Costco Wholesale (COST) News Today

Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) shares are trading higher today as investors reacted to the company’s third‐quarter fiscal 2025 results, strategic tariff‐mitigation measures and analyst upgrades. A stronger‐than‐expected sales and earnings beat, combined with bullish guidance on digital investment and cash returns, underpins today’s rally.

• Costco beat Q3 estimates with $63.2 billion in revenue (up 8% YoY) and $4.28 EPS, sparking a 3–4% intraday jump in the stock
• Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $1,225 (overweight) and Jefferies, BMO and others reiterated buy ratings with targets above $1,175
• Tariff mitigation—rerouting shipments, sourcing more Kirkland products in Canada, cheaper eggs and U.S.-made mattresses—helped preserve margins
• Continued investments in digital (15.7% e-commerce growth, new buy-now-pay-later feature) and warehouse expansion support long-term growth
• A growing cash balance (~$13.8 billion) positions Costco for another special dividend, boosting shareholder returns
• Membership renewal rates remain high and Costco continues to gain market share despite broader retail headwinds
• Buzz around a potential stock split has emerged as shares approach record highs, though management has no active plan
• Some revenue forecasts were narrowly missed amid waning consumer confidence, introducing uncertainty for the near term

Overall, robust cash flow, tariff-resilience and analyst optimism have driven COST higher, though investors will watch consumer spending trends and upcoming guidance for continued upside.