Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Stake Lifted by Liberty One Investment Management LLC

Liberty One Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 34.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,371 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 1,366 shares during the period. Liberty One Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $5,352,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 750.0% during the first quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 34 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

COST has been the topic of several analyst reports. Truist Financial raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 19th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $1,175.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Costco Wholesale from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 23rd. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,059.07.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco is expanding its warehouse footprint with several planned new locations across multiple states, including a first store in some markets, which could support membership growth, sales, and regional market share. Costco plans several new stores in multiple states: Here’s where
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Costco favorably, with consensus ratings still at “Moderate Buy,” reinforcing confidence in the company’s defensive business model and long-term earnings power. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s early Executive Membership success in China and continued warehouse expansion there could improve fee income and customer loyalty, creating a new growth catalyst outside the U.S. Why China Could Become Costco’s Next Membership Catalyst
• Positive Sentiment: New product launches and retailer exclusives from brands like Laifen and Jackery show Costco remains an attractive distribution channel, supporting traffic and merchandising momentum. Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Undervalued As New Product Launches Test Its Premium Valuation?
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary focused on Costco’s high dividend growth and durable earnings model adds to the bullish long-term case, but it does not appear to be a new catalyst on its own. Will Costco (COST) be Able to Continue High Dividend Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports about a new standalone gas station and local tax revenue from store openings highlight business expansion, but they are more incremental than transformative for the stock. Costco Officially Launched Standalone Gas Stations. Don’t Count on This Fueling Another Leg Higher in COST Stock. Costco could bring millions in new tax revenue to Clarksville, leaders say
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concern remains around Costco’s premium valuation, with recent commentary questioning whether the stock is still undervalued after its strong run. Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Undervalued As New Product Launches Test Its Premium Valuation?
• Negative Sentiment: Legal headlines noting multiple lawsuits this year may add some overhang, even if the direct financial impact is still unclear. Costco had 3 lawsuits filed against it this year: See why

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

COST opened at $926.06 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $968.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $980.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The company has a market capitalization of $410.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.48 and a beta of 0.88. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50.

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

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

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

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.