Costco's shares ($COST) declined following the release of its Q2 earnings report, which revealed an earnings per share (EPS) of $4.03, falling short of analyst expectations of $4.11. Despite this earnings miss, the company reported a 9.1% increase in same-store sales, surpassing the anticipated 6.3% growth. Analysts remain optimistic about Costco's long-term prospects, although concerns were raised by the CFO regarding consumer trends and potential impacts from inflation and tariffs on margins. The overall market sentiment appears mixed, with cautious optimism as external economic pressures continue to affect consumer behavior. Meanwhile, Walmart's CEO also highlighted signs of financial stress among customers, indicating a broader trend affecting retailers.