1,066 Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Sold by WealthPlan Investment Management LLC

Key Points

• WealthPlan Investment Management reduced its Costco stake by 8.8%, selling 1,066 shares and retaining 11,006 shares valued at approximately $10.0 million. Institutional investors collectively own 68.48% of the company.
• Costco reported quarterly earnings of $6.75 per share and revenue of $95.72 billion, exceeding analyst expectations, while revenue rose 11.1% year over year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, equivalent to an annualized yield of 0.6%. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $1,087.40, though executives recently sold shares and the stock trades at a premium valuation.

WealthPlan Investment Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 8.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,006 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 1,066 shares during the quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $10,019,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 107.7% in the third quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. now owns 27 shares of the retailer's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth $28,000. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Burk Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at $30,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

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

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of COST opened at $978.01 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $932.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $963.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $433.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.11, a PEG ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.88. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week 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.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $94.97 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 27.60% and a net margin of 3.04%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.87 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.70 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Friday, October 30th will be issued a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 30th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and issued a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, October 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 price objective on the stock. Argus restated a "buy" rating and issued a $1,230.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,144.00 to $1,143.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $1,160.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Twenty-four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,087.40.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Major price-target increase: Tigress Financial raised its COST price target from $1,065 to $1,250 and assigned a “buy” rating, implying substantial potential upside. Costco analyst price target report
• Positive Sentiment: Strong operating momentum: Costco reported September net sales of $30.02 billion, up 13% year over year, while digitally enabled sales increased 19%. The results support the strength of its membership model and e-commerce business. Costco September sales report
• Positive Sentiment: Defensive positioning: Higher-than-expected inflation has encouraged investors to favor retailers selling essential goods. Costco benefited from this rotation alongside Walmart and Target. Retail defensive-sector rotation
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend and expansion: Costco declared a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, payable November 13. Proposed new warehouses in Oakland and Merced County also point to continued long-term store expansion. Costco dividend announcement
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts continue to expect earnings growth, with one estimate for fiscal 2027 EPS raised to $22.80. However, commentary describing COST as a portfolio-risk amplifier suggests investors remain focused on its correlation with the broader market and premium valuation. Costco market risk analysis
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and insider selling: Costco trades at a high earnings multiple, leaving the stock vulnerable to disappointment in membership, sales or consumer spending trends. Separately, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 1,100 shares worth approximately $1.05 million, reducing his position by 26.23%. Costco insider sale report

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells a broad selection of merchandise, including groceries, fresh foods, beverages, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal products. It also offers services such as gasoline, pharmacies, optical departments, hearing-aid centers, food courts, travel services, and business delivery in selected markets.

Costco markets many products under its private-label Kirkland Signature brand and sells merchandise through warehouse locations and e-commerce platforms.

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