Tema ETFs LLC lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 9.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,067 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 725 shares during the period. Tema ETFs LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $7,546,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 12.3% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,825 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $18,165,000 after acquiring an additional 2,172 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in Costco Wholesale by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,123 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,029,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,853 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,814,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the period. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.1% in the second quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 2,110 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,089,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its position in Costco Wholesale by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 8,502 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,416,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the period. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities analysts have commented on COST shares. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. Oppenheimer upped their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. DA Davidson restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note 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 given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,059.53.
Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: July sales remained very strong. Costco reported July net sales of $23.12 billion, up 10.7% year over year. Comparable sales increased 8.9% globally and 10.3% in the U.S., while digital sales and membership activity remained healthy. The results suggest Costco continues to attract value-conscious consumers and could support earnings expectations. Costco Delivered Another Strong Sales Print in July
- Positive Sentiment: Expansion continues. Planned warehouses, including a possible additional North Texas location and a Kent-area project expected to create about 250 jobs, point to continued investment in Costco’s store footprint. The initiatives are a modest long-term growth positive, although they are unlikely to materially affect near-term results. Costco May Add Another Store in North Texas
- Neutral Sentiment: Earnings expectations are the next major catalyst. Retail-sector coverage describes COST as consolidating ahead of earnings. Investors will focus on comparable sales, membership trends, margins and whether July’s growth can continue through the remainder of the year. Reported short interest of zero shares appears inconsistent with normal market data and provides no meaningful trading signal. Retail Stocks Forecasts
- Negative Sentiment: Valuation is limiting upside. Analysts acknowledge Costco’s resilient demand, membership strength and high-quality business model, but question whether its premium valuation already discounts much of the good news. With a trailing P/E near 47.5, even solid results may not be enough if growth slows or management guidance disappoints. Are Costco’s July Sales Solid Enough to Justify Its Premium Valuation?
Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.9%
COST stock opened at $944.32 on Wednesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. 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 market cap of $418.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.50, a PEG ratio of 4.53 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a 50 day moving average of $950.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $981.77.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.94 by ($0.01). Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. The company had revenue of $70.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $70.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.28 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th were given a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.58%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale
In other news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
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.
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