Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership Sells 491,886 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lowered its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 49.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 497,740 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 491,886 shares during the quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $495,963,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Palisade Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $605,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. raised its position in Costco Wholesale by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. now owns 3,194 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,754,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Effects LLC lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.2% during the first quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 874 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $871,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.8% during the first quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 551 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $549,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First National Bank of Hutchinson boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 1,098 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,094,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 0.1%

NASDAQ:COST opened at $926.06 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $410.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.58, a P/E/G ratio of 4.48 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The company has a fifty day moving average of $968.19 and a 200 day moving average of $980.24. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.94 by ($0.01). Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.04% and a net margin of 3.01%.The firm had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.12 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.28 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be issued a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.58%.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco is expanding its warehouse footprint with several planned new locations across multiple states, including a first store in some markets, which could support membership growth, sales, and regional market share. Costco plans several new stores in multiple states: Here’s where
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Costco favorably, with consensus ratings still at “Moderate Buy,” reinforcing confidence in the company’s defensive business model and long-term earnings power. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s early Executive Membership success in China and continued warehouse expansion there could improve fee income and customer loyalty, creating a new growth catalyst outside the U.S. Why China Could Become Costco’s Next Membership Catalyst
• Positive Sentiment: New product launches and retailer exclusives from brands like Laifen and Jackery show Costco remains an attractive distribution channel, supporting traffic and merchandising momentum. Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Undervalued As New Product Launches Test Its Premium Valuation?
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary focused on Costco’s high dividend growth and durable earnings model adds to the bullish long-term case, but it does not appear to be a new catalyst on its own. Will Costco (COST) be Able to Continue High Dividend Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports about a new standalone gas station and local tax revenue from store openings highlight business expansion, but they are more incremental than transformative for the stock. Costco Officially Launched Standalone Gas Stations. Don’t Count on This Fueling Another Leg Higher in COST Stock. Costco could bring millions in new tax revenue to Clarksville, leaders say
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concern remains around Costco’s premium valuation, with recent commentary questioning whether the stock is still undervalued after its strong run. Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Undervalued As New Product Launches Test Its Premium Valuation?
• Negative Sentiment: Legal headlines noting multiple lawsuits this year may add some overhang, even if the direct financial impact is still unclear. Costco had 3 lawsuits filed against it this year: See why

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COST has been the topic of several recent research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Roth Capital lifted their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, June 18th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,059.07.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In other news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale 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.