5,815 Shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Purchased by Agur Provident & Training Funds Management Ltd.

Key Points

• Agur Provident & Training Funds Management Ltd. initiated a Costco position by purchasing 5,815 shares worth approximately $5.1 million, making Costco 1.2% of its portfolio. Institutional investors collectively own 68.48% of the company.
• Costco has a largely favorable analyst outlook, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $1,056.03, although its premium valuation and upcoming earnings report leave limited room for disappointment.
• The stock recently traded near $918.91, while Costco maintains a modest 0.6% dividend yield; higher motor-oil prices and purchase limits are potential near-term customer-sentiment risks amid supply pressures.

Agur Provident & Training Funds Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 5,815 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $5,118,000. Costco Wholesale accounts for approximately 1.2% of Agur Provident & Training Funds Management Ltd.'s holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest position.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Burk Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Dividend increase supports the investment case. Costco recently raised its dividend by 13%, reinforcing confidence in cash generation and adding to the appeal of the membership-based retailer, although the regular yield remains modest and special dividends can make the headline payout appear higher. Costco dividend article
• Positive Sentiment: Long-term business fundamentals remain a bullish backdrop. Analysts and commentators continue to point to Costco’s scale, limited product assortment, purchasing advantages and resilient same-store sales as reasons the stock could recover after trailing the S&P 500 and trading below its 52-week high. Fourth-quarter results, expected later this month, are the next major potential catalyst. Costco earnings preview
• Neutral Sentiment: Motor-oil pricing reflects supply pressures rather than a company-specific demand problem. Costco raised the price of a 10-quart case of Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil to $57.99 and limited purchases to two cases per member per week. The changes follow higher crude-oil prices and supply disruptions linked to Middle East tensions and Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline closure. Higher prices may protect margins, but the restrictions could affect customer sentiment. Costco motor oil article
• Negative Sentiment: Rationing and sharply higher prices create reputational and traffic risks. Reports that Costco has also capped purchases of Mobil 1 oil—and that some motor-oil prices have risen substantially from last year—evoke earlier pandemic-era product shortages. While the merchandise is a small portion of revenue, frustrated members could view the move negatively or defer purchases. Costco motor oil rationing article
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves limited room for disappointment. Costco trades at a premium earnings multiple, so investors may require strong sales, membership trends and profit guidance from the upcoming report to justify the valuation. Rising merchandise and operating costs could pressure margins if Costco cannot pass them through broadly. Costco stock performance article

Analyst Ratings Changes

COST has been the topic of several analyst reports. Guggenheim reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $1,091.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, September 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $1,144.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, September 4th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Freedom Broker upgraded shares of Costco Wholesale from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $1,030.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,056.03.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 1.6%

COST opened at $918.91 on Tuesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The company has a market capitalization of $407.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $939.46 and a 200-day moving average of $973.86.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were given a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.58%.

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership-based warehouse clubs that offer a broad selection of merchandise at generally competitive prices. Its product range includes groceries, fresh foods, apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal goods, along with private-label products sold under the Kirkland Signature brand.

The company also provides a variety of ancillary services, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, optical centers, hearing-aid centers, food courts, tire centers, and travel services.

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