Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST – Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by equities researchers at Freedom Broker from $1,030.00 to $1,010.00 in a report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the retailer’s stock. Freedom Broker’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 9.59% from the company’s current price.
Several other research firms also recently weighed in on COST. Guggenheim restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, June 1st. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. Finally, HSBC raised shares of Costco Wholesale to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Twenty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,046.77.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on COST
Costco Wholesale Price Performance
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $94.97 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.04% and a net margin of 3.01%. Analysts expect that Costco Wholesale will post 20.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Costco Wholesale
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth $28,000. Burk Holdings LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at $30,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
More Costco Wholesale News
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Earnings and sales exceeded expectations. Costco reported $6.75 in adjusted EPS versus approximately $6.53–$6.54 expected, while revenue reached $95.72 billion against a $94.97 billion consensus. Net income rose 14.9% year over year to nearly $3 billion. Costco Ends Its Fiscal Year on a High Note, Eyes Big Expansion
- Positive Sentiment: Broad operating momentum supports the bullish case. Fourth-quarter comparable sales increased 9.4%, digitally enabled comparable sales jumped 19.5%, and pharmacy, gasoline and membership activity remained strong. Management also plans to accelerate expansion with 33 new warehouses in fiscal 2027. Costco Q4 Earnings Call Highlights Expansion and Digital Growth
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains substantial. Goldman Sachs sees meaningful upside, while UBS reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,275 target. Bernstein, Mizuho, JPMorgan and DA Davidson also retain positive or neutral ratings with targets above the recent trading level, despite several reductions. Costco just reported strong earnings
- Neutral Sentiment: Tariff refunds boosted results. Fourth-quarter EPS included a one-time benefit of roughly $0.15 per share from IEEPA tariff refunds. Costco said it has returned part of the benefit to members, but investors may discount some of the earnings beat as nonrecurring. Costco earnings beat expectations, thanks to tariff refunds
- Negative Sentiment: Premium valuation and membership concerns are limiting enthusiasm. Costco trades at roughly 46 times earnings, while membership-fee growth has slowed sharply after the 2024 fee increase. Because membership income contributes significantly to operating profit, analysts are focused on renewal rates and the timing of the next fee increase. Costco’s Best Numbers Came With an Asterisk
- Negative Sentiment: Several firms lowered price targets. Wells Fargo, Truist, JPMorgan and Raymond James reduced their targets following the report, reflecting concerns that strong execution is already priced into COST and that tariffs, higher product costs and elevated interest rates could pressure future margins.
Costco Wholesale Company Profile
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.
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