Patron Partners LLC Buys New Stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Patron Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 5,859 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $5,481,000. Costco Wholesale comprises about 2.1% of Patron Partners LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Diamant Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 99,278.0% during the first quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,726,899 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $672,690,000 after acquiring an additional 6,720,130 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $5,195,415,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 5,472,968 shares during the last quarter. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC increased its stake 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 position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 907.1% in the fourth quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 1,785,080 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,539,346,000 after acquiring an additional 1,607,833 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

COST opened at $939.96 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $945.29 and a 200-day moving average of $979.34. The company has a market capitalization of $416.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.28, a PEG ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.87. 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 quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

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 $1.47 dividend. 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 29.58%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

COST has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Oppenheimer upped their price target 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and set a $1,120.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, 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, June 4th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,059.53.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the company’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 owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations remain favorable. Costco’s history of exceeding estimates, combined with analysts’ expectations for strong sales and earnings momentum, could support the shares ahead of the next quarterly report. Why Costco Could Beat Earnings Estimates Again
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst maintains bullish outlook. Mizuho reiterated a Buy rating and a $1,100 price target, citing confidence in Costco’s membership-driven growth and core operating performance. Analyst Reiterates Buy on Costco
• Positive Sentiment: International expansion offers a longer-term growth driver. Solid international comparable sales, additional warehouse capacity and expansion opportunities in Asia and Europe could gradually make overseas markets more important to Costco’s growth. Can International Markets Become Costco’s Biggest Driver?
• Positive Sentiment: New-store growth continues. A large Southern California warehouse is nearing completion, highlighting Costco’s ongoing domestic expansion and potential membership and sales contributions. Costco’s New California Location
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco is partnering with SCAN Health on a Medicare Advantage plan, potentially broadening member benefits and customer engagement, though the direct financial impact remains unclear. Why Costco? Experts Weigh In on SCAN Health’s New MA Plan
• Neutral Sentiment: Fall bakery promotions and favorable consumer coverage reinforce Costco’s retail appeal but are unlikely to materially change near-term earnings. Costco Fall Bakery Items
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation is the primary risk. Commentary argues that Costco’s exceptional operating record and decade-long stock gains are already reflected in a high earnings multiple, leaving less room for disappointment and potentially limiting upside. Why Investors Should Pause
• Negative Sentiment: Target may offer a more attractive risk-reward profile because of its lower valuation and improving momentum, creating a relative headwind for COST. Costco vs. Target
• Negative Sentiment: Walmart’s new rotisserie-chicken offering intensifies competition in a high-visibility Costco category, although the immediate impact on Costco’s results is uncertain. Walmart Challenges Costco With Rotisserie Chicken

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.