Manhattan West Asset Management LLC Acquires New Shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Manhattan West Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 6,516 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $6,096,000. Costco Wholesale comprises 1.0% of Manhattan West Asset Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on COST shares. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price target for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two 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’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,059.53.

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the sale, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations remain favorable. Costco’s history of exceeding estimates, combined with analysts’ expectations for strong sales and earnings momentum, could support the shares ahead of the next quarterly report. Why Costco Could Beat Earnings Estimates Again
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst maintains bullish outlook. Mizuho reiterated a Buy rating and a $1,100 price target, citing confidence in Costco’s membership-driven growth and core operating performance. Analyst Reiterates Buy on Costco
• Positive Sentiment: International expansion offers a longer-term growth driver. Solid international comparable sales, additional warehouse capacity and expansion opportunities in Asia and Europe could gradually make overseas markets more important to Costco’s growth. Can International Markets Become Costco’s Biggest Driver?
• Positive Sentiment: New-store growth continues. A large Southern California warehouse is nearing completion, highlighting Costco’s ongoing domestic expansion and potential membership and sales contributions. Costco’s New California Location
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco is partnering with SCAN Health on a Medicare Advantage plan, potentially broadening member benefits and customer engagement, though the direct financial impact remains unclear. Why Costco? Experts Weigh In on SCAN Health’s New MA Plan
• Neutral Sentiment: Fall bakery promotions and favorable consumer coverage reinforce Costco’s retail appeal but are unlikely to materially change near-term earnings. Costco Fall Bakery Items
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation is the primary risk. Commentary argues that Costco’s exceptional operating record and decade-long stock gains are already reflected in a high earnings multiple, leaving less room for disappointment and potentially limiting upside. Why Investors Should Pause
• Negative Sentiment: Target may offer a more attractive risk-reward profile because of its lower valuation and improving momentum, creating a relative headwind for COST. Costco vs. Target
• Negative Sentiment: Walmart’s new rotisserie-chicken offering intensifies competition in a high-visibility Costco category, although the immediate impact on Costco’s results is uncertain. Walmart Challenges Costco With Rotisserie Chicken

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.4%

NASDAQ:COST opened at $939.96 on Wednesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a one year low of $844.06 and a one year high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The company has a market cap of $416.85 billion, a PE ratio of 47.28, a P/E/G ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.87. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $945.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $979.34.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were issued 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, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is 29.58%.

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.