Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirty-four ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, twelve have assigned a hold recommendation and twenty-one have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $996.00.

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,130.00 to $1,050.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Raymond James Financial dropped their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,070.00 to $1,000.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 12th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, December 12th. BTIG Research began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $1,115.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Hovde Group began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $16.00 price objective on the stock.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

NASDAQ COST opened at $960.78 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $904.48 and its 200-day moving average is $929.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market capitalization 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 has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,078.23.

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

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared 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. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is 27.85%.

Trending Headlines about Costco Wholesale

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $916.32, for a total value of $1,374,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 8,240 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,550,476.80. This trade represents a 15.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP James C. Klauer sold 1,500 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $939.00, for a total value of $1,408,500.00. Following the transaction, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 9,315 shares of company stock worth $8,549,409. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Costco Wholesale

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in COST. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC now owns 3,689 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,181,000 after acquiring an additional 285 shares during the period. Absher Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 8.0% during the 4th quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC now owns 26,739 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $23,058,000 after purchasing an additional 1,970 shares during the last quarter. Cora Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 18.4% during the fourth quarter. Cora Capital Advisors LLC now owns 361 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Field & Main Bank boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 4,549 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,923,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Finally, Nadler Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. Nadler Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,568 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $3,077,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.