Telsey Advisory Group Reaffirms Outperform Rating for Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST)

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST)‘s stock had its “outperform” rating restated by research analysts at Telsey Advisory Group in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $1,125.00 target price on the retailer’s stock. Telsey Advisory Group’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 12.89% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on COST. Mizuho boosted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,065.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,175.00 to $1,315.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $890.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,171.00 to $1,088.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,050.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,039.13.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $996.56 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $442.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.82, a P/E/G ratio of 4.92 and a beta of 0.99. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $988.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $939.68. Costco Wholesale has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,067.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 5th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.55 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $68.96 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $4.02 EPS. Analysts expect that Costco Wholesale will post 18.03 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In related news, Director Susan L. Decker sold 458 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total transaction of $437,390.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,532 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,148,060. This trade represents a 5.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Teresa A. Jones sold 850 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $986.26, for a total value of $838,321.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 4,228 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,169,907.28. The trade was a 16.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 5,038 shares of company stock valued at $4,790,896 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Hurley Capital LLC boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $1,125 price target, signaling analyst confidence and ~13% upside versus recent levels. Telsey Outperform, $1,125 PT
• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer recommended Costco as a defensive, buyable name in the current environment, which can attract retail flows and support the stock. Jim Cramer on Costco
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple pieces highlight Costco as a beneficiary of high gas prices — fuel acts as a loss leader that drives membership renewals and in-store sales, potentially boosting traffic and comps. Surprising Beneficiaries of High Gas Prices
• Positive Sentiment: Costco is rolling out its first stand-alone gas stations to ease store congestion and extend fuel access — a tactical move that can scale the gas-as-loss-leader strategy. Costco First Stand-Alone Gas Station
• Positive Sentiment: Operational improvements: reports say new checkout tech cuts payment time to ~8 seconds, which should improve throughput and the shopping experience — a modest margin/enjoyment tailwind. New Checkout Technology
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain split on near-term upside despite expected March sales growth; mixed forecasts mean guidance and comps will matter more than headlines. Analysts Split on March Sales
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry comparisons (Costco vs. Walmart/Amazon) and long‑term return retrospectives keep COST on investors’ radar, but they reinforce valuation debates rather than immediate catalysts. Costco vs. Walmart Debate
• Negative Sentiment: Several consumer stories about pricey novelty items (a $140, 10‑lb Easter bunny) and an “overpriced” dessert have provoked member backlash on social media — a PR headwind that could dent short‑term sentiment but is unlikely to affect core membership economics. Costco $140 Easter Bunny

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.