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Costco rolled out a new change to its payment system, allowing customers to use their phones to make checkout times faster.

The warehouse club has expanded its digital wallet feature that now enables members to link any Visa card to the Costco app and use their phones during checkout.

“Costco is pleased to announce the latest enhancement to our Digital Membership Card — a fast and efficient form of payment! For your convenience, you can now add any Visa card to your Digital Membership Card for easy check out at Costco warehouses,” Costco said on its website.

COSTCO QUIETLY DISCONTINUES AWARD-WINNING KIRKLAND ITEM FANS CALL ‘ONE OF THE BEST’ IN THE MARKET

The warehouse club has expanded its digital wallet feature that now enables members to link any Visa card to the Costco app and use their phones during checkout. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

“No more searching for your wallet, or wondering if you remembered to bring your credit card — simply pull up your card on your phone, and you’re ready to check out. It’s that easy!”

According to Costco, benefits of a Digital Costco Visa Card include fast and efficient checkouts, eliminating the need to carry another form of payment, no longer having to search through a wallet or purse for a credit or debit card, being able to view and manage Visa Card information through the Digital Membership Card and enjoying cash rewards on purchases made with the Visa Card.

The digital payment option can only be used by members for Costco warehouse purchases, excluding the food court, the company said.

The digital payment option can only be used by members for Costco warehouse purchases, excluding the food court. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Costco CEO Ron Vachris explained some of the changes the company has made to its app.

“The enhancements we have made include improvements to the mobile wallet, the introduction of a digital membership card with quick access on the Costco app and the rollout of our shopping cart prescan tool internationally,” he said during an earnings call.

These changes enable Costco members to use the Costco app for both membership verification and payment, making checkout faster and reducing the need to carry physical cards.

SURPRISE RIVAL KNOCKS COSTCO’S FAMOUS ROTISSERIE CHICKEN OFF ITS PERCH AS BEST BIRD

Costco members can use the Costco app for both membership verification and payment. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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The company already allows customers to link their Digital Costco Visa Card to their digital membership card in the app. This allows customers to let cashiers scan the QR code in the app once, which automatically links the membership ID and the credit card information for easy payment.

The first Freedom Fuel gas station has opened in Philadelphia as part of a broader initiative to offer drivers discounted gasoline, the White House announced.

Motorists at the station can purchase gas for $3.47 per gallon, about 50 cents below Pennsylvania’s statewide average.

“The FIRST Freedom Fuel Network gas station has LANDED in Philadelphia, lowering the price at the pump to $3.47 for our 47th President,” the White House said in a post on X. 

“President Trump is leading the charge to lower gas prices this summer — putting more money in your pocket.”

TRUMP PROMISES PHILADELPHIA GAS DISCOUNTS AHEAD OF JULY 4, CLAIMS OIL PRICES ARE ‘PLUMMETING’

American flags decorate the landscaping outside a Freedom Fuel Network convenience store storefront in Pennsylvania. (White House / Fox News)

The White House also shared a video featuring customers praising the lower prices.

“Right now, we’re in a difficult time in this world, but it’s nice to see some stability that we can enjoy,” one person said in the video. 

The launch comes after President Donald Trump pledged to lower gas prices through the Freedom Fuel Network, which includes 25 stations across the greater Philadelphia area, with most located in Pennsylvania and several in New Jersey.

BESSENT WARNS GAS STATIONS ‘WE’RE WATCHING’ AS TRUMP DEMANDS IMMEDIATE PRICE CUTS

A motorist waits near a pricing billboard displaying cash and credit rates at a Freedom Fuel Network station in Pennsylvania. (White House / Fox News)

The White House indicated that the network is operated by a retailer that branded its stations as Freedom Fuel to align with Trump’s push for lower energy costs.

“This Retailer is taking the lead, and others should follow,” Trump previously said. 

A White House spokesperson said the company that owns the 25 stations is not affiliated with the Trump administration and is not receiving federal subsidies, according to CBS News. Instead, the stations are reportedly lowering prices by accepting smaller profit margins.

FOX Business reached out to the White House for more information.

TRUMP ALLEGES GAS PRICE GOUGING, CALLS FOR DOJ INVESTIGATION

According to the Freedom Fuel Network’s website, the 25 stations are located in the following areas: 

New Jersey: 

• Egg Harbor Township, NJ — 6501 Delilah Rd
• Egg Harbor Township, NJ — 6801 Tilton Rd
• Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ — 1520 County Rd 539
• Marlton, NJ — 160 NJ-73
• West Berlin, NJ — 898 NJ-73

Pennsylvania:

• Bensalem, PA — 1360 Street Rd
• Boothwyn, PA — 610 Conchester Hwy
• Bristol, PA — 905 Bristol Pike
• Brookhaven, PA — 3919 Edgmont Ave
• Brookhaven, PA — 4612 Edgmont Ave
• Camp Hill, PA — 3811 Hartzdale Dr
• Dresher, PA — 1400 Dreshertown Rd
• Eagleville, PA — 3201 Ridge Pike
• Lansdowne, PA — 6800 E Baltimore Ave
• Millbourne, PA — 6601 Market St
• Philadelphia, PA — 100 Byberry Rd
• Philadelphia, PA — 2200 Island Ave
• Philadelphia, PA — 3101 N Broad St
• Philadelphia, PA — 4043 Germantown Ave
• Philadelphia, PA — 6243 Chestnut St
• Philadelphia, PA — 10960 Bustleton Ave
• Pottstown, PA — 1453 S Hanover St
• Southampton, PA — 17 Street Rd
• Springfield, PA — 400 Baltimore Pike
• Warminster Township, PA — 299 E Street Rd

Commuters refuel their vehicles under a canopy at a Freedom Fuel Network location in Pennsylvania. (White House / Fox News)

BESSENT WARNS GAS STATIONS ‘WE’RE WATCHING’ AS TRUMP DEMANDS IMMEDIATE PRICE CUTS

The rollout follows Trump’s call for gas retailers to immediately lower prices at the pump, arguing consumers should be paying less as crude oil futures retreated to levels seen before the recent U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

Although the national average hovered around $3 per gallon, Trump urged retailers to target prices closer to $2.50 per gallon. 

He also accused some companies of price gouging and warned that the federal government could investigate if prices remained elevated. 

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Shares of Kingsoft Cloud Holdings surged Wednesday, trading at $10.45, up $1.01, or 10.70 percent, extending a volatile but broadly upward run for the Beijing-based cloud computing company as investors continue to reassess its position within China’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure sector.

Note: This article is intended to provide factual context and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Wednesday’s gain comes amid a stretch of significant volatility for Kingsoft Cloud shares, which have traded within a wide 52-week range of $8.58 to $18.21, according to data from Pluang. The stock touched a 52-week high of $18.52 in mid-May, driven by strong investor enthusiasm around the company’s expanding AI infrastructure business, before retreating sharply in the weeks that followed to trade closer to single digits by early July, reflecting the kind of sharp swings that have characterized many China-based AI cloud stocks throughout 2026.

Kingsoft Cloud, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Beijing, provides cloud computing services to businesses across China, offering infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service products, along with dedicated AI solutions. The company serves customers across a range of industries, including video streaming, e-commerce, intelligent mobility, artificial intelligence and mobile internet through its public cloud offerings, alongside enterprise cloud services for clients in financial services, public administration and healthcare.

The company’s underlying financial performance has shown a marked acceleration tied to AI-related demand. Kingsoft Cloud’s first-quarter 2026 results significantly exceeded market expectations, with the company reporting revenue of $2.7 billion, beating analyst estimates of $2.08 billion by nearly 30 percent, while posting a narrower-than-expected loss per share of 8 cents against a forecast loss of 50 cents, an 84 percent positive surprise relative to consensus estimates. According to Simply Wall St, the company’s AI business has expanded to contribute more than half of total public cloud revenue, a shift management has tied to its broader “High Quality and Sustainable Development Strategy” emphasizing continued infrastructure investment.

Wall Street analysts have grown increasingly bullish on Kingsoft Cloud’s prospects in recent weeks. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of the stock with an Overweight rating and a $15.00 price target, describing the company as a “pure AI cloud play” and its preferred name within its broader Greater China IT services and software coverage. The firm’s analysis projected a 35 percent revenue compound annual growth rate and a 79 percent adjusted EBITDA compound annual growth rate for Kingsoft Cloud between 2025 and 2028, driven primarily by continued expansion of its AI cloud business. Morgan Stanley forecast that AI-related revenue would exceed 40 percent of the company’s total revenue in 2026 and surpass 60 percent by 2028, with adjusted operating margin projected to reach 6.9 percent by 2028, compared with negative 1.6 percent in 2025. The firm cited favorable unit economics tied to GPU cloud services and the potential emergence of model-as-a-service offerings as key drivers behind that projected margin improvement, while flagging risks including potential supply-side chip procurement shortfalls, higher-than-expected interest rates, and slower-than-anticipated progress in Chinese AI model development.

Other analysts have echoed that bullish stance. According to CNN, brokerage Guotai Haitong issued a Buy rating on Kingsoft Cloud in early June, while CLSA and Citi have each maintained their own Buy ratings on the stock in recent weeks. Analyst Daley Li reiterated a Buy rating with a Hong Kong dollar price target of $10.90, citing the company’s AI-driven growth outlook. According to Pluang, overall analyst consensus on Kingsoft Cloud remains strongly bullish, with roughly 70 percent of covering analysts issuing Buy ratings, reflecting broad expectations for a potential trend reversal from oversold conditions alongside a pattern of upward earnings estimate revisions across the sector.

Recent share price movements have also been tied to developments among Kingsoft Cloud’s larger competitors. According to Moomoo, the stock gained more than 17 percent in premarket trading on one recent session after rival Alibaba Cloud announced price increases of up to 34 percent for AI compute and storage services amid surging demand for AI tokens, a move that market participants interpreted as a signal of broader pricing power and continued strong demand across China’s AI cloud infrastructure sector, benefiting smaller providers like Kingsoft Cloud as well.

Kingsoft Cloud has also continued strengthening its relationship with its key ecosystem partner, Xiaomi, having raised its transaction caps and extended cooperation frameworks with the smartphone and electronics maker in late April. According to Investing.com, the company’s chief executive, Zhou Tao, has highlighted the company’s efforts to diversify its customer base beyond that core relationship, noting that revenue from Kingsoft Cloud’s top five non-ecosystem customers grew 44 percent year over year in a recent quarter, a trend cited as evidence of the company’s broadening commercial reach beyond its historical anchor partnerships.

Despite the strong recent operational momentum, Kingsoft Cloud continues to face structural challenges common to companies undergoing an aggressive, capital-intensive pivot toward AI infrastructure. According to Simply Wall St, the company’s sizable cash reserves provide room to continue scaling both its AI and enterprise cloud operations while sustaining ongoing infrastructure buildout, though rising lease obligations and capital expenditures remain a factor investors are watching closely for any potential impact on the company’s path toward sustainable profitability. The company’s June 30 annual general meeting featured shareholder votes on refreshed governance provisions and director re-elections, occurring alongside a leadership team that remains relatively new following board changes earlier in 2026.

Kingsoft Cloud’s American depositary shares also carry certain risks specific to its status as a China-based company listed on a U.S. exchange, including ongoing regulatory dynamics between the United States and China that could affect audit inspection requirements and broader market access over time, a consideration analysts have flagged alongside the company’s core execution risks tied to margin recovery and competitive pressure within China’s crowded cloud computing market.

With Kingsoft Cloud shares continuing to swing significantly in response to both company-specific developments and broader sentiment toward China’s AI infrastructure sector, investors are likely to continue watching closely for further updates on the company’s revenue diversification efforts, its progress toward improved profitability, and the competitive dynamics shaping pricing and demand across the broader Chinese cloud computing landscape as the year progresses.

This article was written by

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Federal Reserve policymakers are increasingly concerned about inflation, and the uncertainty about the direction it may take was reflected in the minutes of the Fed’s latest monetary policy meeting released on Wednesday.

The central bank’s first monetary policy meeting under the leadership of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh occurred against the backdrop of rising inflation, as energy prices surged earlier this year and pushed the pace of price growth up and further away from the Fed’s 2% long-run target.

The minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which determines the central bank’s monetary policy moves, showed that while policymakers in June didn’t see a need to raise interest rates immediately amid “high assessed uncertainty” regarding future rate cuts or hikes.

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is looking to cut back on the central bank’s forward guidance about rate moves. (Eric Lee/Reuters)

Policymakers voted unanimously to leave the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at a range of 3.5% to 3.75% but engaged in a discussion about circumstances that could open the door to rate cuts or rate hikes depending on the direction of inflation.

FED’S FAVORED INFLATION GAUGE ACCELERATED IN MAY AMID ENERGY PRICE SHOCK

“Most participants remarked on scenarios in which inflationary pressures would dissipate and inflation would soon begin to return to 2%. In such scenarios, almost all of these participants noted it would likely be appropriate to maintain or eventually lower the target range for the federal funds rate,” the FOMC said.

“Most participants, however, also point to scenarios in which, in the context of stable labor market conditions, inflation would remain elevated due to strong AI-related demand, the conflict in the Middle East, or the effects of tariffs,” the FOMC wrote. “In such scenarios, almost all of these participants indicated that some policy firming would likely be warranted to return inflation to 2%.”

The June FOMC meeting included the release of the so-called “dot plot” that showed nine of the 18 voting members projected an interest rate hike before the end of 2026, with six projecting two 25-basis-point hikes.

FEDERAL RESERVE LEAVES INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED AS WARSH ERA BEGINS

High energy prices have contributed to increased prices facing consumers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The summary of economic projections also revised its forecast for PCE inflation at the end of this year up from 2.7% as of the March projection to 3.6%, reflecting recent inflationary trends.

Warsh has said he wants to end “forward guidance” in how the Fed communicates about future rate moves and declined to submit his own economic projection as part of the FOMC’s forecasts and post-meeting message.

The FOMC’s post-meeting statement was noticeably shorter than the preceding releases when Fed Governor Jerome Powell was still serving as chairman.

AMERICANS GROW MORE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT FINANCES AS RENT AND FOOD COST FEARS SURGE, FED SAYS

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh was appointed by President Donald Trump and was confirmed by the Senate in May. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The minutes showed that some policymakers viewed Warsh’s first meeting as “an opportune time to consider significant changes to the FOMC’s post-meeting statement.”

“A majority of participants remarked that they saw advantages in shortening the statement. Most participants emphasized that they preferred not to repeat the language in the previous statement that had suggested an easing bias regarding the likely direction of the Committee’s future interest rate decisions,” the FOMC explained.

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