Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Price Target Raised to $1,159.00 at The Goldman Sachs Group

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) had its price target increased by The Goldman Sachs Group from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 in a research note published on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the retailer’s stock.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on COST. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,175.00 to $1,315.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $1,000.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Gordon Haskett increased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,100.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.32.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 3.9%

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $956.32 on Friday. Costco Wholesale has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market cap of $424.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.92. The business’s 50 day moving average is $1,007.80 and its 200 day moving average is $962.48. 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, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.98 by ($0.05). Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.57% and a net margin of 2.99%.The firm had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $69.68 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.28 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Costco Wholesale will post 20.33 EPS for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 1st were paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. 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 30.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total transaction of $732,204.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. This trade represents a 10.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of COST. Krane Financial Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 1st quarter valued at about $709,000. Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,032 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $17,967,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the period. Lavelle Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 1st quarter valued at about $631,000. Blue Fin Capital Inc. grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Blue Fin Capital Inc. now owns 12,132 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $12,089,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Carlson Capital L.P. grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 75.6% during the 1st quarter. Carlson Capital L.P. now owns 1,405 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,400,000 after acquiring an additional 605 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

More 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.

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.