Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Given New $1,011.00 Price Target at Truist Financial

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) had its target price increased by Truist Financial from $977.00 to $1,011.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a hold rating on the retailer’s stock.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,175.00 to $1,315.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Rothschild & Co Redburn boosted 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. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,125.00 to $1,135.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Finally, Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Twenty-one investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,056.32.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $956.32 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.06. Costco Wholesale has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50. The firm has a market cap of $424.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.73, a PEG ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.92. The business’s fifty day moving average is $1,007.80 and its 200 day moving average is $962.48.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.98 by ($0.05). Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The company had revenue of $70.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $69.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.28 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale will post 20.33 EPS for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st were issued a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 1st. This is an increase from Costco Wholesale’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.58%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total value of $732,204.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. This represents a 10.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Krane Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 1st quarter worth about $709,000. Cozad Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,032 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $17,967,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares in the last quarter. Lavelle Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 1st quarter worth about $631,000. Blue Fin Capital Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Blue Fin Capital Inc. now owns 12,132 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $12,089,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Carlson Capital L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 75.6% in the 1st quarter. Carlson Capital L.P. now owns 1,405 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,400,000 after purchasing an additional 605 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco posted strong third-quarter results, with revenue of $70.53 billion topping estimates and same-store sales rising 9.8%, showing that members are still spending on essentials and value-focused purchases.
• Positive Sentiment: Gasoline sales were a standout, with Costco’s gas stations setting all-time or record volume levels as drivers sought lower-priced fuel amid elevated energy costs. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Digital growth and membership strength continued to support results, helping offset margin pressure and reinforcing Costco’s value-driven model.
• Positive Sentiment: Several Wall Street firms raised price targets or reiterated bullish ratings, including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Bernstein, BTIG, and Morgan Stanley, signaling confidence in Costco’s long-term fundamentals.
• Neutral Sentiment: DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating with a $1,000 target, suggesting modest upside but not a strong catalyst for a re-rating.
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco said it will return U.S. tariff refunds to members “in some form,” which may help customer loyalty but does not yet provide a clear financial boost.
• Negative Sentiment: EPS of $4.93 missed consensus by a small margin, and investors appear focused on the earnings shortfall more than the sales beat.
• Negative Sentiment: Margin pressure from higher costs and a premium valuation have prompted some traders to sell after the report, limiting enthusiasm despite the strong top-line performance.

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.