Ascentis Wealth Management LLC Has $2.55 Billion Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• Ascentis Wealth Management dramatically increased its Costco stake by 103,637% in the second quarter, purchasing nearly 2.5 million additional shares. Its position was valued at approximately $2.55 billion, representing about 0.56% of Costco.
• Analysts remain generally positive, with 22 Buy, 11 Hold and one Sell rating, resulting in a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $1,059.53.
• Costco’s latest quarter delivered revenue above expectations but narrowly missed EPS estimates, while the stock traded near $961.85 at a lofty 48.38 price-to-earnings ratio. The company also pays a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, yielding about 0.6%.

Ascentis Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 103,637.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,500,062 shares of the retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 2,497,652 shares during the quarter. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC owned about 0.56% of Costco Wholesale worth $2,549,616,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. World Investment Advisors increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 20,081 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $15,835,000 after purchasing an additional 1,560 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 24.5% in the 4th quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 140,429 shares of the retailer's stock worth $121,098,000 after buying an additional 27,625 shares during the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 214,194 shares of the retailer's stock worth $200,372,000 after buying an additional 13,795 shares during the last quarter. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at about $9,300,000. Finally, Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at about $5,813,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and set a $1,120.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,185.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 price objective on the stock. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,059.53.

Costco Wholesale Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of COST stock opened at $961.85 on Friday. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $949.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $981.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $426.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.38, a PEG ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 0.87.

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

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is 29.58%.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco outperformed the broader market in the latest session, reflecting continued investor interest in its membership-based warehouse model and ability to attract value-conscious consumers. Costco Outpaces Stock Market Gains
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain moderately optimistic about Costco’s long-term prospects, while separate retail coverage identified Costco as one of several chains positioned for a potential earnings beat because of resilient demand, value offerings and digital growth. Wall Street Analysts on Costco Retail Stocks Poised for an Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Costco is expanding its assortment and customer appeal: BrightFarms’ locally grown salad greens are entering Atlanta-area warehouses, a reusable tote set is rolling out in West Coast stores and online, and Kirkland Signature chocolate chips have returned after a two-year absence. These launches may support traffic, customer loyalty and private-label engagement, although their direct financial impact is likely modest. BrightFarms Salad Greens at Costco Costco Reusable Tote Launch Kirkland Chocolate Chips Return
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for seven new Costco locations in 2026 reinforce the company’s unit-growth strategy, but the stores will require time and investment before contributing materially to earnings. New Costco Locations in 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Costco’s premium valuation remains a risk for investors: the shares trade at a high earnings multiple, leaving less room for disappointment despite the favorable outlook. The latest reported quarter also narrowly missed the consensus EPS estimate, although revenue exceeded expectations.

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 shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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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