HOME ZACKS RESEARCH FUNDS PORTFOLIO BROKER RESEARCH MARKETS SCREENING VIDEO EDUCATION SERVICES
Zacks Rank    Equity Research    Premium Home    My Account    Help    
Quote:
Login Free Membership
Search:

Analyst Blog  

Costco Earnings Rise

Share
By: Zacks Equity Research
March 03, 2010 | Comment(s): 0
Recommended this article (6)
COST | BJ | WMT
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Analyst Report), one of the leading U.S. warehouse club operators, recently posted second-quarter 2010 results. The quarterly earnings of 70 cents a share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny but rose 27.3% from 55 cents delivered in the prior-year quarter.

On a reported basis, including a charge of 3 cents a share, quarterly earnings came in at 67 cents, up 21.8% year-over-year.

Costco’s quarterly earnings underperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%. In the first quarter 2010 and fourth quarter 2009, earnings had topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7% and 7.8%, respectively.

The double-digit increase in the bottom-line was buoyed by a double-digit rise in top-line due to improved sales of discretionary items, as consumers started flocking to warehouse clubs. The company’s international operations have been the major driver.

Total revenue, which includes net sales and membership fee, climbed 11.3% year-over-year to $18,742 million. Net sales jumped 11.3% to $18,356 million, whereas membership fee rose 8.7% to $386 million.

Costco’s comparable-store sales for the quarter rose 9%, reflecting a comparable sales growth of 5% at its U.S. locations and 26% at its international divisions. The results were favorably impacted by rising gasoline prices and a weaker U.S. dollar.

Excluding the effects of gasoline prices and a softer dollar, Costco’s comparable-store sales rose 3% with U.S. comparable sales up 2%, while international comparable sales were up 10%.

The warehouse retailer, which faces stiff competition from BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (BJ) and Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT - Analyst Report) also said that comparable-store sales for February rose 9%, reflecting a comparable sales growth of 5% at its U.S. locations and 26% at its international divisions.

Excluding the effects of gasoline prices and a softer dollar, Costco’s comparable-store sales for February rose 4% with U.S. comparable sales up 2%, while international comparable sales were up 10%.

The Issaquah, Washington-based company’s operating income surged 18.1% to $470 million, whereas operating margin showed a marginal expansion of 10 basis points to 2.5%.

Costco ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4,134 million, long-term debt of $2,134 million, and shareholders’ equity of $10,743 million.

Costco currently operates 566 warehouses, including 413 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 77 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 21 in the United Kingdom, 9 in Japan, 7 in Korea, 6 in Taiwan and 1 in Australia.

Read the full analyst report on COST

Read the full analyst report on BJ

Read the full analyst report on WMT

 

Please login to Zacks.com or register to post a comment.



Email

Print

Share

Rate Pos

Rate Neg
Attn. Zacks.com Visitors
Sell These Stocks Today
Make sure no Zacks #5 Rank "Strong Sell" stocks are lurking in your portfolio. They tend to perform only 1/6th as well as the market!
Get your free Welcome Gifts today*:
 1.  Zacks "Strong Sell" list.
 2.  Our e-newsletter with 4 "Strong Buy" stocks, Bull & Bear of the Day, and market commentary in every issue.
Get them free right now
  
No cost. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy
*Only for non-members. May end at any time.

More Zacks Resources

Market Summary May 26, 2012 03:42 am ET
DJIA 12454.83  -74.92 -0.60%
NASD 2837.53  -1.85 -0.07%
S&P 500 1317.82  -2.86 -0.22%
Partner Center