Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership Sells 491,886 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership trimmed its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 49.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 497,740 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 491,886 shares during the quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned approximately 0.11% of Costco Wholesale worth $495,963,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,620,717 shares of the retailer's stock worth $37,615,889,000 after buying an additional 165,349 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,388,519 shares of the retailer's stock worth $8,919,573,000 after purchasing an additional 26,690 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,523,423 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $8,212,433,000 after buying an additional 107,775 shares during the period. Diamant Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 99,278.0% in the 1st quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,726,899 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $672,690,000 after buying an additional 6,720,130 shares during the period. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 838.9% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,125,405 shares of the retailer's stock worth $5,282,182,000 after acquiring an additional 5,472,968 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Costco Wholesale News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco is expanding its warehouse footprint with several planned new locations across multiple states, including a first store in some markets, which could support membership growth, sales, and regional market share. Costco plans several new stores in multiple states: Here’s where
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Costco favorably, with consensus ratings still at “Moderate Buy,” reinforcing confidence in the company’s defensive business model and long-term earnings power. Costco Wholesale Corporation NASDAQ: COST Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s early Executive Membership success in China and continued warehouse expansion there could improve fee income and customer loyalty, creating a new growth catalyst outside the U.S. Why China Could Become Costco's Next Membership Catalyst
• Positive Sentiment: New product launches and retailer exclusives from brands like Laifen and Jackery show Costco remains an attractive distribution channel, supporting traffic and merchandising momentum. Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Undervalued As New Product Launches Test Its Premium Valuation?
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary focused on Costco’s high dividend growth and durable earnings model adds to the bullish long-term case, but it does not appear to be a new catalyst on its own. Will Costco (COST) be Able to Continue High Dividend Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports about a new standalone gas station and local tax revenue from store openings highlight business expansion, but they are more incremental than transformative for the stock. Costco Officially Launched Standalone Gas Stations. Don’t Count on This Fueling Another Leg Higher in COST Stock. Costco could bring millions in new tax revenue to Clarksville, leaders say
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concern remains around Costco’s premium valuation, with recent commentary questioning whether the stock is still undervalued after its strong run. Is Costco Wholesale (COST) Undervalued As New Product Launches Test Its Premium Valuation?
• Negative Sentiment: Legal headlines noting multiple lawsuits this year may add some overhang, even if the direct financial impact is still unclear. Costco had 3 lawsuits filed against it this year: See why

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $926.06 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $410.69 billion, a PE ratio of 46.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.48 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $968.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $980.24. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.94 by ($0.01). Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. The company had revenue of $70.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.28 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In other news, Director Kenneth D. 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 transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

COST has been the subject of several recent research reports. Guggenheim restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,125.00 to $1,135.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. DA Davidson restated a "neutral" rating and set a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, July 13th. They set a "sector perform" rating and a $1,000.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $1,059.07.

About Costco Wholesale

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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