Stock Market Today, Oct. 30: Amazon Misses Revenue and Earnings Expectations

Amazon stock fell 1.41% after missing Q3 revenue and earnings expectations, with concerns over heavy AI capital expenditures ($220B planned for 2026) and negative free cash flow of $42.4B over the trailing 12 months. However, AWS grew 39% year-over-year, and the company's $114B in liquidity provides a cushion. The broader market declined with S&P 500 down 2.07% and Nasdaq down 2.86%, while retail competitors Walmart and Costco gained.

10/30/2026, 5:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Is Now a Good Time to Buy Costco Stock?

Costco stock has doubled over the past five years, outperforming the S&P 500 by 35 percentage points. Despite a high P/E ratio of 48 (above its 10-year median of 38), the company continues to execute well with strong member retention (90% renewal rate), membership growth of 4% to 84.1 million, and consistent warehouse expansion. The analyst recommends buying and holding Costco for long-term investors, arguing that paying a premium valuation for a profitably growing company is preferable to cheaper valuations for weaker prospects.

10/29/2026, 3:55 AM • The Motley Fool

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF vs. iShares Consumer Staples ETF

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) both offer defensive equity exposure in the consumer staples sector. VDC stands out with a significantly lower 0.09% expense ratio versus IYK's 0.37%, a larger portfolio of 103 holdings, and slightly higher five-year returns ($1,453 vs $1,422 on $1,000 invested). IYK offers a higher 2.4% dividend yield but with more concentrated holdings of 53 stocks. The article recommends VDC as the more compelling option for long-term investors seeking safer portfolio holdings.

10/27/2026, 5:32 AM • The Motley Fool

Own Costco Stock by Oct. 30 to Qualify for Its Nov. 13 Dividend. Here's How Many Shares You'd Need for $1,000 in Yearly Dividends.

Costco will pay a dividend of $1.47 per share on Nov. 13 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 30. An investor would need approximately 170 shares (worth ~$173,000) to generate $1,000 in annual dividends. While Costco's dividend yield is modest at 0.5%, the stock offers multiple return drivers including stock price appreciation (up 108% over five years), special dividends, and quarterly dividends, making it a worthwhile long-term investment despite its high valuation.

10/26/2026, 9:30 PM • The Motley Fool

If You Buy Costco With $5,000 at a 43% Discount From Its High, Here's What I Predict It Could Be Worth in 10 Years.

An analyst argues that Costco is currently overvalued at a P/E ratio of 49, but predicts a $5,000 investment at fair value ($623/share, representing a 43% discount from its peak) could grow to $15,530 over 10 years with a 12% annualized return, driven by warehouse expansion, membership growth, and earnings per share growth of approximately 12% annually.

10/26/2026, 8:00 AM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: $5,000 in Costco Stock Will Trail the Market Through 2030

An analysis predicts that a $5,000 investment in Costco stock could grow to approximately $6,350 by end of 2030 (6% annual gain), underperforming the S&P 500's historical 10% average annual return which would yield around $7,450. While Costco's earnings are expected to grow 11% annually, the stock's premium valuation (49x earnings) may compress, limiting upside potential despite strong business fundamentals.

10/23/2026, 6:47 PM • The Motley Fool

The Consumer Staples Face-Off: Buy VDC for Growth, Hold KXI for Global Cash Flow

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is recommended as the better buy for most investors due to its ultra-low 0.09% expense ratio and superior 5-year performance (44% total return, 7.6% CAGR), despite focusing only on U.S. companies. iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (KXI) offers international diversification with 60% U.S. and 40% international exposure and slightly higher dividend yield (2.3% vs 2.1%), but charges a higher 0.38% expense ratio and delivered lower returns (31% total return, 5.5% CAGR).

10/22/2026, 11:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Costco's Last Stock Split Was in 2000. Is Its Board Close to Another?

Costco's stock price has reached ~$994 per share since its last 2-for-1 split in January 2000, prompting investor questions about another split. However, CEO Ron Vachris and CFO Gary Millerchip have repeatedly stated there are no immediate plans, citing that fractional share purchases now make splits less economically necessary. The company continues to review the possibility with its board, but the author believes a split is unlikely in the near term and suggests a special dividend would be more beneficial to shareholders.

10/22/2026, 10:23 AM • The Motley Fool

Wall Street Firm Names Amazon Its Top Pick With More Than 30% Upside. Is the Stock a Buy?

Morgan Stanley names Amazon as its top pick with a $350 price target, citing a 30%+ upside potential. The firm identifies five catalysts including accelerating AWS growth (47% expected next year), expanding operating margins, AI infrastructure investments, e-commerce AI integration, and robotics efficiency gains. The analyst projects AWS revenue could nearly triple to $373.6 billion by 2028 with 44% operating margins.

10/22/2026, 3:05 AM • The Motley Fool

Inflation Just Hit 3.7%. Here's Why Walmart and Costco Could Be the Biggest Winners.

With inflation rising to 3.7% in September, Walmart and Costco are positioned to benefit from their thin-margin business models that appeal to value-conscious consumers. Both companies reported strong recent quarters with solid sales growth, though their stocks already reflect much of this optimism at elevated valuations.

10/20/2026, 6:45 AM • The Motley Fool

Costco is One of the Best Retailers on the Planet

Costco continues to be recognized as one of the best retailers globally, offering excellent value to its customers. The company boasts one of the highest customer retention ratios of any membership program, demonstrating strong customer loyalty and a solid business model.

10/19/2026, 9:18 PM • The Motley Fool

6 Signs of a Winning Stock, Each Shown by a Real Company

The article outlines six measurable traits that distinguish long-term winning stocks, illustrated through real companies. These traits include consistent dividend growth (Coca-Cola), high return on invested capital (Alphabet), strong free cash flow conversion (Monster Beverage), customer loyalty/moat (Costco), insider ownership (Copart), and reinvestment at high returns (Netflix). The author emphasizes that no company aces every test, and temporary stock declines shouldn't deter investors in fundamentally strong businesses.

10/19/2026, 1:33 PM • The Motley Fool

All It Takes Is 472 Shares of Coca-Cola Stock to Earn $1,000 a Year in Dividends. Is It Worth It?

Generating $1,000 annually in dividends from Coca-Cola requires an investment of approximately $43,424 for 472 shares at a 2.31% yield. While the capital commitment is substantial, Coca-Cola's 65-year dividend increase streak as a Dividend King, combined with recent competitive wins (KFC switching from Pepsi, Marriott and Costco switching from Pepsi), makes it a worthwhile long-term investment despite lower yields compared to Treasury bonds.

10/19/2026, 7:11 AM • The Motley Fool

Should You Buy Costco Stock Before Oct. 30? Here's the Clear Answer.

Costco will pay a $1.47 dividend on Nov. 13 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 30. While the dividend yield of 0.6% is modest compared to competitors, the article argues that Costco's strong historical outperformance of the S&P 500 (116% over five years vs. 73%), combined with expansion plans, special dividends, and quarterly payouts, makes it worth considering for long-term investors.

10/18/2026, 1:30 PM • The Motley Fool

2 Retail Stocks to Buy Before the Holiday Shopping Season

The article recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale as attractive retail stocks heading into the holiday shopping season. Amazon is favored as the better buy, trading 11% below its August record with strong revenue growth and AWS expansion. Costco is growing faster but trades at a premium valuation of 47x earnings, suggesting a dollar-cost averaging approach rather than a full position at current prices.

10/18/2026, 6:19 AM • The Motley Fool