Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
As described by Investor’s Business Daily, Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) announced mixed financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter on Thursday, with earnings surpassing analyst expectations while revenue narrowly missed the mark.
The retail giant reported earnings of $5.29 per share, exceeding the analysts' consensus estimate of $5.08 per share. Total revenue for the quarter reached $79.69 billion, slightly below the projected $79.93 billion, reflecting a marginal shortfall.
Following the announcement, Costco shares dipped less than 1% in after-hours trading, as explained by a report from The Motley Fool website.
Sales Performance Across Regions
Adjusted comparable sales grew by 6.9% in the fourth quarter, showcasing steady progress in all major markets. In the United States, sales increased by 6.3%, while Canada and other international markets experienced growth of 7.9% and 9.3%, respectively. The company’s diversified presence across global markets continued to support its overall growth despite facing a slightly softer-than-expected revenue figure.
E-Commerce Surges in Q4
Costco’s e-commerce business experienced significant growth during the quarter, with adjusted comparable sales rising by 19.5%, as explained in an article from Yahoo Finance. This sharp increase highlights the company’s success in adapting to changing consumer preferences, particularly as more shoppers gravitate toward online purchasing. The surge in e-commerce sales also indicates a strong digital presence that complements Costco's brick-and-mortar retail strategy.
Outlook and Market Response
The mixed results underline the complex retail landscape, where Costco remains competitive by maintaining solid growth in both its in-store and online businesses. However, the slight miss in revenue suggests there may be pressures or challenges ahead, particularly in sustaining the momentum in a highly dynamic market.
Despite the nearly balanced earnings and revenue performance, Costco's slight drop in aftermarket hours points to cautious investor sentiment, as the company continues to navigate economic fluctuations and changing consumer behavior.
As one of the world's leading wholesale retailers, Costco’s performance will be closely watched by both analysts and investors in the upcoming quarters, as they assess the company’s ability to maintain growth across its physical and digital channels.
