Costco Wholesale Set to Report Fiscal Fourth-Quarter Results

Costco Wholesale is poised to release its fiscal fourth-quarter results after the market closes on Tuesday. Here are the key details you should be aware of:

Net Income

According to estimates from 11 analysts surveyed by FactSet, the retailer is expected to report a profit of $2.14 billion for the quarter. This reflects a growth from $1.87 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.

Sales

Analysts anticipate that Costco will post sales of $77.7 billion for the quarter, compared to $72.9 billion in the previous year. Additionally, FactSet predicts a 3.5% year-on-year increase in same-store sales.

Adjusted Earnings

Factoring in certain one-time items, the consensus of 27 analysts polled by FactSet indicates that the company is expected to report adjusted earnings of $4.79 per share.

What to Watch For

Back-to-School Season

While back-to-school spending concluded several weeks ago, Costco will be the first retailer to provide insights into how well sales held up during this two-month shopping season. This can be indicative of consumer spending trends leading up to the holiday season.

Discretionary Spending

In the previous quarter, Costco noted that its customers were spending less per purchase as they scaled back on discretionary items. Additionally, with student loan payments potentially impacting spending habits, there may be a further decrease in purchases of electronics and jewelry.