Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Position Increased by Smith Group Asset Management LLC

Smith Group Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 9.0% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 61,895 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,119 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale makes up approximately 3.1% of Smith Group Asset Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Smith Group Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $61,674,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. World Investment Advisors increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% during 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 during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 24.5% during the 4th quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 140,429 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $121,098,000 after acquiring an additional 27,625 shares in the last quarter. Curtis Advisory Group LLC grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 56.7% during the 4th quarter. Curtis Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,535 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,911,000 after acquiring an additional 1,641 shares in the last quarter. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $9,300,000. Finally, Oak Ridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC now owns 22,117 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $19,072,000 after purchasing an additional 1,496 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In other news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’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 transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale 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 Stock Performance

NASDAQ COST opened at $966.58 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $960.85 and a two-hundred day moving average of $981.69. The company has a market capitalization of $428.66 billion, a PE ratio of 48.62, a P/E/G ratio of 4.60 and a beta of 0.88. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year 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.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.94 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $70.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $70.12 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.04% and a net margin of 3.01%.During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.28 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

COST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on 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. UBS Group upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Roth Capital increased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,185.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,059.07.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco has begun operating its Port St. Lucie, Florida distribution center independently from the power grid using on-site solar generation and battery storage. The project could reduce energy costs, improve resilience and support Costco’s net-zero and sustainability goals. Breaking Free from the Grid, Costco Teams with Trinity Energy to Pioneer True Commercial Energy Independence
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentators continue to highlight Costco’s long-term growth profile. Expected earnings growth, recurring membership revenue and strong customer loyalty support the bullish investment case, although the stock already trades at a high earnings multiple. Why Costco Is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term
• Positive Sentiment: Kirkland Signature is described as an increasingly important growth engine. Its lower prices, broad product expansion and reported savings of roughly 15% to 20% can strengthen customer loyalty, differentiate Costco and support merchandise margins. Costco’s Kirkland Brand Is Becoming a Powerful Growth Engine
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco’s use of free water samples illustrates its strategy of encouraging shoppers to discover and purchase new products. Retail experts viewed the tactic as a creative engagement and merchandising initiative, but the article does not indicate a material near-term financial impact. Costco Offered Shoppers Free Samples of Water
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for a proposed Costco store in South Reno remain uncertain, potentially delaying a future contribution from that market. The development issue appears localized and is unlikely to materially affect Costco’s overall valuation. What Happened to the Proposed New South Reno Costco Store?
• Negative Sentiment: Eligible Washington Costco shoppers may receive payments from a reported $14 million settlement. While the settlement appears limited relative to Costco’s size, it creates a legal expense and could add reputational risk. Washington Costco Shoppers Eligible for Cash in $14 Million Settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Promotional gas discounts from 7-Eleven are increasing competition for Costco’s fuel business, potentially weakening one of the membership club’s customer-traffic advantages as households remain pressured by high gasoline prices. 7-Eleven Has a Gas Discount That Challenges Costco

About Costco Wholesale

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.