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GTS Securities LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 69.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 952 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 2,130 shares during the quarter. GTS Securities LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $891,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth $255,000. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA now owns 6,022 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $5,633,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Private Management Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 1,895 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,773,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. Sheets Smith Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 4,502 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,212,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, Spinnaker Trust raised its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Spinnaker Trust now owns 7,737 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $7,238,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance COST opened at $910.18 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $403.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $942.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $976.18. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th were paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.58%. Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco reported fourth-quarter net sales of $93.9 billion, up 11.3% year over year. Digitally enabled comparable sales increased 19.5%, suggesting e-commerce and omnichannel initiatives remain important growth drivers. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Freedom Broker raised Costco from “hold” to “buy” and established a $1,030 price target, implying meaningful potential upside from recent trading levels. However, the upgrade has not yet overcome broader selling pressure. Costco Stock Falls Despite Freedom Broker Upgrade to Buy Neutral Sentiment: Returns and liquidation operations: Reports that Costco resells some returned merchandise through liquidation and B-stock auctions provide additional context on its inventory practices. The activity appears operational rather than a major new earnings catalyst, although it may help recover value from returned goods. How Costco Resells Items Returned Under Its Satisfaction Guarantee Policy Negative Sentiment: Premium valuation and competitive concerns: Costco’s recent underperformance has renewed debate over whether its high valuation is justified. Jim Cramer argued that the retailer may have lost some of its edge, while other commentary points to competition from discount stores. With a price-to-earnings ratio above 45, investors may be particularly sensitive to any slowdown in growth or membership appeal. Cramer Warns Costco May Have Lost Its Edge Negative Sentiment: Supplier bankruptcy headline: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a beverage brand’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights vendor and product-selection risks within its merchandise ecosystem. Loss of Costco Deal Helps Push Beverage Brand Into Chapter 11 Insider Activity In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Roth Capital increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $1,144.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,056.03.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on COST

(Free Report)

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership-based warehouse clubs that offer a broad selection of merchandise at generally competitive prices. Its product range includes groceries, fresh foods, apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal goods, along with private-label products sold under the Kirkland Signature brand.

The company also provides a variety of ancillary services, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, optical centers, hearing-aid centers, food courts, tire centers, and travel services.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For 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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Denali Advisors LLC lowered its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 6.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,050 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 569 shares during the quarter. Denali Advisors LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $7,531,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. NewEdge Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,134,000. Patrick Mauro Investment Advisor INC. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth approximately $2,631,000. Smith Partners Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at $249,000. TPG Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at $307,000. Finally, Empirical Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at $758,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth COST has been the subject of several research reports. DA Davidson reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Roth Capital upped their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Bank of America lifted 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 report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,056.03.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Costco Wholesale Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco reported fourth-quarter net sales of $93.9 billion, up 11.3% year over year. Digitally enabled comparable sales increased 19.5%, suggesting e-commerce and omnichannel initiatives remain important growth drivers. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Freedom Broker raised Costco from “hold” to “buy” and established a $1,030 price target, implying meaningful potential upside from recent trading levels. However, the upgrade has not yet overcome broader selling pressure. Costco Stock Falls Despite Freedom Broker Upgrade to Buy Neutral Sentiment: Returns and liquidation operations: Reports that Costco resells some returned merchandise through liquidation and B-stock auctions provide additional context on its inventory practices. The activity appears operational rather than a major new earnings catalyst, although it may help recover value from returned goods. How Costco Resells Items Returned Under Its Satisfaction Guarantee Policy Negative Sentiment: Premium valuation and competitive concerns: Costco’s recent underperformance has renewed debate over whether its high valuation is justified. Jim Cramer argued that the retailer may have lost some of its edge, while other commentary points to competition from discount stores. With a price-to-earnings ratio above 45, investors may be particularly sensitive to any slowdown in growth or membership appeal. Cramer Warns Costco May Have Lost Its Edge Negative Sentiment: Supplier bankruptcy headline: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a beverage brand’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights vendor and product-selection risks within its merchandise ecosystem. Loss of Costco Deal Helps Push Beverage Brand Into Chapter 11 Insider Activity In related news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was 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 approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.6% Costco Wholesale stock opened at $910.18 on Wednesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a twelve month low of $844.06 and a twelve month high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The firm has a market cap of $403.65 billion, a PE ratio of 45.78, a P/E/G ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $942.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $976.18.

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

Costco Wholesale Company Profile (Free Report)

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership-based warehouse clubs that offer a broad selection of merchandise at generally competitive prices. Its product range includes groceries, fresh foods, apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal goods, along with private-label products sold under the Kirkland Signature brand.

The company also provides a variety of ancillary services, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, optical centers, hearing-aid centers, food courts, tire centers, and travel services.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For 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.

Maxele Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,328 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,242,000. Costco Wholesale accounts for about 0.9% of Maxele Advisors LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. World Investment Advisors increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 20,081 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $15,835,000 after buying an additional 1,560 shares in the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP boosted its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth about $9,300,000. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd grew its stake in Costco Wholesale by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $64,325,000 after acquiring an additional 5,656 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at about $5,813,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In COST has been the subject of a number of research reports. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Roth Capital increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 target price on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,091.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,056.90.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on COST Costco Wholesale Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ COST opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12 month low of $844.06 and a 12 month high of $1,096.50. 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 company has a 50-day simple moving average of $942.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $976.78.

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

Insider Buying and Selling In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 (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 Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane

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.

Empowered Funds LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 100,519 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $94,033,000. Costco Wholesale makes up 0.5% of Empowered Funds LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position.

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

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Costco Wholesale Stock Performance NASDAQ:COST opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.06, a PEG ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. The business has a fifty day moving average of $942.96 and a 200-day moving average of $976.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were issued a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on COST shares. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 target price for the company. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Twenty-one investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.90.

Get Our Latest Report on COST

Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, 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 this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Costco Wholesale Company 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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane

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.

Glenview Trust Co bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 14,010 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $13,106,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lbmc Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Lbmc Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,041 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,760,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. now owns 3,194 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,754,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC increased its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $605,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the period. Wealth Effects LLC increased its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 874 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $871,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the period. Finally, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.8% during the first quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 551 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on COST. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $1,144.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. Roth Capital boosted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Twenty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,056.90. Read Our Latest Stock Report on COST

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance NASDAQ:COST opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.06, a PEG ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $942.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $976.78.

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

Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

(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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane 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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North Star Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 17,710 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $16,568,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their

Kingsview Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 15,501 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $14,501,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in COST. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Burk Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth $30,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $1,091.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Roth Capital increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 price objective for the company. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.90.

Check Out Our Latest Report on COST Costco Wholesale Stock Performance Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $942.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $976.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a one year low of $844.06 and a one year high of $1,096.50. The company has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th were given a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. 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: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale In other news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Company 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.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane

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Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 4,871 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $4,555,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Burk Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently weighed in on COST. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and set a $1,091.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Roth Capital increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Guggenheim restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Twenty-one investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,056.90. Read Our Latest Research Report on COST

Insider Buying and Selling In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance COST opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $942.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $976.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a one year low of $844.06 and a one year high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $406.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were paid 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 (DPR) is currently 29.58%.

(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.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane

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.

Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd bought a new position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 653 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $611,000.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Lbmc Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Lbmc Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,041 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,760,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. now owns 3,194 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,754,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $605,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Effects LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.2% during the first quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 874 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $871,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the period. Finally, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.8% during the first quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 551 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $549,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on COST shares. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,185.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 target price for the company. Finally, DA Davidson restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,056.90. Read Our Latest Report on Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance Shares of COST opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $942.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $976.78. The stock has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a one year low of $844.06 and a one year high of $1,096.50.

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

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction that occurred 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 directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

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.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane 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.

Fox Hill Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,585 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $2,418,000.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth $6,781,946,000. Diamant Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 99,278.0% in the 1st quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,726,899 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $672,690,000 after buying an additional 6,720,130 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at about $5,195,415,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 838.9% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,125,405 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $5,282,182,000 after buying an additional 5,472,968 shares during the period. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at about $2,362,188,000. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently commented on COST shares. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Costco Wholesale from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,056.90. Read Our Latest Stock Report on COST

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance NASDAQ:COST opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,096.50. The firm has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $942.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $976.78.

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

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Costco Wholesale Company 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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane

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BNP Paribas increased its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 523.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,107 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,769 shares during the period. BNP Paribas’ holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $1,996,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of COST. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings 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 in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,523,423 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $8,212,433,000 after acquiring an additional 107,775 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 11.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 7,515,031 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $7,488,203,000 after acquiring an additional 773,651 shares in the last quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 99,278.0% in the 1st quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,726,899 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $672,690,000 after purchasing an additional 6,720,130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 838.9% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,125,405 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $5,282,182,000 after purchasing an additional 5,472,968 shares during the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $915.74 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $942.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $976.78. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is currently 29.58%. More Costco Wholesale News Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco’s fourth-quarter net sales increased 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5%, substantially outpacing overall growth and highlighting continued momentum in e-commerce and omnichannel shopping. Costco’s Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong Positive Sentiment: August sales remained robust: Costco reported a 9.9% year-over-year increase in August sales, driven by strong U.S. comparable-store performance and record digital growth. The update gives investors further evidence that membership and customer traffic remain resilient. Costco Reports Double-Digit Growth in August 2026 Sales Neutral Sentiment: Holiday closures are routine: Costco closed its U.S. warehouses for Labor Day, consistent with its long-standing policy of shutting stores on seven holidays annually. The practice may reinforce the company’s employee-focused culture but has no meaningful near-term earnings impact. Most national retailers close on 2 holidays. Costco shuts down for 7. Neutral Sentiment: Membership loyalty remains a theme: Coverage of members with decades-long Costco relationships underscores the strength of the retailer’s recurring membership model, though it provides limited new financial information. What Happens If You Are A Costco Member For Over 40 Years? Negative Sentiment: Supplier relationship risk: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a functional-beverage company’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights the importance—and potential volatility—of major retail partnerships. Loss of Costco deal helps push beverage brand into Chapter 11 Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale In related news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have issued reports on COST shares. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Roth Capital raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,056.90.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Costco Wholesale

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.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane

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Jim Cramer told viewers Costco has lost its edge and pointed them toward dollar stores instead. Five days later, Clark Howard sent retirees straight back, and the math behind his advice could cost you thousands if you ignore it.

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On CNBC last week, Jim Cramer told viewers he is “beginning to wonder whether this is the Costco of old” and suggested the great value in American retail may have shifted to the dollar stores. Five days later, on September 8, consumer advocate Clark Howard pointed his retirement-age audience in the opposite direction, telling them Costco’s cheaper hearing aids are just fine: “You’re not going to get a worse hearing aid” for paying less.

Two well-known money voices, one week apart, opposite verdicts on the same question: is a Costco (NASDAQ:COST | COST Price Prediction) membership still worth it? The stakes are concrete. If Cramer is right and the value has eroded, a retiree on a fixed income who renews out of habit is quietly losing money to the annual fee. If Howard is right, skipping Costco could cost that same retiree thousands on a single healthcare purchase.

Howard Wins This Round, and Here Is the Math Howard has the stronger case, but only for shoppers who understand what they are buying. Cramer’s dollar-store pitch confuses low sticker price with low cost per unit of value. For high-ticket categories retirees actually spend on (prescription drugs, hearing aids, tires, gasoline, eyeglasses) dollar stores do not compete at all. Costco does, and the pricing gap can dwarf the membership fee many times over.

To see why, walk through the break-even. Costco’s Gold Star membership runs roughly $65 a year, with the Executive tier at $130. Executive members get 2% back on most purchases, capped annually. The break-even between the two tiers is straightforward: you need to spend enough at Costco each year for the 2% rebate to cover the extra fee. Below that threshold, Gold Star wins. Above it, Executive wins, and the reward grows with every dollar.

Now layer in Howard’s hearing aid example. Hearing aids at audiology clinics often run several thousand dollars per pair. If Costco’s private-label Kirkland Signature devices come in materially cheaper (and Howard has been telling listeners for years they do), a single purchase can pay the membership fee for decades. That is the mechanic Cramer’s “dollar store” line ignores entirely. A retiree does not buy hearing aids at Dollar Tree.

Why the Business Still Works, Even With Cramer’s Doubt The financials back up the value story. Costco’s worldwide renewal rate sits at 89.7%, meaning nearly nine in ten members re-up every year. Executive members now drive about 75% of net sales, which tells you the heaviest users are voluntarily paying the higher fee because the math works for them. Membership fee income reached $1.37 billion in fiscal Q3 2026, up almost 11% year over year, and comparable sales rose 9.8%. Shoppers who feel ripped off do not behave that way.

The stock, meanwhile, has cooled. Shares closed near $910, down about 4% over the past year and up roughly 6% year to date. Costco reports fiscal Q4 results after the close on September 24, 2026, which is when the value argument gets tested in numbers rather than soundbites.

One Variable Decides It for You The factor that swings the membership from smart to wasteful is annual spend at the warehouse. Run two scenarios:

Light user: a retiree who visits twice a month for household staples and spends $1,500 a year. A 2% Executive rebate returns $30, which does not cover the $65 upgrade over Gold Star. Stick with Gold Star, and even that only pays off if the per-trip savings on groceries, gas, and pharmacy beat the $65 fee. Heavy or healthcare-driven user: a retiree who spends $6,000 a year across groceries, gas, tires, and one hearing aid or eyeglass purchase. Executive rebate returns $120, nearly covering the fee, and the healthcare purchase alone likely saves four figures versus retail. Membership pays for itself many times over. What to Do Before You Renew Pull last year’s Costco receipts or the annual summary Costco emails Executive members. Add the total. If you spent under about $3,250, the 2% Executive rebate cannot cover the tier upgrade on its own, so downgrade to Gold Star and reassess. Then price one or two big-ticket items you are likely to buy in the next year (hearing aids, tires, a mattress, prescription eyeglasses) against Costco. If any single purchase saves more than the fee, Howard’s advice holds and Cramer’s doubt does not apply to you. The membership question comes down to arithmetic.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Costco Wholesale's (COST -1.04%) final sales update of its fiscal 2026 (which ended Aug. 30) shone a spotlight on a growth engine that is expanding much faster than the overall business. The company's digitally enabled comparable sales (sales initiated through a digital device and fulfilled through a warehouse or distribution center, as well as Costco Travel) rose by 20.9% year over year, more than twice the company's 8.4% total comparable-sales growth.

Image source: Getty Images

Digitally enabled sales surpassed $27 billion and accounted for nearly 10% of Costco's total net sales in its fiscal 2025. Hence, the business has become large enough to influence companywide growth.

Strengthening Costco's membership model Costco is not trying to replace its warehouses with a digital business. Instead, digital tools are giving members more ways to discover its products and shop for them.

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The company's personalization efforts could make these digital interactions more valuable. In the third quarter of its fiscal 2026, personalized recommendation carousels on its online platforms converted at roughly three times Costco's typical digital rate and generated just under $500 million of e-commerce sales. 

However, rapid digital growth does not automatically translate into equally strong profit growth. Costco says its digitally enabled business carries a lower gross margin than its warehouse operations. Hence, the value of the opportunity depends on whether higher engagement and improved convenience can offset the impact of that lower-margin mix.

September 2026 will be crucial The company's digital momentum remained strong late in the fiscal year. Digitally enabled comparable sales rose 19.5% year-over-year in fiscal 2026 Q4 and 17.9% year-over-year in August 2026. However, both were lower than the digital growth rate for the fiscal year as a whole.

The stock's valuation could also prove challenging for investors. Costco is currently trading at roughly 40.8 times Wall Street's fiscal 2027 consensus earnings estimate of $22.7 per share (as of Sep. 3, 2026). Its digital growth alone cannot justify such a premium valuation.

Costco is scheduled to report its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings results on Sept. 24. The more important question that report may answer is whether rapid digital growth is also strengthening member economics and overall profitability. If Costco can keep growing the digital business at the 15% to 20% pace it has been achieving recently while preserving those metrics, it could become a meaningful growth driver in the coming years.

Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Costco's Q4 net sales rose 11.3% to $93.9 billion, with comparable sales up 9.4%.Digitally enabled comparable sales climbed 19.5%, versus 9.4% companywide comparable-sales growth.Full-year digitally enabled comparable sales rose 20.9%, or 20.7% excluding gas and FX impacts. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) closed fiscal 2026 on a strong sales note, with fourth-quarter net sales rising 11.3% year over year to $93.9 billion from $84.4 billion. The increase highlights solid sales momentum over the 16-week quarter, while the company’s digitally enabled business remained a notable contributor to the overall pace of growth.

Comparable sales for the fourth quarter increased 9.4% companywide. The United States posted a 10.7% comparable-sales gain, while Canada and Other International rose 5% and 7%, respectively. Against that backdrop, digitally enabled comparable sales climbed a much faster 19.5%, showing that Costco’s online and digitally supported channels continued to expand at a stronger rate.

The digital trend remained similarly strong after excluding the effects of gasoline-price changes and foreign exchange. On that basis, total company comparable sales advanced 6.7% in the quarter, while digitally enabled comparable sales increased 19.8%. This wide gap underscores the strength of digital activity during the period.

The momentum was also visible in August, when digitally enabled comparable sales rose 17.9%. For the full 52-week fiscal year, the metric increased 20.9%, or 20.7% excluding gasoline and foreign-exchange impacts.

Costco’s fourth-quarter sales performance was marked by double-digit net sales growth and a digitally enabled business that continued to grow materially faster than companywide comparable sales throughout the reported period.

How Costco Compares With Target and BJ’s WholesaleTarget Corporation (TGT - Free Report) also showed improving sales and digital momentum in second-quarter fiscal 2026. Target’s net sales rose 5.3% year over year to $ 26,539 million, while comparable sales increased 3.8%. Digital comparable sales advanced 8.7%, outpacing comparable store sales growth of 2.7%, with same-day delivery rising more than 25%. For Target, the results highlight how digital channels continued to supplement broader top-line growth during the quarter.

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ - Free Report) posted stronger digital growth in second-quarter fiscal 2026, alongside a sharp increase in overall sales. BJ’s Wholesale net sales climbed 15.9% year over year to $6,091 million, while comparable club sales, excluding gasoline, rose 3.1%. Digitally enabled comparable sales surged 30%, representing 64% growth on a two-year stacked basis. For BJ’s Wholesale, digital convenience remained a key driver, supported by pickup, same-day delivery and ExpressPay engagement.

What the Latest Metrics Say About CostcoCostco has seen its shares tumble 6% over the past three months compared with the industry’s decline of 3.6%. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 40.71, higher than the industry’s ratio of 29.13. However, it is trading below its 12-month median level of 47.12, indicating some moderation in valuation.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.6% and 13.5%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.9% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Castleark Management LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) in the undefined quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 2,800 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $2,619,000. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares

Jones Financial Companies Lllp acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 10,049 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $9,401,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in COST. World Investment Advisors lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 20,081 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $15,835,000 after buying an additional 1,560 shares in the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 6.9% during the 2nd quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 214,194 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $200,372,000 after acquiring an additional 13,795 shares in the last quarter. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $9,300,000. Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $5,813,000. Finally, Hyperion Asset Management Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 9.0% in the second quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $64,325,000 after purchasing an additional 5,656 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $915.74 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $943.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $977.75. The company has a market capitalization of $406.11 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.86. 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 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is currently 29.58%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have commented on COST shares. Guggenheim reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Roth Capital boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Twenty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.90.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Costco Wholesale

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong August sales: Net sales increased 9.9% year over year, with comparable sales rising across regions and digitally enabled sales advancing 17.9%. The figures point to resilient member demand and continued e-commerce momentum. Costco’s August Sales Rise 9.9% as Digital Growth Stays Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains broad: BTIG reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,125 target, while Bank of America maintained its Buy rating and $1,200 target. Analysts cited resilient core performance, market-share gains, and higher earnings estimates. BTIG Reaffirms Buy on Costco Positive Sentiment: Long-term shareholder appeal: Commentary highlighted Costco’s consistent dividend growth since 2004, membership model, customer loyalty, and potential for continued earnings expansion. Neutral Sentiment: Store expansion: Costco is reportedly considering a new location in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, supporting its long-term warehouse growth strategy, although the potential site has no immediate earnings impact. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst valuation signals: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating with a $1,000 target, while Bernstein retained a Buy rating but lowered its target to $1,144, indicating less room for upside despite confidence in the business. Negative Sentiment: Valuation concerns: Jim Cramer and other commentators argued that COST trades at roughly 43–49 times earnings, leaving the stock vulnerable if growth slows or results merely meet expectations. Cramer Says Costco at 49 Times Earnings Is the Mistake Loyal Shoppers Keep Making Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk: The Department of Justice expanded a beef-pricing antitrust inquiry to Costco, seeking information on prices, costs, margins, purchasing, and supply-chain practices. Potential compliance costs or scrutiny could pressure sentiment. US DOJ Widens Beef Price Inquiry Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The company’s online marketplace reportedly went offline without notice, raising questions about its digital strategy, although the platform is not viewed as central to Costco’s core business. Costco Next Online Marketplace Shut Down Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale In other news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next? Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst 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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Dearborn Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 32,064 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $31,949,000. Costco Wholesale makes up approximately 1.7% of Dearborn Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Burk Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently issued reports on COST shares. DA Davidson reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Roth Capital upped their target price on Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $1,144.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.90.

Read Our Latest Analysis on COST Costco Wholesale Price Performance NASDAQ COST opened at $915.74 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $943.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $977.75. The company has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.86.

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

Insider Activity In other news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong August sales: Net sales increased 9.9% year over year, with comparable sales rising across regions and digitally enabled sales advancing 17.9%. The figures point to resilient member demand and continued e-commerce momentum. Costco’s August Sales Rise 9.9% as Digital Growth Stays Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains broad: BTIG reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,125 target, while Bank of America maintained its Buy rating and $1,200 target. Analysts cited resilient core performance, market-share gains, and higher earnings estimates. BTIG Reaffirms Buy on Costco Positive Sentiment: Long-term shareholder appeal: Commentary highlighted Costco’s consistent dividend growth since 2004, membership model, customer loyalty, and potential for continued earnings expansion. Neutral Sentiment: Store expansion: Costco is reportedly considering a new location in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, supporting its long-term warehouse growth strategy, although the potential site has no immediate earnings impact. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst valuation signals: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating with a $1,000 target, while Bernstein retained a Buy rating but lowered its target to $1,144, indicating less room for upside despite confidence in the business. Negative Sentiment: Valuation concerns: Jim Cramer and other commentators argued that COST trades at roughly 43–49 times earnings, leaving the stock vulnerable if growth slows or results merely meet expectations. Cramer Says Costco at 49 Times Earnings Is the Mistake Loyal Shoppers Keep Making Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk: The Department of Justice expanded a beef-pricing antitrust inquiry to Costco, seeking information on prices, costs, margins, purchasing, and supply-chain practices. Potential compliance costs or scrutiny could pressure sentiment. US DOJ Widens Beef Price Inquiry Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The company’s online marketplace reportedly went offline without notice, raising questions about its digital strategy, although the platform is not viewed as central to Costco’s core business. Costco Next Online Marketplace Shut Down 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.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next? Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst

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L2 Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 2,538 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $2,374,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. World Investment Advisors raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 20,081 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $15,835,000 after buying an additional 1,560 shares in the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP lifted 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. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $9,300,000. Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at about $5,813,000. Finally, Hyperion Asset Management Ltd boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 9.0% during the second quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $64,325,000 after purchasing an additional 5,656 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades COST has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. DA Davidson reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $1,091.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Finally, Roth Capital upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,056.90.

Read Our Latest Report on Costco Wholesale Costco Wholesale News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

Positive Sentiment: Strong August sales: Net sales increased 9.9% year over year, with comparable sales rising across regions and digitally enabled sales advancing 17.9%. The figures point to resilient member demand and continued e-commerce momentum. Costco’s August Sales Rise 9.9% as Digital Growth Stays Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains broad: BTIG reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,125 target, while Bank of America maintained its Buy rating and $1,200 target. Analysts cited resilient core performance, market-share gains, and higher earnings estimates. BTIG Reaffirms Buy on Costco Positive Sentiment: Long-term shareholder appeal: Commentary highlighted Costco’s consistent dividend growth since 2004, membership model, customer loyalty, and potential for continued earnings expansion. Neutral Sentiment: Store expansion: Costco is reportedly considering a new location in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, supporting its long-term warehouse growth strategy, although the potential site has no immediate earnings impact. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst valuation signals: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating with a $1,000 target, while Bernstein retained a Buy rating but lowered its target to $1,144, indicating less room for upside despite confidence in the business. Negative Sentiment: Valuation concerns: Jim Cramer and other commentators argued that COST trades at roughly 43–49 times earnings, leaving the stock vulnerable if growth slows or results merely meet expectations. Cramer Says Costco at 49 Times Earnings Is the Mistake Loyal Shoppers Keep Making Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk: The Department of Justice expanded a beef-pricing antitrust inquiry to Costco, seeking information on prices, costs, margins, purchasing, and supply-chain practices. Potential compliance costs or scrutiny could pressure sentiment. US DOJ Widens Beef Price Inquiry Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The company’s online marketplace reportedly went offline without notice, raising questions about its digital strategy, although the platform is not viewed as central to Costco’s core business. Costco Next Online Marketplace Shut Down Insiders Place Their Bets In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth 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 transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ COST opened at $915.74 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $406.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.86. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $943.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $977.75.

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

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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next? Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst 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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Front Street Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 16,076 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $15,039,000. Costco Wholesale accounts for about 1.7% of Front Street Capital Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position.

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

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 1.0% Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $915.74 on Friday. 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 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. The company has a market capitalization of $406.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.06, a PEG ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.86. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $943.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $977.75.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.58%. Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on COST shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $1,091.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Roth Capital lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Guggenheim restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $1,000.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.90.

View Our Latest Analysis on Costco Wholesale

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong August sales: Net sales increased 9.9% year over year, with comparable sales rising across regions and digitally enabled sales advancing 17.9%. The figures point to resilient member demand and continued e-commerce momentum. Costco’s August Sales Rise 9.9% as Digital Growth Stays Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains broad: BTIG reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,125 target, while Bank of America maintained its Buy rating and $1,200 target. Analysts cited resilient core performance, market-share gains, and higher earnings estimates. BTIG Reaffirms Buy on Costco Positive Sentiment: Long-term shareholder appeal: Commentary highlighted Costco’s consistent dividend growth since 2004, membership model, customer loyalty, and potential for continued earnings expansion. Neutral Sentiment: Store expansion: Costco is reportedly considering a new location in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, supporting its long-term warehouse growth strategy, although the potential site has no immediate earnings impact. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst valuation signals: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating with a $1,000 target, while Bernstein retained a Buy rating but lowered its target to $1,144, indicating less room for upside despite confidence in the business. Negative Sentiment: Valuation concerns: Jim Cramer and other commentators argued that COST trades at roughly 43–49 times earnings, leaving the stock vulnerable if growth slows or results merely meet expectations. Cramer Says Costco at 49 Times Earnings Is the Mistake Loyal Shoppers Keep Making Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk: The Department of Justice expanded a beef-pricing antitrust inquiry to Costco, seeking information on prices, costs, margins, purchasing, and supply-chain practices. Potential compliance costs or scrutiny could pressure sentiment. US DOJ Widens Beef Price Inquiry Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The company’s online marketplace reportedly went offline without notice, raising questions about its digital strategy, although the platform is not viewed as central to Costco’s core business. Costco Next Online Marketplace Shut Down 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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next? Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst 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.

Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,434 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,327,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. Tandem Financial LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth approximately $243,000. L2 Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth approximately $2,374,000. Vega Investment Solutions purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth $419,000. Finally, McDonough Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth $5,051,000. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently commented on COST shares. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Mizuho set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Twenty-one investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,056.90.

Read Our Latest Report on Costco Wholesale Costco Wholesale News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

Positive Sentiment: Strong August sales: Net sales increased 9.9% year over year, with comparable sales rising across regions and digitally enabled sales advancing 17.9%. The figures point to resilient member demand and continued e-commerce momentum. Costco’s August Sales Rise 9.9% as Digital Growth Stays Strong Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains broad: BTIG reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,125 target, while Bank of America maintained its Buy rating and $1,200 target. Analysts cited resilient core performance, market-share gains, and higher earnings estimates. BTIG Reaffirms Buy on Costco Positive Sentiment: Long-term shareholder appeal: Commentary highlighted Costco’s consistent dividend growth since 2004, membership model, customer loyalty, and potential for continued earnings expansion. Neutral Sentiment: Store expansion: Costco is reportedly considering a new location in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, supporting its long-term warehouse growth strategy, although the potential site has no immediate earnings impact. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst valuation signals: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating with a $1,000 target, while Bernstein retained a Buy rating but lowered its target to $1,144, indicating less room for upside despite confidence in the business. Negative Sentiment: Valuation concerns: Jim Cramer and other commentators argued that COST trades at roughly 43–49 times earnings, leaving the stock vulnerable if growth slows or results merely meet expectations. Cramer Says Costco at 49 Times Earnings Is the Mistake Loyal Shoppers Keep Making Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk: The Department of Justice expanded a beef-pricing antitrust inquiry to Costco, seeking information on prices, costs, margins, purchasing, and supply-chain practices. Potential compliance costs or scrutiny could pressure sentiment. US DOJ Widens Beef Price Inquiry Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The company’s online marketplace reportedly went offline without notice, raising questions about its digital strategy, although the platform is not viewed as central to Costco’s core business. Costco Next Online Marketplace Shut Down Costco Wholesale Stock Down 1.0% Shares of COST opened at $915.74 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $943.58 and its 200 day moving average is $977.75. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. The company has a market capitalization of $406.11 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.86.

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

Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s 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 transaction, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

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.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next? Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst 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.

Jim Cramer is sounding an alarm about a beloved retailer that loyal shoppers treat as bulletproof, and the numbers behind his warning point toward a corner of retail that most investors still underestimate.

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On CNBC’s opening bell on September 3, 2026, Jim Cramer laid out a split that inverts most people’s assumptions about American retail. The membership warehouse with the best reputation in the business is stumbling, and the chains people quietly hit for essentials are running away with the story.

Costco (NASDAQ:COST | COST Price Prediction) trades near 47 times trailing earnings while its comparable sales have gone the wrong way for four straight reporting periods. Meanwhile, Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE), Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR), and Dollar General (NYSE:DG) have each reported quarters that would look strong in any market.

Cramer’s read is that the trade-down is real, and it is not treating Costco the way loyal shoppers assume it should.

Trading Down That Actually Works Jim Cramer said, “If you want to know what trading down looks like in a positive way, you just look at what Winnie Park has done at Five Below. Still one more amazing quarter.” The endorsement lines up with the numbers.

Five Below’s second quarter delivered net sales of $1.3 billion, up 23%, with comparable sales growth of 14% and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.68. Park raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a midpoint of $10.07.

Trading down describes household dollars migrating toward retailers positioned where the marginal purchase now happens. Park emphasized broad-based growth across all income cohorts, geographies, and categories, which reads as trade-in behavior from higher-income shoppers rather than pure distress buying.

At roughly 31 times earnings, Five Below is priced for growth investors, and estimate revisions have moved higher across every forward quarter. That is a materially different proposition than paying 47 times for a warehouse chain whose top line is decelerating.

Costco’s Problem Runs Deeper Than a Multiple Cramer invoked Charlie Munger’s principle that at extreme multiples the price has already paid for the future, and then applied it to Costco. He is right, and the multiple is best read as a symptom of the underlying problem.

CNBC noted that Costco’s comparable store sales declined across May, June, July, and August, and also flagged weak renewal rates for membership card purchases. Management on the last call reported the worldwide renewal rate at 89.7%, attributing the pressure to a growing mix of online sign-ups that renew at lower rates than warehouse sign-ups.

A membership retailer that struggles to keep its members has a structural issue that a rebound in gasoline traffic cannot fix. Costco’s operating leverage lives in the fees line, and although membership fees ran $1.37 billion, up 10.7% in the most recent quarter, a slower renewal cadence eventually reaches that growth rate.

The stock has noticed. Costco is down 2% over the past year and sits below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.

Cramer’s Generational Worry Deserves a Serious Answer Jim Cramer said, “I don’t want it to be a generational thing where my generation is Costco and the newer generations don’t look at it like that.” That is the most interesting thing he said, and the evidence is genuinely mixed.

Bullish evidence: paid executive memberships grew 9.6% to 41.2 million, digitally enabled comparable sales rose 21.5%, and site and app traffic increased 37%. A brand losing the internet does not produce those numbers.

Bearish evidence: digital sign-ups renew at a lower rate than warehouse sign-ups. The new member is easier to acquire and harder to keep, which is the pattern you would expect if the brand’s cultural gravity were weakening at the margins.

Cramer’s fear is reasonable. The data does not yet confirm it.

Where the Value Has Moved, and What Ends the Trade Jim Cramer said, “I’m just wondering whether the great value isn’t in these dollar stores.” CNBC reported strong results from both Dollar Tree and Dollar General.

Dollar Tree posted comparable sales up 3.7% with gross margin expanding 850 basis points to 42.9%. Dollar General reported 3.5% same-store sales growth in its fifth consecutive quarter of traffic growth, and CEO Todd Vasos cited strong trade-in across middle- and high-income cohorts.

The economics are simple. When budgets tighten, the fixed-cost base of a small-box discount format levers hard against small increases in traffic, and a $1 price point does disproportionate merchandising work for a shopper counting pennies.

Dollar Tree at 16 times earnings and Dollar General at 17 times are priced as if the trade-down ends tomorrow, which it likely will not, unless real wages accelerate meaningfully at the low end.

The trade-down winners look like a cyclical opportunity that investors would size to their own risk tolerance. What ends the trade is a genuine improvement in purchasing power at the bottom two income quintiles. Until that shows up in the data, Five Below and the dollar stores are where the incremental household dollar is going.

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Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 274,678 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $256,954,000. Bank of Nova Scotia owned about 0.06% of Costco Wholesale at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of COST. Kirtland Hills Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,204,000. Compass Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth $4,502,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter valued at about $16,837,000. Alta Advisers Ltd bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter valued at about $1,558,000. Finally, Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at about $24,459,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on COST shares. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price objective on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $1,120.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, August 6th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,185.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,059.53.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Costco Wholesale Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.3% COST stock opened at $925.41 on Friday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a twelve month low of $844.06 and a twelve month high of $1,096.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The company has a market cap of $410.40 billion, a PE ratio of 46.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.86. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $944.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $978.18.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.58%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong August and fiscal-year sales: Costco reported August net sales of $23.70 billion, up 9.9% year over year. Fourth-quarter sales rose 11.3% to $93.9 billion, while fiscal-year sales increased 10.2% to $297.3 billion. Total comparable sales grew 8.4% for August and the fiscal year, and digitally enabled sales rose 17.9% for the month and 20.9% for the year. Costco August Sales Results Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive: BTIG reaffirmed its Buy rating with a $1,125 price target, while Bank of America maintained a Buy rating and a $1,200 target. These targets imply substantial upside and suggest analysts believe Costco’s membership model and sales momentum support its premium valuation. BTIG Costco Rating Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst signal: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating but lifted its price target to $1,000, indicating limited conviction even while acknowledging potential appreciation. Neutral Sentiment: Long-term optimism: Commentary argues Costco could eventually surpass Home Depot and Lowe’s in market value if it sustains membership growth, warehouse expansion and consistent execution. This is a long-range thesis rather than a near-term catalyst. Costco Long-Term Valuation Forecast Negative Sentiment: DOJ beef-pricing investigation: The Justice Department is requesting records from Costco and other major retailers regarding beef prices, costs, margins and purchasing strategies. The inquiry creates potential legal, regulatory and operational risks, although no wrongdoing has been established. DOJ Beef Price Inquiry Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The abrupt ending of the online Costco Next marketplace disappointed some members and raises questions about the company’s digital strategy, though the direct financial effect appears limited. Costco Next Shutdown Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale In other news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

(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.

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There aren't many people betting against Costco (COST -0.33%) these days. Less than 2% of its shares are currently being sold short. It doesn't mean that there isn't a bearish argument to be made. The stock isn't cheap, with the warehouse club operator trading at 47 times trailing earnings. Net sales rose 10.2% for the fiscal year that ended over the weekend, but that follows three years of single-digit top-line growth.

This may seem like an odd way to start a bullish piece on Costco, but I figured I would lay out the bearish thesis before pivoting to the bullish camp. As a longtime Costco shareholder, I am naturally optimistic about the chain. I also think now is a good time to invest in the industry leader. Let's go over three reasons why this is a great month to warm up to Costco.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Earnings season is here A single quarter shouldn't matter for long-term Costco stock investors, but let's start by circling Sept. 24 on the calendar. It's the day that Costco reports its fiscal fourth-quarter results. There isn't much mystery about the top line. Costco publishes its sales shortly after the end of every month. On Wednesday, we learned that net sales for the 16-week fourth quarter rose 11.3% to $93.9 billion.

Costco's registers are perpetually busy tending to long lines of members, but how much of those net sales made it down to the bottom line? Analysts see earnings per share rising 12% to $6.56 for the quarter. Costco has landed marginally ahead of Wall Street's quarterly profit targets for more than a year. I like the chain's chances of moving higher after the report.

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2. Special events Costco's yield of 0.6% isn't going to be a dinner bell for income investors, but Costco spices things up with special one-time distributions to return more of the money it's been amassing to its shareholders. Why am I making a point of bringing up this irregular payout? Check out the timeline of all five of Costco's special dividends over the years.

Dec. 27, 2023: $15 a share Dec. 1, 2020: $10 a share May 8, 2017: $7 a share Feb. 5, 2015: $5 a share Dec. 6, 2012: $7 a share It has never been more than three years between the declared distributions. The last two times it has happened near the end of the year. History suggests a large payout -- potentially $20 a share, if not more -- is coming later this year.

3. Reversion to the mean Costco has delivered generational wealth to long-term investors. The stock is a 146-bagger since its 1993 IPO. The market rewards steady performers, and Costco is a beating drum. It has only skipped a beat once, generating positive net sales growth in 32 of its 33 years as a public company.

Now is probably a good time to revisit the stock chart you saw earlier. Costco has looked pretty flat over the past year. It's actually trading 3% lower over the past year. It has doubled over the past five years, but its recent underperformance isn't the norm. It's the opportunity. This historically safe stock bounces back. It should do so again, soon.

George Kaiser Family Foundation acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 791 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $740,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Roth Capital lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” 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. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 target price for the company. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,059.53.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Costco Wholesale Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong sales momentum supports the investment case. Costco reported August net sales of $23.70 billion, up 9.9% year over year. Fourth-quarter sales rose 11.3% to $93.9 billion, while fiscal-year sales increased 10.2% to $297.3 billion. Total comparable sales grew 8.4% for the year, and digitally enabled sales jumped 20.9%. Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports August Sales Results Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains favorable. Mizuho reiterated a Buy rating and maintained a $1,100 price target, citing confidence in Costco’s membership-driven growth. Recent analyst targets generally remain above the current trading level, with a reported six-month median target of $1,125. Analyst Reiterates Buy on Costco Neutral Sentiment: Calendar effects clouded the monthly comparison. Costco said the later timing of Labor Day reduced August total and comparable sales growth by slightly less than 75 basis points. Underlying performance remained positive, but investors may look for confirmation in the next report. Negative Sentiment: Costco Next was abruptly discontinued. The company shut down the online Costco Next marketplace without notice. While the service is unlikely to materially affect near-term financial results, the move could disappoint members and remove a customer-engagement perk. Costco has ended this online service without notice Negative Sentiment: Regulatory uncertainty increased. The U.S. Department of Justice expanded an investigation into rising beef prices to include Costco and other major retailers. Potential reputational, legal, or margin-related consequences create an overhang, although no wrongdoing has been established. DOJ expands beef price investigation Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves little room for disappointment. Costco trades at roughly 47 times earnings, with a PEG ratio above 4, and shares remain below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Insider activity has also consisted of sales rather than purchases in recent months, adding to investor caution. Costco Wholesale Price Performance Shares of COST stock opened at $928.48 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $944.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $978.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market cap of $411.76 billion, a PE ratio of 46.70, a PEG ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.87.

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

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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Striking Oil: How the U.S. Play for Venezuela Fuels Supermajors J.M. Smucker Stock’s Rally Has More Than Tariffs Behind It Wendy’s Rally Fades After Trian Steps Back: Was It Ever Real? GitLab’s Earnings Beat Just Gave Software Bulls a New SaaSpocalypse Test

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Evolve Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,937 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $3,683,000.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of COST. Diamant Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 99,278.0% in the first quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,726,899 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $672,690,000 after purchasing an additional 6,720,130 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth about $5,195,415,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 838.9% during the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,125,405 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $5,282,182,000 after acquiring an additional 5,472,968 shares during the period. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 103,637.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,500,062 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,549,616,000 after acquiring an additional 2,497,652 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cardano Risk Management B.V. boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 907.1% during the 4th quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 1,785,080 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,539,346,000 after acquiring an additional 1,607,833 shares during the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In COST has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Costco Wholesale from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Oppenheimer increased their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,120.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $1,125.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,059.53.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Costco Wholesale Insider Activity In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 1.2% Shares of COST stock opened at $928.48 on Thursday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $411.76 billion, a PE ratio of 46.70, a PEG ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.87. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $944.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $978.84.

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

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

Positive Sentiment: Strong sales momentum supports the investment case. Costco reported August net sales of $23.70 billion, up 9.9% year over year. Fourth-quarter sales rose 11.3% to $93.9 billion, while fiscal-year sales increased 10.2% to $297.3 billion. Total comparable sales grew 8.4% for the year, and digitally enabled sales jumped 20.9%. Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports August Sales Results Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains favorable. Mizuho reiterated a Buy rating and maintained a $1,100 price target, citing confidence in Costco’s membership-driven growth. Recent analyst targets generally remain above the current trading level, with a reported six-month median target of $1,125. Analyst Reiterates Buy on Costco Neutral Sentiment: Calendar effects clouded the monthly comparison. Costco said the later timing of Labor Day reduced August total and comparable sales growth by slightly less than 75 basis points. Underlying performance remained positive, but investors may look for confirmation in the next report. Negative Sentiment: Costco Next was abruptly discontinued. The company shut down the online Costco Next marketplace without notice. While the service is unlikely to materially affect near-term financial results, the move could disappoint members and remove a customer-engagement perk. Costco has ended this online service without notice Negative Sentiment: Regulatory uncertainty increased. The U.S. Department of Justice expanded an investigation into rising beef prices to include Costco and other major retailers. Potential reputational, legal, or margin-related consequences create an overhang, although no wrongdoing has been established. DOJ expands beef price investigation Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves little room for disappointment. Costco trades at roughly 47 times earnings, with a PEG ratio above 4, and shares remain below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Insider activity has also consisted of sales rather than purchases in recent months, adding to investor caution. (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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale Striking Oil: How the U.S. Play for Venezuela Fuels Supermajors J.M. Smucker Stock’s Rally Has More Than Tariffs Behind It Wendy’s Rally Fades After Trian Steps Back: Was It Ever Real? GitLab’s Earnings Beat Just Gave Software Bulls a New SaaSpocalypse Test

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