Costco deserving of premium valuation, says BMO Capital

BMO Capital keeps an Outperform rating and $1,175 price target on Costco (COST) as part of a broader research note previewing 2025 in Food Retail. The sector has reached a “digital tipping point” and while price transparency and competition from Amazon (AMZN) remains intense, Costco should continue carving out its “respective niche”, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The stock’s peak valuation levels remain justified by its low gross margins, advantaged online structure, consistency of execution, and an industry-leading sales per square foot, the firm added.