Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. Purchases 997 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 17.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,673 shares of the retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 997 shares during the quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc.’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $6,177,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in COST. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 49.3% during the 3rd quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,780 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,499,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the last quarter. Permanent Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the third quarter valued at about $874,000. Wealthspire Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 2.0% in the second quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 15,799 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $15,640,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.7% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,356,271 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $42,920,107,000 after buying an additional 711,560 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 43.6% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 23,444 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $21,700,000 after acquiring an additional 7,116 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In related news, Director Susan L. Decker sold 458 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total transaction of $437,390.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,532 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,148,060. This represents a 5.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Javier Polit sold 2,049 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $867.21, for a total transaction of $1,776,913.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 10,748 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,320,773.08. This represents a 16.01% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 6,915 shares of company stock worth $6,317,097 over the last quarter. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 0.3%

COST opened at $985.27 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week high of $1,067.08. The stock has a market cap of $437.33 billion, a PE ratio of 52.77, a PEG ratio of 5.20 and a beta of 1.01. The business has a 50 day moving average of $934.56 and a 200-day moving average of $934.23.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 11th. The retailer reported $4.34 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.27 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $67.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $67.03 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 29.35% and a net margin of 2.96%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.04 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th were paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.85%.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Tariff rollback could boost margins and act as a near-term tailwind to profitability — a concrete cost improvement that supports EPS upside. Costco: A Tariff-Rollback Winner, But No Longer On Sale
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment is supportive — COST was given an average rating of “Moderate Buy,” which can attract investor interest and buying. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: High-profile endorsements and media mentions (e.g., Jim Cramer) raise visibility and can support momentum flows into the stock. Jim Cramer Looks Back On Costco’s (COST) Share Price Performance
• Positive Sentiment: Operational momentum — Costco is up ~15% YTD after a strong January sales report, a reminder that top-line strength underpins the rally. Costco Stock Is Soaring, but Is It Getting Ahead of Itself?
• Positive Sentiment: Consumer buzz — viral food-court items and limited-time treats keep members engaged and can drive in-store traffic. Costco’s New $3 Food Court Dessert Is Going Viral — Shoppers Say It’s a Must-Try
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive context — price comparisons with Sam’s Club and Walmart articles are reminders Costco must defend value vs. large rivals; not immediately catalytic. We compared Costco and Sam’s Club prices on store brand products to see which is the better deal
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation is a growing concern — COST trades at a high P/E (~53), and several commentary pieces warn the rally may be getting ahead of fundamentals, which can increase downside risk if growth slows. Costco Stock Is Soaring, but Is It Getting Ahead of Itself?
• Negative Sentiment: Legal risk: new lawsuits over rotisserie chicken could create headline risk, potential costs or reputational impact — a watch item for investors. Another lawsuit targets Costco rotisserie chickens
• Negative Sentiment: Investor skepticism pieces (e.g., “1 reason I haven’t bought Costco”) highlight that a premium, consistent track record reduces upside — could limit new buyer interest at current multiples. 1 Reason I Haven’t Bought Costco Stock — and Probably Never Will
• Negative Sentiment: Customer/membership friction stories (policy annoyances) create minor reputational headwinds that could matter for long-term loyalty if they scale. Costco rule may frustrate some members

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. HSBC decreased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,045.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 12th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Hovde Group started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $16.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Evercore raised their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,025.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Twenty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,008.07.

Costco Wholesale Company Profile

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.