Costco Just Showed Why It's a Better Buy Than Walmart

Costco's (NASDAQ:COST)fourth-quarter earnings report after Thursday didn't do much to move the stock, as it was flat after hours. However, that may be more of a credit to the company's reliability than anything else, as Costco delivered another round of strong results, outperforming virtually every one of its retail peers.

At a time when consumers are feeling pressure from inflation and the high cost of living, Costco's comparable sales rose 6.7% adjusted for fuel prices and foreign exchange. Revenue in the quarter rose 11.1% to $95.7 billion, beating estimates at $94.89 billion.

On the bottom line, earnings per share rose 15% to $6.75, though it earned a $0.15 benefit from tariff refunds, equivalent to nearly $70 million.

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