SP category took effect around 2020, it introduced seven additional laboratory tests with no equivalent in the previous standard, among them a procedure targeting low-speed pre-ignition, the knock-like detonation problem **** ociated with modern turbocharged, direct-injection engines.
The supply squeeze is unfolding against a backdrop of a worsening global oil deficit. The International Energy Agency cut its 2026 global oil supply forecast to 102 million barrels per day in August, projecting a deficit of 1.8 million barrels per day in the third quarter — more than double its prior estimate. **** ulative global inventory draws since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict have reached more than 500 million barrels, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said last week that the cushions that had softened earlier price increases have been exhausted. U.S. diesel prices crossed $6 per gallon for the first time, sitting at $6.06 as of Monday, an 8-cent increase from Sunday and 21 cents above week-earlier levels, according to AAA.

#barrels #wire

Costco (COST) shoppers kept spending through the last weeks of summer, and the numbers back it up. The warehouse giant posted another month of strong sales growth, giving investors plenty of reasons to watch Costco stock heading into Q4 2026.
The retailer's August results, covering the four weeks from Aug. 3 through Aug. 30, showed broad strength across regions and categories. Gas prices played a big role in the headline number, but even without that boost, Costco's core business kept growing at a healthy clip.
How to Play SNPS Stock as Layoffs Hit Synopsys
Micron Stock More Than Tripled in 2026. Now Taiwan Strike Threat Could Shake the AI Boom.
Dear Adobe Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 10

#kept #cost

Costco did not even sell merchandise on its website until 1998, and in those days, the selection was very limited.
Sure, Costco Travel lived there, but the website was more about advertising ancillary services such as TurboTax access than about selling anything to members.
In recent years, however, Costco has offered a greatly expanded selection, and it allows members to use Instacart and Shipt to order select items directly from its warehouses.
It had also been building on that with its digital-only program, Costco Next, which lets members access items the warehouse club does not stock. It's not a new service; it has technically been around since 2017. But Costco does not promote the offering, and it's something I, and many other members, did not know about.
Now, that service has been shut down with no notice.

#website #selection #travel

Costco did not even sell merchandise on its website until 1998, and, in those days, the selection was very limited.
Sure, Costco Travel lived there, but the website was more about advertising ancillary services, like TurboTax access than selling anything to members
In recent years, however, Costco has a greatly expanded selection, and it allows members to use Instacart and Shipt to order select items directly from its warehouses.
It had also been building on that with its digital-only program, Costco Next, which lets members access items the warehouse club does not stock. It's not a new service; it has technically been around since 2017. But Costco does not promote the offering, and it's something I, and many other members, did not know about.
Now, that service has been shut down with no notice.

#service

Peter Lynch built an impressive track record as the fund manager for Fidelity's Magellan Fund. Under his stewardship, from 1977 to 1990, the fund beat the S&P 500 index in 11 out of the 13 years. And it produced an impressive 29% average annual return.
Fortunately, Lynch shares his wisdom in a book called One Up on Wall Street. He describes his philosophy, which is buy what you know, research the company's fundamentals, and plan to make a long-term commitment.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
With this in mind, here are two consumer goods companies that fit the bill.
Many people continue to shop at Costco Wholesale's (NASDAQ: COST) giant warehouses. If you've ever gone into one, you can usually see a crowd.

#NVIDIA #fund #flashing #years

Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)'s food and beverage sales grew 7% in the quarter ended August 1, 2026, its fastest growth in that business in three years. Reuters reported on August 20, 2026, that the retailer still holds only about 5% of the US grocery market compared with Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)'s 27%.
Grocery brings shoppers into stores more often than almost any other purchase, making it a critical traffic driver. However, the food carries lower margins than apparel and home goods.
Can Target turn grocery trips into bigger spending elsewhere in the store, or is it just building a snack business that never expands into real market share?
Food and beverage sales grew 7% this quarter, the fastest pace in three years, and that growth directly pulled shoppers into stores: traffic rose 3.6% while snack sales grew 15%. Grocery trips happen more often than clothing trips, so every extra visit gives Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) more chances to sell higher-margin items in the same basket. Target plans roughly 600 new private-label food products over two years, expected to add more than $2 billion in growth, on top of comparable sales up 3.8%. A nearly $1 billion tariff refund gave Target room to lean into lower prices without hurting margins, and the company raised its annual sales forecast to about 5% from 4%.
Grocery still makes up less than a quarter of Target's merchandise sales, and its food business remains roughly 12 times smaller than Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)'s. Hence, fast growth off that small base moves the needle only a little. Being priced about 5% higher than Walmart on identical items, with an even wider gap in snacks, works against Target once shoppers compare carts. Gross margin expanded to 33.7%. But that came while Kroger's new CEO, a former Walmart executive, pledged the chain's biggest price cuts in years and Costco cut egg and beef prices. It means Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is winning on curation while rivals compete harder on price. Home furnishings and apparel stayed roughly flat, showing grocery traffic isn't reliably spreading into the rest of the store.

#corporation #Growth #years

Target apologized Monday and removed a Halloween costume from sale after critics said it evoked Blackface imagery, sending Target stock down as much as 5% on Tuesday.
The product, sold under Target's Hyde and EEK Boutique brand as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," ignited social media criticism from shoppers who said its imagery recalled racist caricatures tied to the minstrel show tradition. "As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry," Target said in a statement. "The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our ******* ortment."
Target declined to comment on who designed the costume or to provide details about the product approval process, according to Reuters. In an internal email viewed by Reuters, Chief Merchandising Officer Cara Sylvester told employees the item "never should have been in our ******* ortment."
The apology did not satisfy some stakeholders. Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis entrepreneur who protested Target's DEI rollbacks last year, said Target "keeps showing us who they are." Brundidge, speaking to CNN, framed the costume as a consequence of those rollbacks: "You rolled back diversity," she said, "so who's in the room, now, to say 'hey, this is wrong?'" A post in the BlackPeopleofReddit community, which has 1.6 million members, urged a boycott of the retailer.
Tejal Patel, executive director of Target shareholder SOC Investment Group, called the costume "another example ... where Target has lost trust with its consumer base." Morningstar ******* yst Brett Husslein said the selloff exposed how precarious Target's market standing has become, pointing out that the chain must win customers through experience and goodwill rather than the low prices that drive shoppers to Walmart and Costco.

#target #brundidge #imagery #shoppers

This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter.
S&P 500 companies that maintained their diversity, equity and inclusion commitments performed as well as or better than their peers that rolled back DEI commitments in the face of political pressure, University of California, Berkeley public policy scholar Jacob Grumbach posited in a recently published report.
Grumbach determined the health of the companies by looking at both company revenue and abnormal stock returns to measure company performance relative to the broader market trends. Both metrics indicated that organizations that retained DEI programs performed as well as or better than their competitors.
These findings come contrary to the current corporate logic du jour, which maintains that DEI programming presents a legal risk under the current presidential administration.
"Markets Do Not Punish Firms for Maintaining DEI," published on Aug. 14, highlighted the performance of companies such as Apple, Cisco, Costco, Delta Airlines, Dollar Tree, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft and Pfizer, which maintained their DEI commitments — compared to companies such as Citigroup, Dollar General, IBM, Target and Walmart, which all scaled back.

#dollar

When most people hear the term "growth stock," they may think someone is about to talk about a company connected to artificial intelligence (AI), like Micron Technology, or about a quantum computing company, like IonQ. But sometimes you can find a growth stock outside of typically classified high-risk/high-reward opportunities.
One such company is Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), which some may view as more of a mature operator. That said, for investors who understand the retailer is nowhere near finished increasing its revenue-boosting capacity, this could be a misunderstood opportunity turned to their advantage.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Costco's biggest strength is its brand loyalty. Customers often describe shopping there as a treasure hunt, and its in-store brand, Kirland Signature, has a following all of its own. That brand is so powerful, in fact, that just releasing a competing product was enough to contribute to the shares of energy drink maker, Celsius Holdings, falling by as much as 17% lower.
That loyalty for Costco and its products is reflected in renewal rates, with the company boasting a global renewal rate of 89.7%. That renewal rate is even better in North America at 92.2%. Costco also still steadily grew its paid membership by 4.1% to 82.9 million in its fiscal third quarter of 2026.

#brand #renewal

Costco is known as the place to go when you want bulk paper towels, produce, and snacks at a reasonable price.
But anyone who pays for a Costco membership knows that the company offers a lot more than just giant packages of household goods and food staples.
The warehouse club has steadily built a much broader business around its members, offering everything from gasoline to travel to optical services.
Now, Costco is taking another major step into an area that could become increasingly important as its customer base ages — health insurance.
The retailer is partnering with nonprofit insurer SCAN Health Plan to offer Costco-branded Medicare Advantage plans in two states, along with a Medicare supplement plan in a third state, pending regulatory approval.

#medicare #scan #known #bulk

Prediction markets price a 76% chance WMT beats earnings on August 20th, fueled by 26% eCommerce growth and a $30B buyback authorization.
Target has posted three straight quarters of sales declines while Walmart grew U.S. comps 4.1%, and Costco lacks Walmart's 37% advertising revenue engine.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Walmart didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Walmart (NYSE:WMT) screens as a low-deliberation candidate for a retirement portfolio heading into the Aug. 20 pre-market earnings release, and the setup is not close. Prediction-market traders are pricing a 75.5% probability of an earnings beat, the operating engine is compounding, and the capital-return machine is at its most aggressive posture in years. This is the kind of business retirees are supposed to own, and the catalyst window is 24 hours away.
Management guided Q2 FY27 to adjusted EPS of 72 cents to 74 cents on 4% to 5% constant-currency sales growth. Q1 FY27 already ran hot, with revenue of $175.68 billion (+6.1% YoY), global eCommerce up 26%, advertising up 37%, and membership fee revenue up 17%. The macro backdrop cooperates: BEA data shows June 2026 food spending at $1.573 trillion versus $1.527 trillion a year earlier, exactly the volume tailwind Walmart converts into share gains.

#walmart #revenue #prediction #engine

By Sinéad Carew and Avinash P
Aug 20 (Reuters) - The three main U.S. equity indexes closed lower on Thursday as rising Treasury yields dented risk appetite while disappointing results from retail bellwether Walmart soured investors on the consumer sector and rallying oil prices fanned inflation worries.
Walmart shares tumbled ‌9.2% after the world's largest traditional retailer missed Wall Street expectations for quarterly comparable sales as rising gasoline prices had shoppers reining in spending. The ‌report dragged down the S&P 500 consumer staples and consumer discretionary sectors, which were among the weakest of the benchmark's 11 major industry indexes.
Rival retailers such as Costco, Dollar Tree and Albertsons followed Walmart lower with losses between 1% and 2.6%.
The increase in U.S. crude oil above $87 compounded concerns about the health of the U.S. consumer, according to Mona Mahajan, head of investment strategy at Edward Jones. She noted that investors were already anxious after recent weaker-than-expected retail sales and labor market data for July.

#Consumer #lower #retail #investors

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
With Costco's announcement that it will soon offer Medicare Advantage plans to club members, one question consumers are likely to ask is: Will I get "warehouse club pricing"?
These plans are difficult enough to shop for. Benefits vary and can be confusing, costs are multilayered, and shoppers must factor in doctor and hospital network availability.
Buying a plan from a trusted source like Costco (COST) may seem appealing. But what should shoppers really consider?
Read more: Medicare open enrollment: How to add or adjust your coverage

#advertiser #advantage #buying #costco