AustralianSuper Pty Ltd Has $182.45 Million Holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

AustralianSuper Pty Ltd increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 46.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 197,113 shares of the retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 62,075 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale makes up about 0.8% of AustralianSuper Pty Ltd’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $182,454,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 975.0% in the second quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 43 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Costco Wholesale by 72.0% during the second quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 43 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC grew its position in Costco Wholesale by 2,200.0% during the third quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 46 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spurstone Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth $48,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on COST. BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, December 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective 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. Gordon Haskett decreased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,150.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 1st. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, Roth Mkm set a $769.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $996.00.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of NASDAQ COST opened at $960.78 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $904.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $929.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,078.23. The firm has a market cap of $426.46 billion, a PE ratio of 51.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.81 and a beta of 1.02.

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

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 9th. The shares were 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. This trade represents a 15.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP James C. Klauer sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $939.00, for a total transaction of $1,408,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 44,837 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $42,101,943. The trade was a 3.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 9,315 shares of company stock valued at $8,549,409 in the last 90 days. Company 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: Balance-sheet strength supports durability vs. retail headwinds — analysts point to Costco’s low debt, cash-rich position and rising membership fees as reasons it can outgrow sector pressures. Can Costco Outgrow Retail Headwinds? The Balance Sheet Says Yes
• Positive Sentiment: Upcoming dividend payment provides income support and may reduce near-term volatility for yield-focused holders — Costco will pay its next quarterly dividend on Feb. 13. Costco to pay dividends on February 13; Here’s how much 100 COST shares will earn
• Positive Sentiment: Momentum and bull-case coverage reinforce investor interest — multiple outlets highlight Costco as a long-term momentum/growth name and outline expansion and membership-driven revenue growth. Why Costco (COST) is a Top Momentum Stock for the Long-Term
• Positive Sentiment: High-profile endorsement: Jim Cramer publicly reiterated his favorable view, which can reassure retail investors amid volatility. Jim Cramer Says “I Want You to Stay With Costco, I Still Like It”
• Neutral Sentiment: Ancillary product initiatives (e.g., Costco selling gold bars) have produced interesting niche returns but are unlikely to move top-line materially — more of a PR/ancillary revenue positive. If you bought a gold bar from Costco in 2025, here’s your return now
• Neutral Sentiment: Ongoing bullish thinkpieces and dividend-stock roundups keep investor attention but mostly restate known long-term strengths (membership model, steady same-store sales). Can This Unstoppable Stock Join the $1 Trillion Club in 5 Years?
• Negative Sentiment: Legal headline risk: a federal lawsuit alleges Costco mislabels its $4.99 rotisserie chickens as “preservative-free” despite using additives; media coverage and analysis raise potential reputational and litigation concerns that can pressure the stock near term. Costco accused of deceiving shoppers over popular $5 rotisserie chickens
• Negative Sentiment: Follow-up coverage examining valuation impact of the rotisserie-chicken suit and possible class-action costs could amplify volatility if legal exposure expands. Costco Rotisserie Chicken Lawsuit And What It Could Mean For Valuation

About Costco Wholesale

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.