"Haven’t you heard? The world is going to end, or so the participants in the National Geographic Channel’s new show Doomsday Preppers are concerned. According to these individuals chronicled in this new show, there are various ways that civilization will grind to a halt, with the sunbursts that destroy the electrical grid, nuclear war, earthquakes, or even hyper-inflation. One way or another, these people believe their world will come to an end, and they are preparing for that inevitable event.
Regardless of the merit that these people base their end of the world theories on, the reality of it is they are preparing, and spending quite a bit of money while doing it. The American Preppers Network estimates that there are currently over 3 million Americans who are classified as preppers. Those individuals don’t take being prepared lightly; they are spending massive amounts of money on upgrading buildings, food, medical supplies and protection. As the prepper movement gains traction, select companies are well positioned to benefit off this momentum for as long as…well…society continues to exist."
"Wholesale grocery giant Costco (NASDAQ: COST) has over 400 stores across the United States with over 64,000 members. Costco provides a low-price, high-quantity retail experience for bulk items. Costco even has ties to the prepper movement. In 2009, at the height of the recession and as uncertainty about our economy was a major concern for those who fear an end to civilization, Costco was quick to recognize this trend and offer prepper bundles. This offer retailed for $799 and offered a one-year food supply for one person. Even Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), through their bulk wholesaler Sam’s Club, began offering a ‘lite’ version of emergency preparedness in the form of an 11-day "panic pail" that provided enough food and supplies for 11 days for one person, which they priced at almost $50."
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
