Costco Q4 Preview: Stock Hits 8-Month Lows, Will Higher Gas Prices Help Turn Things Around?

Retail giant Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ: COST ) could show the positives and negatives of higher gas prices when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results Thursday after market close. Here are the earnings estimates, what experts are saying ahead of the report and key items to watch. • Costco Wholesale stock is trading near recent lows. What’s ahead for COST stock?

16 billion in last year’s fourth quarter, according to data Pro. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in six straight quarters and in seven of the past 10 quarters overall. 87 in last year’s fourth quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in five straight quarters and in eight of the past 10 quarters overall.

What Experts Are Saying Freedom Capital Markets Chief Market Strategist Jay Woods says the key things for Costco’s quarter are comparable sales, membership growth and "the impact of higher fuel prices" on margins. "It may also give us a strong look at consumer spending habits," Woods said in a weekly newsletter. 73% after recent earnings releases. Looking at the Costco chart, Woods says there is a near-term downtrend that saw shares break to new lows.

Woods says there is support at the $850 level, which is around 5% below current levels. "This is my area of concern. " Here are recent analyst ratings on Costco and their price targets: BTIG: Maintained Buy rating, with price target of $1,125 Oppenheimer: Maintained Outperform rating, with price target of $1,160 Bank of America Securities: Maintained Buy rating, lowered price target from $1,200 to $1,095 Read Also: Costco Nearly Doubles Motor Oil Prices, Limits Purchases to '1 Transaction Per Membership' as Iran War Squeezes Supply Key Items to Watch Costco stock has struggled in 2026, with shares recently hitting their lowest level since January.

Gas prices and membership commentary could help turn things around. Higher gas prices are one of the key areas watched by investors and analysts when it comes to Costco. The company reported record gas volumes during the third quarter. Consumers who have memberships with Costco can get a discount on gas at the retailer’s gas stations.

This surge in usage of the gas stations could increase visits to the warehouses as well, which could lead to incremental shopping revenue. 2% year-over-year visitor growth during the second quarter of the calendar year. Costco’s fourth fiscal quarter covers part of May, all of June and all of July. 7%).

3% in July on a year-over-year basis. The rise in gas prices may also have an impact on membership revenue, which is the company’s high-margin, high-renewal segment. With gas savings a major reason to sign-up for an account at Costco, membership growth may be higher than in past quarters. 50.

2% year-to-date, with shares trading at their lowest level since January. Read Also: Costco Reports June Sales Data — Shares Slip Despite Strong Growth Image via Shutterstock/ dennizn