Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Stock Has Average Price Target of $1,046.27 According to Brokerages

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirty-three brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and twenty-three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $1,046.27.

Several analysts have commented on COST shares. Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $950.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,091.00 to $1,079.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $1,160.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of COST stock opened at $959.44 on Tuesday. Costco Wholesale has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $930.81 and its 200 day moving average is $963.26. The company has a market cap of $425.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.22, a PEG ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $94.97 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 27.60% and a net margin of 3.04%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.87 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale will post 22.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong September sales: Costco reported September net sales of $30.02 billion, a 13.0% year-over-year increase. Comparable sales excluding gasoline and currency effects rose 7.6%, accelerating from August’s 5.4%, suggesting resilient consumer demand. Costco Wholesale Posts 13% September Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Digital business remains a growth driver: September digital sales increased 19%, supported by expanded delivery options and more personalized shopping, extending Costco’s broader fiscal 2026 momentum. Costco’s 19% September Digital Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Historical performance supports dip-buying: Costco stock has historically recovered after sizable pullbacks; it was higher one year later in seven of nine instances since 2010 when it fell at least 14% from a record close. Costco Stock Is 14% Below Its Record
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend growth adds shareholder appeal: Costco’s dividend has risen 86% over five years, while investors continue to anticipate the possibility of another special dividend. Costco Dividend Income Outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Membership value is mixed: A comparison of 27 grocery staples found Costco often offers lower unit prices, but bulk packaging and the annual membership fee can make total spending less attractive for smaller households. Is a $65 Costco Membership Worth It for Groceries?
• Neutral Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed its “Sector Perform” rating, indicating no significant change in its near-term view. Royal Bank of Canada Reaffirms Sector Perform Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and yield risks remain: Costco trades at roughly 45–46 times earnings, a substantial premium to the broader market. With the 10-year Treasury yield near 5.2%, the company’s relatively small dividend is less attractive to income-focused investors. Costco Stock Versus 10-Year Treasury Notes
• Negative Sentiment: Some September sales growth benefited from elevated gasoline prices; cheaper fuel could reduce reported revenue and fuel-related traffic, increasing pressure on Costco to sustain growth through merchandise and membership gains. What Cheaper Gas Would Mean for Costco’s Sales and Margins

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total value of $2,015,046.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,534,244.62. The trade was a 23.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Costco Wholesale

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Burk Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Company Profile

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.