Retail chain Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:COST) will report fiscal fourth-quarter results after the close on Thursday, September 25. Digital commerce helped support strong growth last quarter, boosted by the company's new partnership with buy-now-pay-later name Affirm (AFRM). This time around, Zacks Research anticipates earnings of $5.79 per share, a 12% year-over-year increase.
Costco stock has seen choppy trading over the past few months, though long-term support at the 320-day moving average has kept pullbacks in check. Pressure at the round $1,000 level has come back into play, however. Year-to-date, the equity is up 4%.
COST has a split earnings history, finishing half of its last eight post-earnings sessions higher. The stock has averaged a 3.2% next-day swing, regardless of direction, over these past two years, and the options pits are pricing in a 4.8% move this time around.
Ahead of the event, 15 of the 34 analysts carry a "hold" rating, with 19 a "buy" or better. The 12-month consensus price target of $1,068.45 is a 12% premium to the stock's current perch at $954.06.
