KBC Group NV Sells 1,306 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

KBC Group NV cut its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 134,499 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 1,306 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $125,820,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in COST. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Joseph Group Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of COST opened at $960.01 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market cap of $425.75 billion, a PE ratio of 48.29, a PEG ratio of 4.62 and a beta of 0.87. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $946.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $980.87.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.94 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $70.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $70.12 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.28 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 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, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were given a dividend of $1.47 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings cut Costco Wholesale from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, May 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, July 13th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price objective for the company. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,059.53.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: AI-driven digital opportunity: Costco’s rising AI-generated search traffic reportedly has its highest conversion rate, suggesting AI visibility could become a meaningful catalyst for online sales growth. Will Costco’s AI Search Growth Become a Meaningful Sales Catalyst?
• Positive Sentiment: Continued consumer value appeal: Articles highlighting Costco’s money-saving grocery products, bulk-buying strategies and popular school snacks reinforce the retailer’s value proposition and could support membership loyalty and sales. 7 Costco Grocery Items That Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars Annually
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional buying: Golden Reserve Retirement LLC increased its COST position by 133.9%, purchasing 592 additional shares. However, the resulting holding of only 1,034 shares is too small to represent a significant market signal. Golden Reserve Retirement LLC Increases Position in Costco
• Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data provides no clear signal: Reported short interest was zero, with an unusable percentage-change figure and a zero-day days-to-cover ratio, indicating the data does not meaningfully explain trading activity.
• Negative Sentiment: Tariff-refund litigation remains an overhang: Costco is contesting a customer lawsuit over refunds of certain IEEPA duties, while attorneys argue that Costco’s recovery of some duties weakens its case against issuing member refunds. Potential refunds and legal costs could pressure margins. Costco Fights Customer’s Tariff Suit as Refunds Flow In
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation sensitivity: Investor Michael Burry reportedly characterized Costco as “permacostly,” highlighting concern that COST’s elevated earnings multiple leaves less room for disappointment. The latest quarterly EPS also narrowly missed consensus, despite revenue exceeding expectations.
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco’s planned 24-hour closure on September 7 is a routine holiday-related event and is unlikely to materially affect the investment outlook. Costco Will Shut Down for 24 Hours on September 7

Costco Wholesale 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.