Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Has $23.30 Million Stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 22.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,173 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 4,594 shares during the quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $23,301,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Bulwark Capital Corp acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Anderson Financial Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 900.0% during the 1st quarter. Anderson Financial Strategies LLC now owns 40 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. grew its stake in Costco Wholesale by 975.0% during the second quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 43 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 72.0% in the second quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 43 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.4%

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $862.34 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $382.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.17 and a beta of 1.02. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $896.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $935.81. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,078.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $67.03 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.96% and a return on equity of 29.35%. The firm’s revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.04 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 31st were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 31st. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup cut their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,065.00 to $990.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,025.00 to $1,027.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Northcoast Research set a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 24th. Daiwa Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $947.00 to $917.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, HSBC cut their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,045.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Nineteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $992.08.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 2,400 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $930.13, for a total transaction of $2,232,312.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 2,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,860,260. The trade was a 54.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Tiffany Marie Barbre sold 1,239 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $934.62, for a total transaction of $1,157,994.18. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 5,155 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,817,966.10. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 8,946 shares of company stock worth $8,175,048 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Recent quarter: Costco beat consensus EPS and revenue (EPS $4.34 vs. $4.27; revenue $67.31B) and showed mid‑single digit revenue growth, reinforcing the company’s resilient membership model and steady cash flow. MarketBeat – COST data & earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Expansion: Costco is moving to open two new Ontario locations — continued warehouse growth supports long‑term revenue and membership fee expansion. Costco takes steps to open two new locations in Ontario
• Positive Sentiment: Promotions & merch: Membership promotions and ongoing new product assortments can help recruit/retain members and boost near‑term cash flow and traffic. Score a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card with a $65 Gold Star Membership
• Positive Sentiment: Stock‑split chatter: Commentary naming COST as a potential stock‑split candidate can attract retail interest and short‑term demand if expectations build. These Are The 3 Stock Split Candidates Heading Into 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Consumer/PR pieces (hours, shopping lists, retrospective returns) keep brand visibility high but are not immediate catalysts for the stock. Examples include New Year’s hours and lifestyle articles. Is Costco open or closed on New Year’s Day 2026? Must-Try Costco New Arrivals For January 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro/positioning pieces label Costco as a premium defensive name — useful for long‑term allocation but not an immediate price driver. Are These 3 Leading Defensive Stocks Too Crowded Heading Into 2026?
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: EVP Javier Polit sold roughly 2,600 shares across late‑December transactions (~$862–$867 avg), materially reducing his position. Repeated/large insider sales can sap sentiment by signaling personal liquidity taking rather than conviction. SEC Form 4 – Javier Polit
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation pressure: COST trades at elevated multiples (P/E ~46), leaving limited margin for error — any slowdown vs. analyst expectations or macro weakness could trigger multiple compression. Market data & valuation
• Negative Sentiment: Operational risk: a recent cargo/theft incident affecting product bound for Costco is an isolated but tangible reminder of supply‑chain shrink risk and potential cost exposure. Oysters, crab and $400,000 worth of lobster meat stolen in New England

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.