Natural Investments LLC Boosts Stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Natural Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COSTFree Report) by 24.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,144 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 803 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale accounts for about 0.9% of Natural Investments LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Natural Investments LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $3,876,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Costco Wholesale by 12.3% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,825 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $18,165,000 after purchasing an additional 2,172 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,123 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,029,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,853 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,814,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. grew its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.1% in the second quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 2,110 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,089,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its position in Costco Wholesale by 2.2% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 8,502 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $8,416,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $933.51 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $947.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $981.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $413.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.87. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a one year low of $844.06 and a one year high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COSTGet Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.94 by ($0.01). Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. The company had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.28 EPS. Analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 EPS for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.58%.

Costco Wholesale News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

  • Positive Sentiment: Medicare expansion creates a new growth opportunity. Costco is partnering with nonprofit insurer SCAN Group to offer limited Costco-branded Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans, initially in select states. The initiative targets Costco’s sizable senior-member base and gives the retailer exposure to the large Medicare market, although the financial contribution is likely to develop gradually. Costco Enters The Medicare Insurance Market
  • Positive Sentiment: Costco increased its dividend by 13.1%. The raise signals confidence in cash generation and strengthens the shareholder-return case, though the regular dividend yield remains relatively modest because of COST’s high share price. Costco Just Upped Its Dividend by 13.1%
  • Positive Sentiment: Additional growth engines are emerging. Analysts point to Costco’s membership model, Kirkland Signature products, retail media, artificial-intelligence-powered search and pharmacy operations as areas that could support growth beyond warehouse sales. Costco Is Quietly Building Its Next Big Growth Engine
  • Neutral Sentiment: Product news is likely to have limited stock impact. Costco brought back a popular discontinued item, which may support member engagement but is not material to companywide earnings. Costco Brought Back a Popular Favorite
  • Negative Sentiment: Valuation and retail concerns are weighing on the shares. COST trades at a high earnings multiple, leaving less room for execution disappointments. Its latest quarterly EPS narrowly missed estimates despite revenue exceeding expectations, while the stock declined more than the broader market in the latest session. Why Costco Fell More Than the Broader Market

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on COST. DA Davidson restated a “neutral” rating and set a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, June 18th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,059.53.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Costco Wholesale

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Costco Wholesale Profile

(Free Report)

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a global chain of membership-only warehouse clubs that sell a wide array of merchandise in bulk at discounted prices. The company’s product mix includes groceries, fresh and frozen food, household goods, electronics, apparel, and seasonal items, augmented by its prominent private-label brand, Kirkland Signature. Costco’s business model centers on annual membership fees and high-volume, low-margin sales, designed to drive repeat purchasing and strong customer loyalty among both consumers and small-business buyers.

Beyond merchandise, Costco provides a range of ancillary services that complement its warehouses, including gasoline stations, pharmacy and optical services, hearing aid centers, photo services, and travel and insurance products.

Further Reading

Institutional Ownership by Quarter for Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST)

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