Federated Hermes Inc. Has $345.25 Million Stock Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Federated Hermes Inc. lowered its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 11.3% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 372,984 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 47,350 shares during the quarter. Federated Hermes Inc.’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $345,246,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hobbs Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.4% in the second quarter. Hobbs Wealth Management LLC now owns 262 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the period. Busey Bank lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Busey Bank now owns 2,651 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,454,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,403 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,299,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares during the period. Tandem Investment Partners LLC grew its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tandem Investment Partners LLC now owns 990 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $916,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Optima Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Optima Capital LLC now owns 1,192 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,104,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP Javier Polit sold 558 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $862.89, for a total transaction of $481,492.62. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 10,190 shares in the company, valued at $8,792,849.10. This trade represents a 5.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $916.32, for a total transaction of $1,374,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 8,240 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,550,476.80. The trade was a 15.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 9,315 shares of company stock valued at $8,549,409. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 0.8%

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $970.28 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $430.68 billion, a PE ratio of 51.97, a P/E/G ratio of 5.86 and a beta of 1.02. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,078.23. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $903.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $929.49.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 11th. The retailer reported $4.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.27 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $67.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $67.03 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 29.35% and a net margin of 2.96%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $4.04 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 30th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,070.00 to $1,000.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,218.00 to $1,171.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $1,044.00 price objective on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Twenty-one equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $996.00.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong balance sheet and rising membership fees highlighted as reasons Costco can weather retail headwinds, supporting the bull case. Can Costco Outgrow Retail Headwinds? The Balance Sheet Says Yes
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley lists Costco among top picks into earnings — an analyst endorsement that can support demand for the shares. Morgan Stanley’s top picks include AMD and Costco
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks highlights Costco as a strong growth stock across styles (growth/value/momentum), which may attract multi-style investors. Here’s Why Costco (COST) is a Strong Growth Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Investor guidance on company fundamentals — Fool articles note high membership renewal rates and location-level revenue growth, reinforcing long-term resilience. 3 Important Metrics All Costco Stock Investors Need to Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported January short-interest data appears to be erroneous (zeros/NaN) and is not providing meaningful directional info. (Likely a data glitch.)
• Neutral Sentiment: Press and lifestyle coverage (shopping tips, product write-ups, “how to buy gold” pieces) drive consumer visibility but are unlikely to move the stock materially. 9 Tips And Tricks For Shopping At Costco On A Budget In 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Options/market-strategy pieces note recent rebound and trading ideas — indicates elevated trader interest but not a fundamental change. Costco Stock Has Moved Up Over The Last Month – What Are The Best Plays Now?
• Negative Sentiment: Company executive reported insider selling (EVP sold ~$838k) — insider sales can trigger caution among investors even if routine. Insider Selling: Costco EVP Sells $838,321 in Stock
• Negative Sentiment: New class-action lawsuit over alleged false “no preservatives” claims on Kirkland rotisserie chicken may pose reputational and legal risk. Costco’s popular bargain meal at center of new lawsuit
• Negative Sentiment: Bearish commentary and scenario pieces (e.g., a speculative path to a $700 share price) can amplify downside sentiment among traders despite strong fundamentals. How Costco Stock Falls To $700?

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.