OFI Invest Asset Management lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 254.4% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 135,062 shares of the retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 96,956 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale comprises about 1.5% of OFI Invest Asset Management’s holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. OFI Invest Asset Management’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $116,469,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Hurley Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the third quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter valued at about $34,000. Collier Financial bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter valued at about $35,000. AXS Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter valued at about $36,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Costco Wholesale Price Performance
Shares of COST stock opened at $1,030.27 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $992.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $941.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The firm has a market cap of $457.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.58, a PEG ratio of 5.01 and a beta of 0.99. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12 month low of $844.06 and a 12 month high of $1,067.08.
Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th were given a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.04%.
Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale
In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Susan L. Decker sold 458 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total transaction of $437,390.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,532 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,148,060. This trade represents a 5.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $916.32, for a total value of $1,374,480.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 8,240 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,550,476.80. This trade represents a 15.40% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 5,038 shares of company stock valued at $4,790,896. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research analysts recently issued reports on COST shares. Robert W. Baird set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Northcoast Research set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,050.00 to $1,060.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Evercore set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, December 22nd. 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’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,039.13.
Read Our Latest Research Report on Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: March sales beat expectations — net sales rose 11.3% year‑over‑year to $28.41 billion and e‑commerce growth topped 20%, which underpins near‑term revenue momentum and drove the stock higher. Costco Posts Strong March Sales Despite Fewer Shopping Days
- Positive Sentiment: Private‑label expansion — Costco is testing Kirkland energy drinks (positioned below national brands), which can protect margins and supplier bargaining leverage if scaled. This supports longer‑term gross‑margin resilience. Costco Tests Kirkland Energy Drinks And Supplier Power With Celsius Lookalike
- Positive Sentiment: Store and service expansion — new store opening plans (e.g., New Braunfels) and moves like a stand‑alone gas station indicate continued physical growth opportunities and membership‑driven sales. Costco sets opening date for New Braunfels store. Here’s everything we know.
- Neutral Sentiment: Company remarks/transcript — Costco released pre‑recorded sales/trading statement remarks that provide management color on trends; useful for guidance but did not change outlook materially. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Pre Recorded Sales/ Trading Statement Call Prepared Remarks Transcript
- Negative Sentiment: Valuation remains a headwind — commentators note Costco is trading at a premium (analysts citing ~48x earnings and background P/E near mid‑50s), which may limit upside and keeps some analysts on the sidelines. Costco (COST) Shares Climb 2% Following Strong March Sales Performance
- Negative Sentiment: Analyst caution — Truist and others have maintained neutral/hold views despite the sales beat, highlighting upside is limited without multiple expansion or faster margin improvement. Costco Stock (COST) Pops on ‘Solid’ March Sales, But Truist Sticks with Hold — Here’s Why
- Negative Sentiment: Macro/regional market risk — broader market futures softened on geopolitical headlines (which can pressure retail stocks intraday), damping some of the rally. Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Drop As Iran Flags Ceasefire Violation, Trump Says Arms ‘Will Remain In Place’—Arrive AI, Costco In Focus
Costco Wholesale 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.
See Also
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).
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