1,678 Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Purchased by First Financial Bank Trust Division

Key Points

• First Financial Bank Trust Division increased its Costco stake by 463.5% in the third quarter, purchasing 1,678 additional shares and bringing its holdings to 2,040 shares valued at approximately $1.86 million. Institutional investors collectively own 68.48% of Costco.
• Costco reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter results, with revenue up 11.1% year over year to $95.72 billion and EPS of $6.75, beating analyst expectations. Growth was supported by strong traffic, larger baskets, membership gains, digital sales and warehouse expansion.
• Costco shares traded near $914.94, but the stock remains highly valued at about 44 times earnings. Meanwhile, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares worth roughly $2.02 million, reducing her direct ownership by 23.57%.

First Financial Bank Trust Division increased its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 463.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,040 shares of the retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 1,678 shares during the quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $1,857,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Roxbury Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.2% during the third quarter. Roxbury Financial LLC now owns 1,213 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $1,068,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. Montecito Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 26.3% in the third quarter. Montecito Bank & Trust now owns 9,663 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $8,797,000 after acquiring an additional 2,014 shares in the last quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 327.7% in the third quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors now owns 278 shares of the retailer's stock worth $253,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the period. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 48.3% in the second quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,000 shares of the retailer's stock worth $1,871,000 after acquiring an additional 651 shares during the period. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 42.0% during the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 117,027 shares of the retailer's stock worth $109,475,000 after acquiring an additional 34,608 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s ancillary businesses—including gasoline, pharmacy and travel—are increasing member engagement, expanding share of wallet and potentially supporting higher-margin revenue. Costco's Ancillary Businesses Expand Share-of-Wallet Opportunity
• Positive Sentiment: Recent fiscal fourth-quarter results remain the primary bullish catalyst: revenue rose 11.1% year over year to $95.72 billion and earnings reached $6.75 per share, exceeding consensus estimates. Strong traffic, larger baskets, membership growth, digital sales and warehouse expansion reinforce Costco’s growth outlook. Costco Q4 Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: New and converted Business Center locations in Texas and Kansas City should broaden Costco’s commercial customer base and add long-term sales capacity. Haltom City Business Center
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary remains supportive of Costco’s recurring membership-fee model and intermittent special dividends, although any future $10 or $15 special dividend is uncertain. Costco Special Dividend Commentary
• Neutral Sentiment: AI-related demand may push up prices for certain electronics and other products, encouraging members to buy sooner but potentially creating affordability and margin considerations for retailers. Costco Prices and AI Demand
• Negative Sentiment: EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares worth approximately $2.02 million, reducing her direct stake by 23.57%. The transaction does not indicate weaker fundamentals, but insider selling can weigh on sentiment. Claudine Adamo Insider Sale
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 44 times earnings, COST remains expensive relative to much of retail. Analysts continue to cite limited room for execution mistakes, even though the consensus rating remains “Moderate Buy.”

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In other news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,534,244.62. The trade was a 23.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock traded up $4.60 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $914.94. The company had a trading volume of 2,108,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,201,888. The stock has a market cap of $405.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.07, a PEG ratio of 3.95 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $933.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $965.95. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.21. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.04% and a return on equity of 27.60%. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $94.97 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $5.87 EPS. Costco Wholesale's revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is presently 28.32%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, September 25th. Argus reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $1,230.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday. Citigroup began 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. Raymond James Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,065.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 25th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,046.27.

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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