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Investing.com - DA Davidson has reiterated its Neutral rating and $1,000.00 price target on Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) following the retailer’s September sales report. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades at $936.38, with analyst targets ranging from $620 to $1,218. The company maintains strong financial health with an overall score of "GOOD" and holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet.
Costco’s total comparable sales growth slowed to 5.7% in September, down from 6.3% in August, according to DA Davidson’s analysis.
U.S. comparable sales decelerated to 5.1% in September compared to 6.1% in the previous month, while U.S. comps excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange and gas prices were up 5.0% versus 6.7% in August.
Total comparable sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign currencies and gas prices rose 6.0% in September, down from 6.9% growth in August.
DA Davidson attributed the slowdown to challenging comparisons from the previous year, noting that Hurricane Helene and forward buying due to pending port strikes in September 2023 boosted U.S. comparable sales by 200 basis points and worldwide sales by 150 basis points.
In other recent news, Costco Wholesale reported strong September sales figures, with net sales reaching $26.58 billion, marking an 8.0% increase from $24.62 billion in the same period last year. Total comparable sales grew by 5.7%, surpassing analyst expectations of 4.6%. U.S. comparable sales rose 5.1%, while Canada and other international markets saw increases of 6.3% and 8.5%, respectively. Despite these strong sales figures, Mizuho has adjusted its price target for Costco to $950, down from $975, citing slowing growth in U.S. comparable sales. Meanwhile, Guggenheim has maintained a Neutral rating on Costco, attributing a slight decrease in membership renewal rates as a factor for concern. The company’s performance was bolstered by increases in both foot traffic and customer spending. These developments highlight the ongoing financial dynamics and market perceptions surrounding Costco.
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