EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC Has $6.30 Million Stock Holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 34.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,329 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 1,605 shares during the quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $6,305,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in COST. Palisade Asset Management LLC increased its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $605,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. now owns 3,194 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,754,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Effects LLC lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.2% during the first quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 874 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $871,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.8% during the first quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 551 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $549,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First National Bank of Hutchinson grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.9% during the first quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 1,098 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,094,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of NASDAQ COST opened at $966.58 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $960.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $981.69. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,096.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $428.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.62, a P/E/G ratio of 4.60 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.94 by ($0.01). Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. The business had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.12 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.28 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 EPS for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is 29.58%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on COST shares. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price objective on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,104.00 to $1,106.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group raised their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,125.00 to $1,135.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,059.07.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco has begun operating its Port St. Lucie, Florida distribution center independently from the power grid using on-site solar generation and battery storage. The project could reduce energy costs, improve resilience and support Costco’s net-zero and sustainability goals. Breaking Free from the Grid, Costco Teams with Trinity Energy to Pioneer True Commercial Energy Independence
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentators continue to highlight Costco’s long-term growth profile. Expected earnings growth, recurring membership revenue and strong customer loyalty support the bullish investment case, although the stock already trades at a high earnings multiple. Why Costco Is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term
• Positive Sentiment: Kirkland Signature is described as an increasingly important growth engine. Its lower prices, broad product expansion and reported savings of roughly 15% to 20% can strengthen customer loyalty, differentiate Costco and support merchandise margins. Costco’s Kirkland Brand Is Becoming a Powerful Growth Engine
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco’s use of free water samples illustrates its strategy of encouraging shoppers to discover and purchase new products. Retail experts viewed the tactic as a creative engagement and merchandising initiative, but the article does not indicate a material near-term financial impact. Costco Offered Shoppers Free Samples of Water
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for a proposed Costco store in South Reno remain uncertain, potentially delaying a future contribution from that market. The development issue appears localized and is unlikely to materially affect Costco’s overall valuation. What Happened to the Proposed New South Reno Costco Store?
• Negative Sentiment: Eligible Washington Costco shoppers may receive payments from a reported $14 million settlement. While the settlement appears limited relative to Costco’s size, it creates a legal expense and could add reputational risk. Washington Costco Shoppers Eligible for Cash in $14 Million Settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Promotional gas discounts from 7-Eleven are increasing competition for Costco’s fuel business, potentially weakening one of the membership club’s customer-traffic advantages as households remain pressured by high gasoline prices. 7-Eleven Has a Gas Discount That Challenges Costco

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.