Motley Fool Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 20.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,650 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 10,429 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale accounts for 2.0% of Motley Fool Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 11th largest position. Motley Fool Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $52,301,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,620,717 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $37,615,889,000 after acquiring an additional 165,349 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,388,519 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,919,573,000 after acquiring an additional 26,690 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,195,415,000. Capital World Investors increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 3,937,286 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $3,395,301,000 after acquiring an additional 77,650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,518,341 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $3,034,006,000 after acquiring an additional 170,979 shares during the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms have weighed in on COST. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,185.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Rothschild & Co Redburn boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $890.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,110.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Finally, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, June 1st. 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, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,060.41.
Costco Wholesale Stock Performance
Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $968.59 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a twelve month low of $844.06 and a twelve month high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market cap of $429.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.72, a P/E/G ratio of 4.72 and a beta of 0.88. The company’s fifty day moving average is $1,006.30 and its 200 day moving average is $965.46.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST – Get Free Report) last issued 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 return on equity of 28.04% and a net margin of 3.01%.The business had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.28 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.38 EPS for the current year.
Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 1st were paid a $1.47 dividend. This is a positive change from Costco Wholesale’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 1st. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is presently 29.58%.
More Costco Wholesale News
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Costco reported record demand for gasoline, which reinforces traffic and engagement at its warehouses and supports the company’s value proposition. Costco sees record demand for gas since Middle East war
- Positive Sentiment: Its digital sales jumped more than 21%, signaling continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel growth. Costco’s Digital Sales Jumped 21% and Gas Volumes Hit a Record. So Why Did COST Stock Drop 5%?
- Positive Sentiment: Costco also lowered prices on select Kirkland Signature products, a move that could strengthen member loyalty and help drive traffic as shoppers look for value. Costco lowers prices on four private-label products across food, home goods and sports equipment aisles
- Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data appears unreliable in the filing shown, so it does not provide a clear read on sentiment.
- Negative Sentiment: Despite the strong operational updates, investors appeared to focus on valuation and near-term stock weakness, with commentary noting the shares have been falling in recent weeks. Should You Buy Costco Wholesale Stock While It’s Below $1,000?
Costco Wholesale Company Profile
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.
Recommended Stories
- Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale
- The Bank of Mom and Dad Is Booming—3 Stocks to Watch
- Corning Is Paving AI’s Future With Glass
- Why’s Amazon Suddenly Lagging the S&P 500, and Is It a Warning?
- Crypto Winter Is Here: 3 Stocks To Put On Ice This Summer
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report).
Receive News & Ratings for Costco Wholesale Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Costco Wholesale and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
