Greenleaf Trust trimmed its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 6.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,018 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 748 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trust’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $10,030,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sarasin & Partners LLP boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 214,194 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $200,372,000 after buying an additional 13,795 shares during the period. Silvant Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth about $16,013,000. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan raised its stake in Costco Wholesale by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan now owns 158,416 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $148,193,000 after purchasing an additional 6,200 shares during the period. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $64,325,000 after purchasing an additional 5,656 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 15.0% during the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,766 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $21,297,000 after acquiring an additional 2,974 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several research firms have weighed in on COST. HSBC upgraded Costco Wholesale to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $1,160.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday. They issued a “strong-buy” rating for the company. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,065.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, September 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,086.19.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on COST
Costco Wholesale Stock Performance
Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $1,012.28 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $943.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $970.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.06. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a one year low of $844.06 and a one year high of $1,096.50. The firm has a market cap of $448.57 billion, a PE ratio of 48.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.84.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 27.60% and a net margin of 3.04%. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $94.97 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.87 EPS. Costco Wholesale’s quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.70 EPS for the current year.
Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 30th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.32%.
Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale
In related news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,534,244.62. This trade represents a 23.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 1,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $958.21, for a total transaction of $1,054,031.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 3,094 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,964,701.74. This trade represents a 26.23% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
More Costco Wholesale News
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Store expansion supports long-term growth. Costco plans to open 13 locations by the end of 2026, potentially expanding its membership base and sales footprint. Costco opening 13 locations by end of 2026
- Positive Sentiment: Membership acquisition remains a focus. A promotional offer providing new members with a $45 gift card could help drive sign-ups ahead of the holiday shopping season, supporting recurring membership-fee revenue. Costco membership Black Friday deal
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect continued earnings momentum. Costco’s upcoming fiscal first-quarter 2027 report is expected to show double-digit year-over-year EPS growth. Its latest quarter also beat consensus estimates on both earnings and revenue. What to expect from Costco Wholesale’s next quarterly earnings report
- Positive Sentiment: Customer loyalty and digital engagement remain strengths. Coverage highlights near-record renewal rates, busy warehouses, a younger shopper base and growing use of Costco’s digital channels. These factors reinforce the company’s competitive advantages and long-term sales potential. The New Costco Shopper Is Under 40
- Neutral Sentiment: Healthcare partnerships could deepen member engagement. Integrations with NationsBenefits and SCAN Health Plan are expanding Costco’s role in Medicare-related spending across more than 600 U.S. warehouses, though the financial contribution is not yet clear. Medicare push and Costco investors
- Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves little room for disappointment. Costco trades at roughly 49 times earnings, making execution and upcoming results especially important. Analysts remain positive, but the stock’s premium valuation could amplify downside if growth slows. Costco stock’s long-term competitive advantages
Costco Wholesale Company Profile
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells merchandise in bulk and at competitive prices through warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms, serving individual consumers, businesses and other organizations.
Its product selection includes groceries and fresh foods, household supplies, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, health and beauty products, jewelry, automotive products and prescription drugs. Costco also provides services such as optical care, pharmacy services, hearing-aid sales, travel offerings and fuel sales, depending on location.
The company traces its roots to Price Club, which opened in San Diego in 1976.
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