Costco Announces Special Dividend, Boosting Shareholder Value\n\nCostco (NASDAQ:COST) has announced that it will be paying a special cash dividend of $15 per share on January 12, 2024 to shareholders of record as of December 28. This is in addition to the quarterly dividend that the company has already committed to. The news of this special dividend comes on the heels of an upbeat quarterly financial update released on Thursday, highlighting the company’s resilience in a challenging macroeconomic environment.\n\nThis will be the fifth special dividend in Costco’s history, with previous special dividends paid in 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020. This special dividend of $15 per share is the largest in the company’s history. With a significant net cash position, Costco is able to keep its cost structure low and pass those savings onto its members. The company’s strong financials and growing quarterly dividend of $1.02 also support its high stock price.\n\nIn its just-reported fiscal first quarter, Costco’s revenue and earnings per share both exceeded analysts’ estimates. Total revenue of $57.8 billion was up from $54.4 billion in the year-ago quarter, while earnings per share of $3.58 (up 17% year over year) beat the consensus estimate of $3.42. This growth was driven by strong demand for the company’s groceries and essentials, as well as a significant increase in membership fees.\n\nLooking ahead, Costco has hinted at a potential membership fee increase in the near future, which could further boost its financials and shareholder value.\n\nIn a Costco’s announcement of a special dividend and strong quarterly results highlight the company’s value and potential for growth.

'Shattuck Labs, Inc. Reports Positive Initial Data from Phase 1AB Trial of SL-172154 in Frontline HR-MDS and TP53m AML Patients\n\nShattuck Labs, Inc. (Shattuck) (NASDAQ:STTK), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has announced promising initial results from its ongoing Phase 1AB clinical trial of SL-172154 in combination with azacitidine (AZA) in frontline HR-MDS and TP53m AML patients. These results build on the complete dose-escalation data presented at the 65th ASH Annual Meeting on December 11, 2023.\n\nDr. Lini Pandite, MBChB, M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer of Shattuck, stated, "We are pleased to share the initial efficacy data from our dose-expansion cohorts, which demonstrate the potential of SL-172154 beyond what is expected of AZA alone. In the dose-escalation study, we saw a monotherapy response in a heavily pre-treated RR TP53m AML patient, allowing the patient to receive a stem cell transplant and remain disease-free. In the frontline cohorts, we have already observed a promising rate of complete responses in both HR-MDS and TP53m AML patients, and we expect this rate to continue to improve as more data becomes available."\n\nThe Phase 1AB trial enrolled 14 frontline TP53m AML patients and 22 frontline HR-MDS patients. Initial enrollment was completed in mid-2023, and the study is ongoing. Preliminary data suggest that SL-172154 has an acceptable safety and tolerability profile in combination with AZA.\n\nShattuck will host a conference call and webcast today, December 13, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the initial data from the Phase 1AB trial. The company has also amended both studies to increase the sample size and plans to provide another update by mid-year 2024.\n\nIn a Shattuck Labs, Inc. has reported positive initial data from its Phase 1AB trial of SL-172154 in frontline HR-MDS and TP53m AML patients.'