Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is in a Phase of Robust Sales Growth

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is one of the best beginner stocks to buy, according to analysts. On September 5, Truist Securities reiterated its ‘Hold’ rating on the stock and a $1,042 price target. The positive stance follows a strong August sales report.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is in a Phase of Robust Sales Growth

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The retail giant posted a 6.7% increase in sales in August, representing a 20 basis points improvement from July’s sales numbers. The August sales growth rate was slightly higher compared to the comparable sales growth of 6% for the fourth fiscal quarter. Net sales in August totaled $21.56 billion, representing an 8.7% increase from the same period last year.

The higher sales growth rate underscores Costco’s ability to attract value-conscious customers with competitive offerings. Nevertheless, Truist Securities has raised valuation concerns, as the stock is trading at 50 times the estimated earnings per share for calendar year 2025.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) operates membership-based warehouses and e-commerce sites, offering a limited selection of quality, national-brand, and private-label products at low prices to both businesses and individuals.

While we acknowledge the potential of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than COST and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.