6,741 Shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Bought by Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust

Key Points

• Retail Employees Superannuation Trust opened a new position in Costco Wholesale, buying 6,741 shares valued at about $5.8 million. The stake makes Costco its 26th-largest holding and represents about 1.6% of its portfolio.
• Other institutional investors also added to or initiated Costco positions, and institutional ownership stands at 68.48%. That suggests continued strong interest from large money managers in the stock.
• Costco’s recent results and outlook remain solid: it beat quarterly EPS and revenue estimates, raised its dividend to $1.47 per share, and analysts largely remain bullish with a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target price of $1,052.60.

Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 6,741 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $5,813,000. Costco Wholesale comprises about 1.6% of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust's holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth $876,000. IPG Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 31.9% in the fourth quarter. IPG Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,944 shares of the retailer's stock worth $3,401,000 after buying an additional 953 shares during the last quarter. Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth $1,068,000. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 9.1% in the fourth quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 66,282 shares of the retailer's stock worth $57,158,000 after purchasing an additional 5,546 shares during the period. Finally, Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 139.2% in the fourth quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas now owns 3,493 shares of the retailer's stock worth $3,012,000 after purchasing an additional 2,033 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of the business'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 owned 6,121 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. The trade was a 10.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on COST shares. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,125.00 to $1,135.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $1,050.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, March 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,171.00 to $1,088.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,110.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 17th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $1,052.60.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of COST opened at $1,003.69 on Thursday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50. The company has a market cap of $445.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.06. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1,008.29 and a 200-day moving average of $962.02.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 11th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.55 by $0.03. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The company had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.96 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.02 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a positive change from Costco Wholesale's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 1st. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio is presently 30.58%.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and media coverage remain constructive, with multiple firms reiterating bullish views and price targets implying upside if Costco delivers another solid quarter. Analyst Reaffirms Buy on Costco, Sees Attractive Upside with Unchanged $1,185 Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Pre-earnings commentary highlights strong monthly sales, membership growth, e-commerce gains, and higher gas prices potentially boosting traffic and top-line momentum. Costco Heads into Earnings with Monthly Sales Already Doing the Heavy Lifting
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts are calling Costco a top defensive consumer stock, reinforcing its reputation as a steady performer in uncertain markets. Bernstein Calls Costco (COST) a Top Defensive Consumer Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple previews note that investors are largely waiting for Thursday’s earnings report to reset expectations, with the stock seen as capable of moving sharply depending on guidance and margin commentary. Here's How Much Costco Stock Is Expected to Move After Earnings Q3 FY2026
• Neutral Sentiment: There was also a separate headline about an optical-services scheduling issue and a grapevine pest concern involving Costco-sold plants, but these appear limited in scope and are less likely to affect the broader investment thesis. Costco optical customers face frustration trying to schedule eye exams
• Negative Sentiment: Pre-earnings caution and valuation pressure are weighing on the shares, with some market watchers saying it may be prudent to wait for results rather than chase the stock now. Costco Q3 Preview: Stock Could Hit $1,200 Or Fall To $960, Market Expert Says 'Prudent To Wait This One Out'
• Negative Sentiment: A federal jury verdict in a disability discrimination case raised legal and compliance concerns, creating a modest overhang ahead of earnings. Costco Discrimination Verdict Puts Legal And Compliance Risks In Focus

Costco Wholesale 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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