Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA Boosts Stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 169.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 39,549 shares of the retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 24,871 shares during the period. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $34,105,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in COST. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 18,325,416 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $18,141,062,000 after acquiring an additional 90,107 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth $5,692,035,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 9.8% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,291,557 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,248,384,000 after buying an additional 383,887 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 45.0% during the 3rd quarter. Amundi now owns 3,176,606 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,893,697,000 after buying an additional 986,182 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 3,145,241 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,911,331,000 after buying an additional 34,826 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $974.78 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $432.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.69, a PEG ratio of 4.84 and a beta of 1.01. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,067.08. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $983.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $938.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.55 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $68.96 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. Costco Wholesale’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.02 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th were given a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.04%.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In related news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total value of $732,204.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. This trade represents a 10.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP James C. Klauer sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $939.00, for a total value of $1,408,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 44,837 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,101,943. This trade represents a 3.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 7,645 shares of company stock worth $7,049,302 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COST has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, March 6th. Roth Mkm reaffirmed a “sell” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Bank of America began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, February 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $1,185.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn upped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $890.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,039.13.

Costco Wholesale News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts maintain a favorable view — a broad coverage sample shows an average “Moderate Buy” consensus, supporting investor confidence in Costco’s long-term outlook. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Costco upgraded its retail media platform — this could boost ad revenue and help monetize store and digital traffic, a diversification tailwind beyond membership fees and merchandise. Costco upgrades its retail media platform
• Positive Sentiment: New Kirkland Signature product rollouts and an expanding footprint (including a planned standalone gas station) reinforce Costco’s value proposition for members and open local competitive advantages vs. c-stores and mass retailers. Costco adds Kirkland Signature items. See what’s new Costco’s first standalone gas station to open by late June
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and media pieces reiterate upside potential but note valuation and retail disruption risks — helpful context but not an immediate catalyst. Costco Stock Forecast: Can COST Keep Up amid Worries about the Future of Retail Stores?
• Neutral Sentiment: Consumer-focused promos/tech deals coverage (e.g., tech sale comparisons to Amazon) highlight competitive positioning but are unlikely to move fundamentals immediately. 4 Costco Tech Deals That Rival Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported short-interest data is effectively negligible/erroneous in this release, so it’s not a current factor for price pressure. (No actionable short-covering signal.)
• Negative Sentiment: Reports suggest some members may face higher renewal fees — a membership-price uptick could risk member dissatisfaction or churn if not offset by perceived value, creating short-term investor caution. Some Costco members may pay more to renew their memberships
• Negative Sentiment: Public discussion about raising iconic low-price items (e.g., the $1.50 hot dog) has generated headlines — such price changes can provoke negative member reaction and press, even if they reflect broader cost pressures. Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog Prices To Go Up? Here Is What CEO Ron Vachris Has To Say About That

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.