A wholesale success: Why Americans love Costco

Costco is the world's third-biggest retailer, after Amazon and Walmart. What sets it apart from its competitors is the peculiar adoration it seems to inspire from shoppers. And it's not just Costco cardholders who love the wholesaler. Wall Street analysts fawn over the stock. Though the retailer's sales are less than half of Walmart's, its return on capital, at nearly 20%, is more than twice as high. What is behind Costco's enduring success? Hosts: Alice Fulwood, Mike Bird and Tom Lee-Devlin. Guests: Costco superfans David and Susan Schwartz; and Joe Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts Sign up for our new weekly newsletter dissecting the big themes in markets, business and the economy at www.economist.com/moneytalks  Get a world of insights for 50% off—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+