681 Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Sold by Mechanics Bank Trust Department

Mechanics Bank Trust Department trimmed its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,535 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 681 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale accounts for approximately 1.9% of Mechanics Bank Trust Department’s holdings, making the stock its 10th largest position. Mechanics Bank Trust Department’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $14,142,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Sarasin & Partners LLP lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 6.9% in the second 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 last quarter. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $9,300,000. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan grew its stake in Costco Wholesale by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan now owns 158,416 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $148,193,000 after buying an additional 6,200 shares during the last quarter. 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 buying an additional 5,656 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 15.0% in the 2nd quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,766 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $21,297,000 after acquiring an additional 2,974 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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: Costco reported September net sales of approximately $30.02 billion, up 13% year over year. Digital sales grew 19%, supported by expanded delivery options and personalization, reinforcing expectations for continued membership and e-commerce momentum. Costco Wholesale Posts 13% September Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s $21.3 billion liquidity cushion, manageable debt and strong cash generation give it financial flexibility to open warehouses and invest in growth. Its balance sheet is viewed as stronger than many retail competitors. How Costco’s Balance Sheet Gives It an Edge
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its FY2027 earnings forecast to $22.80 per share from $22.67 and projects FY2028 EPS of $25.01, signaling confidence in Costco’s longer-term earnings trajectory.
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco continues to be characterized as a resilient, “all-weather” retailer, with its membership model and essential-goods exposure supporting long-term investor interest. However, the stock’s recent gains make comparisons with its prior record and future growth increasingly important. Costco Stock Performance Over the Past Year
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation remains a key concern: COST trades at roughly 45–46 times earnings, well above the broader market. A 5.2% 10-year Treasury yield also offers substantially more income than Costco’s dividend, potentially limiting demand for the stock among yield-focused investors. Costco Stock Versus 10-Year Treasury Notes
• Negative Sentiment: Some September sales growth benefited from elevated gasoline prices, which increase reported fuel revenue. If gas prices decline, that boost could fade, leaving investors more dependent on underlying membership, merchandise and digital growth. What Cheaper Gas Would Mean for Costco Sales and Margins

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

NASDAQ COST traded down $4.81 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $954.63. The company had a trading volume of 1,421,685 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,185,239. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a market cap of $423.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.98, a P/E/G ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $930.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $963.12. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 company had revenue of $95.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $94.97 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.04% and a return on equity of 27.60%. The business’s revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.87 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In related news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,534,244.62. This trade represents a 23.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on COST shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,091.00 to $1,079.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Freedom Broker decreased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,030.00 to $1,010.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 25th. Argus reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $1,230.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,125.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Twenty-three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,046.27.

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells a broad selection of merchandise, including groceries, fresh foods, beverages, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal products. It also offers services such as gasoline, pharmacies, optical departments, hearing-aid centers, food courts, travel services, and business delivery in selected markets.

Costco markets many products under its private-label Kirkland Signature brand and sells merchandise through warehouse locations and e-commerce platforms.