Platinum Banana: Company of the Year Time for the big one. All week, we've been drowning in the prestige of the annual Platinum Banana awards. Today, that prestige reaches a peak not seen by the Oscars, Heisman, or even Nobel Prizes, according to experts. Now, for this one, you could argue there is a correct answer. That would, of course, be Occidental Petroleum, whose shares dominated the S&P with a gain of just over 100% as of yesterday's close. But that's too easy. It's too easy of a pick, but that's not the only issue. The company's share price rise this year is due to exactly two things, being 1) oil price rises and 2) Warren Buffet backing up the truck and acquiring just under 20% of the firm. Great year, but boring and easy. For the real winner, we gotta get a little weird. As much as I hate to say it, the mainstream media actually got this one right. I tried all day today to think of any other company that can compete, but Yahoo nailed it with their pick for 2022's company of the year. But now, that company can claim some REAL prestige with its newly awarded Platinum Banana. And that company is… Costco Wholesale Corporation! Costco, for lack of a better word, is a baller. Sure, shares may have fallen 19.44%, but that's still 31 bps worth of outperformance, so I'll count it. Plus, what other company this year had its founder threaten to literally murder its CFO over the price of some hot dogs? Aside from the death threats, Costco kept it fun, loose, and super chill in 2022. Despite record inflation, the discount wholesaler managed to maintain its bottom-feeder prices, so broke guys like me can still ball out. And no, I'm not saying that just because I happened to open a membership this year, but because it's true. While direct competitor Sam's Club raised its annual subscription price for their (garbage) membership, Costco said "f*ck that" and hooked up the people while every other price around them shot into the stratosphere like Jeff Bezos. Moreover, the company's fundamentals still posted a hella strong year. Sales rose nearly every month on both same-store and aggregate metrics. Further, EPS stayed strong despite cost increases facing the company. They ate inflation for us, and in turn, we ate their hot dogs (for $1.50). Props to you, Costco. Thanks for keeping us fed, dressed, fueled, and, most of all, not homeless. Good luck to whoever has to follow that up in 2023. The big question: Will Costco ever raise membership / hot dog prices? Can the company continue its strong performance during further deteriorating macro conditions? And who will dethrone the King in 2023? | 
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