Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Sold by Greenleaf Trust

Greenleaf Trust cut its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 6.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,018 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 748 shares during the quarter. Greenleaf Trust’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $10,030,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COST. Bell Investment Advisors Inc raised its position in Costco Wholesale by 15.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 624 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $568,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Columbia Bank raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 14.0% during the third quarter. Columbia Bank now owns 4,952 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $4,508,000 after purchasing an additional 610 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the third quarter valued at $290,412,000. SFE Investment Counsel lifted its position in Costco Wholesale by 3.1% during the third quarter. SFE Investment Counsel now owns 11,412 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $10,388,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the period. Finally, Stevens Capital Partners boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 52.5% in the third quarter. Stevens Capital Partners now owns 633 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $1,012.28 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $943.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $970.25. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.06. The company has a market capitalization of $448.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.76, a PEG ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.84.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 27.60% and a net margin of 3.04%. The business had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $94.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.87 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.70 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 30th. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is currently 28.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on COST shares. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, September 25th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded Costco Wholesale from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, October 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,130.00 to $1,100.00 in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Finally, HSBC raised Costco Wholesale to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,086.19.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 1,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $958.21, for a total transaction of $1,054,031.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,094 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,964,701.74. This represents a 26.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 7,134 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,534,244.62. This trade represents a 23.57% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Costco Wholesale News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Store expansion supports long-term growth. Costco plans to open 13 locations by the end of 2026, potentially expanding its membership base and sales footprint. Costco opening 13 locations by end of 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Membership acquisition remains a focus. A promotional offer providing new members with a $45 gift card could help drive sign-ups ahead of the holiday shopping season, supporting recurring membership-fee revenue. Costco membership Black Friday deal
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect continued earnings momentum. Costco’s upcoming fiscal first-quarter 2027 report is expected to show double-digit year-over-year EPS growth. Its latest quarter also beat consensus estimates on both earnings and revenue. What to expect from Costco Wholesale’s next quarterly earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Customer loyalty and digital engagement remain strengths. Coverage highlights near-record renewal rates, busy warehouses, a younger shopper base and growing use of Costco’s digital channels. These factors reinforce the company’s competitive advantages and long-term sales potential. The New Costco Shopper Is Under 40
• Neutral Sentiment: Healthcare partnerships could deepen member engagement. Integrations with NationsBenefits and SCAN Health Plan are expanding Costco’s role in Medicare-related spending across more than 600 U.S. warehouses, though the financial contribution is not yet clear. Medicare push and Costco investors
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves little room for disappointment. Costco trades at roughly 49 times earnings, making execution and upcoming results especially important. Analysts remain positive, but the stock’s premium valuation could amplify downside if growth slows. Costco stock’s long-term competitive advantages

Costco Wholesale Profile

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells merchandise in bulk and at competitive prices through warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms, serving individual consumers, businesses and other organizations.

Its product selection includes groceries and fresh foods, household supplies, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, health and beauty products, jewelry, automotive products and prescription drugs. Costco also provides services such as optical care, pharmacy services, hearing-aid sales, travel offerings and fuel sales, depending on location.

The company traces its roots to Price Club, which opened in San Diego in 1976.