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Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ - Free Report) BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has emerged as a preferred destination for shoppers focused on essentials and everyday value. The company’s focus on simplifying assortments, expanding its own-brands portfolio, strengthening digital capabilities, and investing in convenience has supported membership growth and renewal trends. The company carries approximately 7,000 active stock-keeping units and positions its value proposition around meaningful savings on a representative basket of manufacturer-branded groceries compared to typical supermarket competitors. 

BJ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 20.46; value investors should take notice.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $4.51 per share. BJ also boasts an average earnings surprise of +4.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, BJ should be on investors' short list.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ - Free Report) BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has emerged as a preferred destination for shoppers focused on essentials and everyday value. The company’s focus on simplifying assortments, expanding its own-brands portfolio, strengthening digital capabilities, and investing in convenience has supported membership growth and renewal trends. The company carries approximately 7,000 active stock-keeping units and positions its value proposition around meaningful savings on a representative basket of manufacturer-branded groceries compared to typical supermarket competitors. 

BJ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BJ has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 2.5% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2027, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $4.51 per share. BJ boasts an average earnings surprise of +4.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BJ should be on investors' short list.

Different from the bun up, the new chicken sandwich lineup boasts bold flavors, including Korean Sweet & Spicy, BJ's Classic Crispy, and BJ's Original Crispy

Enjoy the Original Crispy Chicken Sandwich as part of the $13 Pizookie Meal Deal

, /PRNewswire/ -- BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (NASDAQ: BJRI), long known for its pizza, pours, and the famed Pizookie®, is rolling out an all-new chicken sandwich lineup brimming with bold flavor and crispy fried chicken. A lot of places have chicken sandwiches, but BJ's new handcrafted chicken sandwiches are different. Crispy chicken, signature sauces and fresh toppings combine to create a flavor explosion that will leave you asking, "When are we coming back next?!"

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse unveils all-new chicken sandwich lineup, including Korean Sweet & Spicy, BJ’s Classic Crispy, and BJ’s Original Crispy. Available starting June 25, the lineup offers the variety and craft only BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse can deliver. "At BJ's, we're always innovating to bring guests exciting new flavors and memorable dining experiences, and our new chicken sandwich lineup is the latest example," said Heidi Rogers, Chief Marketing Officer at BJ's Restaurants, Inc. "From the trending heat of our Korean-style chicken sandwich to a classic option guests can customize their way, each sandwich is crafted to deliver bold flavor and satisfying variety. And with our $13 Pizookie® Meal Deal, guests can choose from more than 40 meal combinations, including the NEW Original Chicken Sandwich, at an incredible value. It's the only meal deal that ends with the world famous Pizookie®, creating an experience that can only be found at BJ's."

Available at BJ's Restaurants starting June 25, the new Chicken Sandwich lineup offers the variety and quality that fans expect, with delicious and bold flavor combinations that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning fried chicken connoisseurs. The complete lineup includes:

Korean Sweet & Spicy Chicken Sandwich: A bold fusion of heat and sweetness, this sandwich isn't for the faint of heart. With crispy fried chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy Asian glaze, in house pickled vegetables, sesame seeds, and sriracha aioli on a toasted brioche bun, this sandwich is built different. BJ's Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich: Available classic or saucy, offers customization with any of BJ's signature sauces like Honey BBQ, BJ's Peppered BBQ, Hot Honey Buffalo, Tatonka® Stout Buffalo or Nashville Hot, topped with signature coleslaw, dill pickles, and mayonnaise on a brioche bun. BJ's Original Crispy Chicken Sandwich: Featuring crispy fried chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, dill pickles, and honey mustard on a brioche bun, this is more than a classic—it's a timeless salute to sandwich that started it all. Guests can also savor BJ's Original Crispy Chicken Sandwich as part of the brand's iconic Pizookie® Meal Deal, available Mondays through Fridays, including National Fried Chicken Day on July 6. For just $13, enjoy BJ's Original Crispy Chicken Sandwich and a free personal Pizookie®. That's dinner and dessert at a value only BJ's Restaurants can bring to the table.

In addition, BJ's is welcoming the summer season with the return of its show-stopping Graham Cracker S'mores Pizookie®. Featuring a Ghirardelli® triple chocolate cookie topped with graham cracker crumbles, covered in gooey, toasted marshmallows, and two scoops of rich vanilla bean ice cream, it's the perfect ending to any meal.

For more information on the new Chicken Sandwich lineup, the returning Graham Cracker S'mores Pizookie®, or to find your nearest location, please visit www.bjsrestaurants.com. And be sure to follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for all the latest news.

About BJ's Restaurants, Inc.
Founded in 1978, BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is a national casual dining brand with deep brewhouse roots delivering premium food and memorable experiences. With more than 200 restaurants across 31 states, BJ's brings guests together to celebrate life's everyday moments over chef-crafted food, award-winning house crafted beer and genuine hospitality in a fresh atmosphere. With signature deep-dish pizzas, the often imitated but never replicated world-famous Pizookie® dessert, pours and more, BJ's offers something for every taste and every occasion. A pioneer in craft brewing, BJ's is the most decorated restaurant-brewery in the country, earning over 270 medals since 1996, including the 2025 Questex Vibe Vista Award for Best Beer Program and top rankings across multiple categories at the 2026 World Beer Cup and North American Beer Awards. Whether gathering with family for a weeknight dinner, catching the game with friends or raising a glass to life's biggest milestones, BJ's is where moments turn into lasting memories. To learn more, visit www.bjsrestaurants.com or follow @bjsrestaurants on Instagram, Facebook and X.

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SOURCE BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) will release earnings for its first quarter before the opening bell on Friday, May 22.

Analysts expect the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share, down from $1.14 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for BJ’s quarterly revenue is $5.43 billion (it reported $5.15 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.

On April 1, BJ’s Wholesale Club named Stephanie Reibling as executive vice president, chief merchandising officer.

Shares of BJ’s Wholesale Club fell 1% to close at $94.43 on Thursday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.

Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.

Considering buying BJ stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) today announced that Fitch Ratings has assigned a first-time Long Term Issuer Default Rating of ‘BBB' to the company. Fitch has also assigned BBB+ ratings to the company's ABL revolving credit facility and secured term loan due 2029. The ratings carry a Stable Outlook. "Fitch's investment-grade ratings reflect BJ's continued growth and commitment to financial discipline,” said Laura Felice, Chief Financial Officer, BJ's Wholesa.

Consumers are increasingly feeling the pressure of stubbornly high inflation, particularly as the continuation of the Iran war has kept oil and gas prices at historically high levels.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) today announced its next wave of new club growth with locations in Kentucky, Florida and Indiana set to open this fiscal year. The new clubs are part of the company's ongoing strategy to open 25-30 new clubs every two years. The new clubs will be located in: Frankfort, Kentucky Ocala, Florida Lecanto, Florida Port St. Lucie, Florida Portage, Indiana This expansion strengthens BJ's presence in the Florida market up to 46 clubs a.

Target Shows Strengths, But Analysts Want to See MoreBJ's Wholesale Club NYSE: BJ reported a solid start to fiscal 2026, with management pointing to membership gains, higher fuel volumes, digital adoption and new club openings as key drivers of first-quarter performance.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Eddy said the retailer’s results were “enabled by doing what we do best, serving our members with value.” He said membership remained a key strength, supported by acquisition, retention and growth in higher-tier memberships, while the gas business reinforced the company’s value proposition during a period of sharply higher fuel prices.

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Surprising Beneficiaries of High Gas Prices: BJs and CostcoNet sales rose nearly 10% year-over-year to $5.5 billion, according to Chief Financial Officer Laura Felice. Total comparable club sales increased 6.3%, while comparable sales excluding gasoline rose 1.5%. Eddy said the company’s two-year stacked merchandise comps remained healthy despite a “dynamic environment.”

Membership Fee Income Hits Record Level Membership fee income increased approximately 10% from the prior year to about $132 million, reaching an all-time high. Eddy said the increase reflected strength in new member acquisition, retention and higher-tier penetration across both new and existing clubs.

BJ's Wholesale Is Growing, Buying Back Stock, and Still Dirt Cheap“What matters most to us is not just growing the number of members, but continuing to improve the quality of the membership base over time,” Eddy said. He added that higher-tier members shop more frequently, are more engaged and generate greater lifetime value.

Management said membership fee income growth is expected to moderate as the year progresses because the company will begin lapping a prior-year fee increase. However, Felice said the underlying health of the membership base remains strong.

Gas Business Gains Share as Prices Rise BJ’s gas business was a major focus of the quarter. Eddy said retail gas prices rose nearly 50% from the start of the quarter to the end of the period, putting additional pressure on household budgets. In response, members visited BJ’s gas stations in record numbers, with comparable gallon growth moving from about 1% in February to more than 10% in both March and April.

Felice said comparable fuel gallons increased nearly 8% for the quarter, reflecting continued market share gains. Eddy noted that same-store gallons in the broader market were down roughly 4% during the period.

Fuel profit dollars were largely in line with company expectations, though margins were pressured early in the quarter as prices rose quickly. Eddy said BJ’s saw some behavioral shifts, including slightly lower average gallons per fill-up as consumers managed higher costs or topped off tanks more frequently.

In the question-and-answer session, Eddy said the company did not see a meaningful increase in the percentage of gas trips converting into club visits, despite heavier gas traffic. Executive Vice President of Strategy and Development Bill Werner added that BJ’s has expanded its gas station count to 205 locations, up from about 135 at the time of its initial public offering, increasing coverage to about 77% of clubs.

Price Investments Weigh on Merchandise Margin BJ’s said it invested in value during the quarter by returning tariff refunds to members through pricing. Eddy said the move resulted in roughly 0.5 point of deflation in retail pricing and improved the company’s price gaps.

Merchandise gross margin declined approximately 10 basis points year-over-year. Felice said the decrease was primarily due to price investments, partly offset by tariff refund benefits. Excluding tariff refund benefits, merchandise margins were down 60 basis points year-over-year.

During the Q&A portion, Felice said the tariff benefit was about 50 basis points on merchandise margin, closer to $20 million than the $30 million suggested by an analyst. She also said some additional tariff dollars are expected to flow into the second quarter, though the tariff environment remains fluid.

Eddy said BJ’s will continue to use available sources of gains to invest in member value. He said the company’s focus is to “play offense,” particularly because consumers remain pressured.

Category Performance Mixed but Core Business Holds Up Felice said grocery, perishables and sundries comps rose 0.7%, with grocery benefiting from the importance of the weekly shopping trip. Eddy said Fresh 2.0 initiatives are showing results, including strong unit growth in fresh fruit. He added that perishables were affected by egg deflation during the quarter.

General merchandise and services delivered 7.1% comparable sales growth, driven primarily by consumer electronics. Eddy said home and seasonal categories were positive, while apparel was slightly negative. He said the company is working to improve consistency in general merchandise by refining assortments, improving value and bringing in more relevant products.

Eddy also discussed the appointment of Stephanie Reibling as chief merchandising officer. He said her priorities include strengthening the merchandising team, sharpening the assortment and moving parts of the assortment “upmarket” within a good-better-best framework.

Management also pointed to continued pressure on lower-income households. Eddy said most of the company’s comparable sales growth in the quarter came from higher-income members, while lower-income consumers showed more value-seeking behavior.

Expansion Continues, Led by Texas Openings BJ’s opened its first Texas club during the quarter and followed with three additional Texas openings in May. Eddy said the company now has about 100,000 members in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, with membership in its four Texas clubs running 33% ahead of plan.

Werner said the Texas openings were among the strongest in the company’s history, citing member response, engagement in gas and club shopping, and high ExpressPay adoption.

The company plans to open 12 clubs this year and expects to deliver 26 clubs against its previously stated two-year plan of 25 to 30 openings. BJ’s also announced planned clubs in Frankfort, Kentucky; Ocala, Lecanto and Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Portage, Indiana.

Felice said adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 4% year-over-year to $298 million. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.10, down from the prior year as the company lapped a tax benefit related to stock-based compensation.

BJ’s repurchased approximately $207 million of shares during the quarter and ended the period with about $545 million remaining under its current authorization. The company maintained its full-year guidance, continuing to expect comparable club sales excluding gasoline to grow 2% to 3% and adjusted earnings per share of $4.40 to $4.60.

About BJ's Wholesale Club NYSE: BJBJ's Wholesale Club, headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, is a membership-based warehouse retailer offering a wide range of products and services primarily to small businesses and individual consumers. The company operates large-format clubs that provide value-priced groceries, health and beauty products, electronics, home goods, furniture, seasonal items and automotive supplies. In addition to its in-club offerings, BJ's features fuel stations at many locations and operates an e-commerce platform for online ordering and home delivery.

Founded in 1984 as a division of Zayre Corp., BJ's Wholesale Club quickly expanded throughout the Northeastern United States.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in BJ's Wholesale Club Right Now?Before you consider BJ's Wholesale Club, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and BJ's Wholesale Club wasn't on the list.

While BJ's Wholesale Club currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

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BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Large-cap stocks tied to software, electric vehicles, data centers and healthcare came under pressure last week as investors reacted to weak guidance, regulatory concerns, rising bond yields and intensifying competitive risks.

Technology and China-linked names led the declines, while several companies also faced earnings-driven selling pressure and cautious sentiment surrounding funding conditions and future growth expectations.

These ten large-cap stocks were the worst performers last week. Are they a part of your portfolio?

Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:LI) slumped 5.49% this week.

Pershing Square Inc. (NYSE:PS) decreased 13.9% this week.

Vertiv Holdings (NYSE:VRT) slumped 11.57% this week.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) fell 12.46% this week.

Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) slid 10.87% this week following reports suggesting that Facebook launched a competing app.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) decreased 11.37% this week. The company reported first-quarter financial results.

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The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the “Greed” zone on Friday.

U.S. stocks settled higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones index recording another record close as diplomatic signals on Iran helped cool oil and pulled Treasury yields lower for a third consecutive session.

The S&P 500 gained 0.9% last week, notching its eighth consecutive winning week. The Dow surged 2.1%, while the Nasdaq rose 0.5% last week.

In earnings, shares of BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BJ) fell over 8% on Friday after the company reported earnings for the first quarter.

On the economic data front, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised to a record low 44.8 in May from a preliminary 48.2, a third straight monthly drop blamed on Hormuz-driven gasoline costs.

Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed on a positive note, with health care, utilities and industrials stocks recording the biggest gains on Friday. However, consumer staples and communication services stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.

The Dow Jones closed higher by around 294 points to 50,579.70 on Friday. The S&P 500 rose 0.37% to 7,473.47, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.19% at 26,343.97 during Friday's session.

What Is CNN Business Fear & Greed Index?At a current reading of 58.6, the index remained in the “Greed” zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 58.1.

The Fear & Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.

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BJ’s Wholesale Club NYSE: BJ is a compelling buy with substantial upside and limited downside. As a high-quality retailer, BJ's is firing on all cylinders—aggressively expanding its footprint, growing its membership base, generating strong cash flow, and returning capital to shareholders through buybacks. What makes the risk-reward profile particularly attractive? Three powerful signals all point in the same direction: bullish technical chart action, heavy institutional conviction, and a rock-solid earnings track record.

BJ's Wholesale Club Today

BJ

BJ's Wholesale Club

$91.29 +0.36 (+0.40%)

As of 09:33 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$83.65▼

$115.43P/E Ratio20.98

Price Target$105.27

While Q1 results and 2026 guidance left something to be desired, the read aligns with trends in cash flow and capital returns, which are the primary driver of institutional interest.

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The chart is where this investment thesis begins. BJ’s stock price has been under strain since early 2025, due in part to margin pressure, consumer headwinds, and deteriorating analyst sentiment. However, a bottom was reached late last year and remains in play as of mid-Q2 2026. Signs the bottom is strong include coinciding support targets such as the long-term EMA, a range bottom and visible divergences in the MACD and stochastic oscillators. They reveal shifting market dynamics and a market in which bulls are regaining control. The likely outcome is that BJ’s stock price rebounds from late-May lows, remaining range-bound until later in the year, when additional catalysts emerge.

Institutional activity aligns with strong support at the range’s low end. Not only does this group own approximately 99% of the stock, but they’ve also accumulated it on a trailing 12-month (TTM) basis. The balance of activity isn’t bullish in all four quarters, but is robustly bullish in Q3 and Q4 2025, when the bottom was reached, and a support zone was established. The likely outcome is that institutions take advantage of the post-Q1 release price dip and reconfirm support at this level.

Analysts present a near-term headwind to keep price action from advancing. MarketBeat tracks 19 ratings on the stock, with a consensus Hold, and price targets are declining. The caveats include the bias, which is 50% Hold and 45% Buy, and the price target range, which puts the floor at $90 and the consensus, which is near $107. The $90 price floor coincides with critical support near the lower end of the trading range, while consensus forecasts approximately 25% upside.

BJ Wholesale Club’s Underwhelming Guidance: No Cause for AlarmBJ’s Wholesale Club’s fiscal Q1 results were solid, with revenue growing by 9.9% to just over $5.5 billion. The top line exceeded the consensus estimate by 180 basis points, underpinned by new stores, comp store strength, and higher gasoline prices. Comps increased by 6.3%, 1.5% ex-fuel, with digital and fee income standing out. Digital increased by 28% year-over-year and 63% in the two-year stack, with fee growth remaining strong. Up 9.9%, memberships are growing in line with systemwide performance, indicating sustained momentum in the upcoming quarters.

Margin news was mixed, with margins impacted at all levels. However, the cause was increased investment in digital and stores alongside pricing actions to drive value. The critical takeaways are that margin impairment was expected, and the Q1 tally is better than forecasted. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) declined by only 3.5%, outperforming the consensus estimate by 6 cents, or more than 500 bps.

Guidance is why BJ’s stock price declined by nearly 10% following the release. The company forecasts margin impairment to persist (as expected), placing the adjusted EPS target in line with consensus. Consensus forecasts $4.52 in annual adjusted EPS, approximately 3% higher than last year, and sufficient to enable capital returns, reinvestment, and balance sheet maintenance.

The balance sheet and capital return are other factors underpinning market support for BJ’s stock price. The company has a fortress-like balance sheet with low long-term debt leverage, enabling aggressive share buybacks. The Q1 activity reduced the count by 2.5% year over year, a pace expected to continue in the upcoming quarters. The real sign of BJ’s cash flow strength and financial health, however, lies in equity, which increased by 7.85%, despite higher spending and share buybacks.

BJ’s Catalyst Set Stage for Robust Share Price ReboundBJ’s catalysts include its store-count expansion, strength in membership fees, and its value proposition. The company’s fees underpin growth and profitability by expanding the consumer base and driving margins through upgrades and premiumization. Store count growth is also critical, specifically the move into Texas. Texas represents a significant growth hub, and the company is focused on it. The initial move includes plans for as many as five stores in the Dallas-Ft Worth area this year. Part of the strategy is a value proposition that uses generally lower prices as bait and lower membership fees as the hook to lure consumers away from competitors like Sam’s Club and Costco NASDAQ: COST.

Should You Invest $1,000 in BJ's Wholesale Club Right Now?Before you consider BJ's Wholesale Club, you'll want to hear this.

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