Here's What the Fed's Interest Rate Hike Means for Costco, Walmart, and Target (and My Top Pick to Buy Now)

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter-point to combat inflation, which may reduce consumer spending power through higher credit card APRs, loan rates, and mortgage costs. However, value-focused retailers like Costco, Walmart, Target, and Amazon may benefit as cost-conscious consumers shift spending toward these companies known for competitive pricing and strong supply chains. The analyst views any weakness in these quality retailers as a buying opportunity.

09/22/2026, 5:10 AM • The Motley Fool

1 Incredible Reason to Buy Costco Stock Before It Reports Earnings on Sept. 24.

Costco is set to report fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on September 24, with strong sales growth of 11.3% already reported. The article highlights that investors should watch for signals of a record special dividend, as Costco has historically declared substantial one-time dividends every two to three years, with the last occurring in late 2023. While the company maintains a 22-year streak of regular dividend increases, the special distributions represent the real payoff for shareholders.

09/18/2026, 12:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Better Buy for Cautious Investors: Eli Lilly vs Costco

The article compares Eli Lilly and Costco as defensive stock picks for cautious investors amid market hesitation. Eli Lilly benefits from its dominant GLP-1 weight loss drug portfolio (Mounjaro and Zepbound), while Costco offers stability through its membership-based business model with high renewal rates. Despite both stocks being reasonably valued, the author recommends Costco as the better buy, trading at approximately 39x forward earnings compared to Eli Lilly's historical valuation levels.

09/18/2026, 10:15 AM • The Motley Fool

I've Analyzed Hundreds of Stocks in 7 Years. Here's My Step-by-Step System for Researching Any Company Before Buying.

An experienced analyst shares a seven-step stock research methodology developed over years of analyzing hundreds of companies. The process includes comparing returns to the S&P 500, analyzing financial reports, mapping business models, evaluating competitive advantages, assessing macro trends, reviewing leadership, conducting risk analysis, and determining valuation. The author uses Apple and Costco as examples of companies that meet their investment criteria.

09/16/2026, 3:37 PM • The Motley Fool

My Top 5 Favorite Stocks for an Uncertain Market

The article recommends five resilient stocks suitable for uncertain market conditions: Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical and medtech leader with 28 billion-dollar products), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (cystic fibrosis treatment market leader with pipeline expansion), Costco (essential goods retailer with high membership renewal rates), Coca-Cola (beverage company with strong brands and free cash flow), and American Express (payment card company with affluent customer base). These companies offer stability through essential products, strong market positions, and consistent dividend payments.

09/16/2026, 7:10 AM • The Motley Fool

Costco Stock Price Forecast: Here's What a $10,000 Investment Today Could Be Worth by September 2027

Costco stock has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past 12 months, down 6.2% versus the index's 16.4% gain. However, analysts' median price target of $1,100 suggests a potential 21.5% gain over the next 12 months, which would turn a $10,000 investment into $12,155. The article highlights Costco's strong fundamentals including high member loyalty (92.2% renewal rate in North America), recession-resistant business model, and shareholder-friendly dividend policies as reasons for long-term investment potential.

09/13/2026, 9:25 AM • The Motley Fool

Why Does Amazon Trade at a Discount to Walmart and Costco? Here's the Only Answer That Makes Sense.

Amazon trades at a P/E multiple of ~20x compared to Walmart (37x) and Costco (44x) due to investor concerns over its massive $220 billion AI infrastructure spending. While the reasoning is sound, Walmart and Costco valuations may have become excessive as defensive plays. The author suggests investors may be overreacting to AI risks and recommends looking elsewhere.

09/07/2026, 12:22 PM • The Motley Fool

Costco Has Grown Its Membership Base no Matter What the Economy Has Done. Does That Make It a Forever Hold?

Costco has demonstrated consistent membership growth even during recessions, with renewal rates above 90% and a durable competitive moat. However, the stock trades at a high 47x trailing earnings compared to its historical 30x multiple, making current valuation expensive relative to estimated 11% annual earnings growth. While the business model is solid for long-term investing, investors may want to wait for a lower entry price.

09/05/2026, 4:30 AM • The Motley Fool

2 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years

The article recommends Costco Wholesale and MercadoLibre as two stocks suitable for long-term 10-year holding periods. Costco demonstrates strong performance with 11.6% sales growth, 82.9 million members, and plans for 30+ annual store openings. MercadoLibre, an e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, shows 50% revenue growth and 36% GMV increase, with ecosystemic users generating significantly higher value metrics.

09/02/2026, 1:20 PM • The Motley Fool

Peter Lynch Made a Fortune by Investing in Familiar Brands. Here Are 2 Consumer Stocks I Think He'd Love Right Now.

The article applies Peter Lynch's investment philosophy of buying familiar brands to two consumer stocks: Costco Wholesale and TJX Companies. Both companies demonstrate strong fundamentals with solid membership retention and sales growth, continued expansion plans, and impressive earnings growth, making them potential long-term investments aligned with Lynch's approach.

08/31/2026, 4:30 PM • The Motley Fool

Is Costco Stock an Obvious Buy Right Now?

Costco's business fundamentals remain strong with 11.6% sales growth and 6.6% comparable-store sales increases, plus robust e-commerce growth of 21%. However, the stock is not recommended as an obvious buy due to elevated valuation at 47x trailing earnings, above its 10-year average of 40x. Investors may be better served waiting for the stock to compress to historical valuation levels.

08/31/2026, 10:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Target Is Still an Attractive Value Stock

Target has delivered strong Q2 results with 3.8% comparable sales growth, 3.6% increase in foot traffic, and 8.7% digital sales growth. Despite a 67% year-to-date rally, the stock remains undervalued at a 17 P/E ratio compared to Walmart's 37 P/E, offering a 2.81% dividend yield and potential upside for value investors.

08/30/2026, 6:05 PM • The Motley Fool

3 Consumer Stocks Driving Growth From a Regional-to-National Expansion

The article highlights three consumer stocks expanding from regional to national operations: Dutch Bros (coffee chain growing from 470 to 1,225 locations with 32% revenue growth), BJ's Wholesale (warehouse retailer expanding westward with 13% revenue growth and attractive 20 P/E ratio), and Cava Group (Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain with 32% revenue growth and 450 locations). All three companies are positioned for significant long-term growth similar to historical successes like Walmart and Starbucks.

08/30/2026, 4:30 AM • The Motley Fool

A Costco Special Dividend Could Be Coming, but Walmart Has Raised Its Dividend for 53 Consecutive Years. Here's the Better Buy Now.

Walmart and Costco are both reliable dividend stocks, but they take different approaches. Walmart offers a higher yield (0.95% vs 0.6%) and has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years, making it better for income investors. Costco has a history of large special dividends and faster dividend growth (10% annually vs 4%), making it more attractive for dividend growth investors. However, both stocks are currently overvalued relative to their five-year averages.

08/28/2026, 10:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Costco Stock: Higher Oil Prices are Bringing Customers to Costco

Higher oil prices are driving value-conscious customers to Costco, leveraging the company's decades-long track record of delivering excellent value. The article highlights Costco's strong customer retention due to its competitive pricing advantage during inflationary periods.

08/23/2026, 12:25 AM • The Motley Fool