Ticino Wealth Buys New Shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST
by Scott Moore · The Cerbat GemTicino Wealth bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 1,675 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,444,000.
Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in shares of 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 increased its holdings in shares of 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 raised its position 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 buying an additional 165 shares during the period. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. grew its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.1% during the second quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 2,110 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,089,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the period. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 2.2% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 8,502 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $8,416,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Costco Wholesale Stock Down 1.0%
Shares of NASDAQ COST opened at $988.02 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.06. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,067.08. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $995.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $945.60. The firm has a market cap of $438.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.85, a PEG ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.99.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 11th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.55 by $0.03. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.57% and a net margin of 2.99%.The firm had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $68.96 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $4.02 EPS. Costco Wholesale’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st will be given a dividend of $1.47 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 1st. This is an increase from Costco Wholesale’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is 27.04%.
Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Costco raised its quarterly dividend ~13% to $1.47, a direct return-of-capital boost that typically appeals to income-focused investors and can support the share price. As Costco Raises Its Dividend More Than 13%
- Positive Sentiment: Digital sales initiatives are gaining traction: Zacks reports digitally enabled comparable sales jumped ~22.6% as personalization, app growth and faster checkout pilots lift sales and margins over time. Costco’s Digital Investments Drive Sales Growth
- Positive Sentiment: Management continues to expand the store footprint and pipelines for new locations, which supports long-term membership and sales growth prospects. Expansion commentary surfaced in local planning coverage. Costco ramps up expansion plans
- Positive Sentiment: An analyst price-target raise to $1,110 signals continued sell-side confidence in upside from long-term compounding and execution. Price Target Raised to $1,110
- Positive Sentiment: Coverage notes Costco as a defensive retail choice amid Middle East uncertainty — a factor that can attract risk-averse flows into staples names. Nervous About the Iran War Uncertainty?
- Neutral Sentiment: Explainers on membership pricing (why the listed price may not equal final cost) are consumer-facing context but unlikely to move the stock materially. Why The Listed Price Of A Costco Membership Isn’t Always What You Pay
- Neutral Sentiment: Broader retail news — Walmart’s large remodel plan and other rivals’ initiatives — adds competitive context; these are watch-items but not immediate negatives to Costco’s model. Walmart Expands and Modernizes Stores
- Negative Sentiment: Valuation and “priced-for-perfection” concerns reappear: analysis points to a high P/E and limited margin for upside absent flawless execution, which can cap near-term returns and pressure the stock if growth slows. Costco: When Compounding Is Already Priced In
- Negative Sentiment: Several commentaries ask whether Costco at ~ $1,000 is still a buy, noting limited upside and that the stock reflects high expectations — investor patience may be required. Costco at $1,000: Still a Buy or Time to Wait?
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The shares were 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 directly owned 6,121 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,139,485.42. This trade represents a 10.66% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Teresa A. Jones sold 850 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $986.26, for a total transaction of $838,321.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,228 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,169,907.28. The trade was a 16.74% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group set a $1,175.00 target price on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, March 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,171.00 to $1,088.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Telsey Advisory Group upped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,125.00 to $1,135.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, February 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $1,185.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,045.97.
Read Our Latest Research Report on COST
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.
Further Reading
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