283,676 Shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Purchased by Haverford Trust Co

Key Points

• Haverford Trust Co. purchased 283,676 Costco shares worth approximately $265.4 million, making Costco its 11th-largest holding and representing about 2.3% of the firm’s portfolio.
• Costco reported strong sales momentum, with August sales up 9.9% year over year and fiscal-year sales up 10.2%; analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $1,059.53.
• Costco faces mixed signals, including a director’s sale of 885 shares and a DOJ inquiry into beef pricing, while the stock trades near $925 with a premium P/E ratio of 46.55.

Haverford Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 283,676 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $265,370,000. Costco Wholesale comprises 2.3% of Haverford Trust Co's holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Haverford Trust Co owned approximately 0.06% of Costco Wholesale at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In other news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on 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 in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Costco Wholesale News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong August and fiscal-year sales: Costco reported August net sales of $23.70 billion, up 9.9% year over year. Fourth-quarter sales rose 11.3% to $93.9 billion, while fiscal-year sales increased 10.2% to $297.3 billion. Total comparable sales grew 8.4% for August and the fiscal year, and digitally enabled sales rose 17.9% for the month and 20.9% for the year. Costco August Sales Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive: BTIG reaffirmed its Buy rating with a $1,125 price target, while Bank of America maintained a Buy rating and a $1,200 target. These targets imply substantial upside and suggest analysts believe Costco’s membership model and sales momentum support its premium valuation. BTIG Costco Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst signal: DA Davidson reaffirmed a Neutral rating but lifted its price target to $1,000, indicating limited conviction even while acknowledging potential appreciation.
• Neutral Sentiment: Long-term optimism: Commentary argues Costco could eventually surpass Home Depot and Lowe’s in market value if it sustains membership growth, warehouse expansion and consistent execution. This is a long-range thesis rather than a near-term catalyst. Costco Long-Term Valuation Forecast
• Negative Sentiment: DOJ beef-pricing investigation: The Justice Department is requesting records from Costco and other major retailers regarding beef prices, costs, margins and purchasing strategies. The inquiry creates potential legal, regulatory and operational risks, although no wrongdoing has been established. DOJ Beef Price Inquiry
• Negative Sentiment: Costco Next shutdown: The abrupt ending of the online Costco Next marketplace disappointed some members and raises questions about the company’s digital strategy, though the direct financial effect appears limited. Costco Next Shutdown

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.3%

NASDAQ COST opened at $925.41 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50. The company has a 50 day moving average of $944.31 and a 200-day moving average of $978.18. The company has a market cap of $410.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.55, a PEG ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.86.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th were issued a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is currently 29.58%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

COST has been the subject of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Costco Wholesale from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Roth Capital increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, 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 research report on Tuesday, May 19th. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,059.53.

Costco Wholesale Company 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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