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February 7th - US President Trump tweeted: "We need more competition to fight our enemies—the national television networks that spread fake news. Facilitating a good deal like Nexstar-Tegna will help combat fake news because it will bring more, higher-level, and more sophisticated competition. Those who oppose it dont fully understand the benefits for them, but they will in the future. Get this deal done!"February 7th - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a message on the 7th local time, stating that he received a briefing from the Ukrainian negotiating team following their talks with the US and Russia. The Ukrainian negotiating team provided him with a detailed overview of the progress of the negotiations. He stated that Ukraine needs to achieve substantial results, and one of the most important foundations for a peaceful resolution is effective security guarantees.February 7th - While the control dispute at Nexperia remains unresolved, another Chinese acquisition of a British chip company is attracting increasing attention. February 7th was the deadline set by the UK government for the mandatory sale of the FTDI acquisition, subject to national security review. This overseas acquisition by China, completed in 2021, is now entering its final countdown to mandatory sale. Back in November 2024, the UK government formally notified the Chinese consortium that it must transfer all its shares in Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI), a UK USB bridge chip company, by the stipulated time. The UK cited the National Security and Investments Act (NSIA), which came into effect in 2022, citing "potential threats to national security." An industry insider stated that the Chinese consortium has been trying to secure more time. The latest extension application is still awaiting a response from the UK, and based on past experience, there is still a certain probability of the extension being approved.February 7th - It was learned from the Ministry of Water Resources that, in order to further improve the construction, operation, and management mechanisms of major water conservancy projects, the Ministry of Water Resources and the National Development and Reform Commission recently issued the "Implementation Opinions on Improving the Construction, Operation, and Management Mechanisms of Major Water Conservancy Projects." Major water conservancy projects are important infrastructure for promoting high-quality economic and social development, playing a crucial supporting role in ensuring flood control, water supply, food security, and ecological security. The opinions are divided into four parts: general requirements, improving the high-quality construction mechanism, improving the high-level operation mechanism, and improving the high-efficiency management mechanism. The opinions require that, focusing on the national water network construction goals of "complete systems, safety and reliability, intensive and efficient, green and intelligent, smooth circulation, and orderly regulation," the government should guide and the market should participate, coordinating "hard investment" and "soft construction," improving the construction and operation mechanism of projects with clear responsibilities, diversified investment, and a focus on both quality and efficiency, and forming a comprehensive, data-driven, and efficient management and guarantee system to achieve high-quality construction, high-level operation, and high-efficiency management of major water conservancy projects.Algeria plans to cancel its air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

Costco Margins Are Impacted by Growing Freight And Labor Expenses, And The Stock Price Falls

Charlie Brooks

May 27, 2022 09:50

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Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:COST) announced a decline in gross margins on Thursday, impacted by rising freight and labor expenses across the United States. The news sent shares of the membership-only retailer down 2% and overshadowed an otherwise positive quarterly report.


Fresh COVID-19 lockdowns in China and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have compounded the problem for U.S. businesses.


Costco announced that it would increase prices in certain food categories in order to battle inflation.


Retailers such as Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Inc and Target Corp (NYSE:TGT) have warned that decades-high inflation will have a negative impact on their earnings, as shoppers hesitate from purchasing non-essential and high-margin goods.


The average Costco buyer earns more than the average Walmart and Target shopper, allowing Costco to generate quarterly earnings and revenue that easily exceeds expectations.


Memberships and sales have been boosted by the company's efforts to keep gas prices several cents below the national average.


Costco, in contrast to Walmart, reported that there has not been a significant shift from branded products to its private label product, Kirkland Signature.


"We aren't really observing a decline in commerce. This year, more money is being spent on tickets, dining out, travel, tires, and gasoline "In a post-earnings conference call, Robert Nelson, senior vice president of finance and investor relations, said.


Costco's gross margins decreased by 99 basis points in the third quarter.


According to data from Refinitiv IBES, Costco's total sales for the quarter ending May 8 increased by 16 percent to $52.60 billion, surpassing analysts' projections of $51.71 billion.


Excluding adjustments, Costco's earnings per share were $3.17, exceeding analysts' expectations of $3.03.