Benjamin Edwards Inc. Cuts Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• Benjamin Edwards Inc. reduced its Costco position by 12.1% in the second quarter, selling 10,397 shares and retaining 75,598 shares worth approximately $70.8 million.
• Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of Costco’s outstanding shares, while analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $1,056.03.
• Costco recently paid a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, equal to a $5.88 annualized dividend and a 0.6% yield; the stock was trading at a P/E ratio of 45.78.

Benjamin Edwards Inc. lowered its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 12.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 75,598 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 10,397 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale accounts for about 0.6% of Benjamin Edwards Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Benjamin Edwards Inc.'s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $70,762,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Burk Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on COST shares. Bank of America boosted their price target on 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. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. Roth Capital lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, July 13th. They issued a "sector perform" rating and a $1,000.00 target price on the stock. Twenty-two 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.com, Costco Wholesale currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,056.03.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $910.18 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $403.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.78, a P/E/G ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.86. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. 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 firm's 50-day moving average is $942.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $976.18.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong fourth-quarter sales: Costco reported fourth-quarter net sales of $93.9 billion, up 11.3% year over year. Digitally enabled comparable sales increased 19.5%, suggesting e-commerce and omnichannel initiatives remain important growth drivers. Costco's Q4 Sales Rise 11.3% as Digital Momentum Remains Strong
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Freedom Broker raised Costco from “hold” to “buy” and established a $1,030 price target, implying meaningful potential upside from recent trading levels. However, the upgrade has not yet overcome broader selling pressure. Costco Stock Falls Despite Freedom Broker Upgrade to Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Returns and liquidation operations: Reports that Costco resells some returned merchandise through liquidation and B-stock auctions provide additional context on its inventory practices. The activity appears operational rather than a major new earnings catalyst, although it may help recover value from returned goods. How Costco Resells Items Returned Under Its Satisfaction Guarantee Policy
• Negative Sentiment: Premium valuation and competitive concerns: Costco’s recent underperformance has renewed debate over whether its high valuation is justified. Jim Cramer argued that the retailer may have lost some of its edge, while other commentary points to competition from discount stores. With a price-to-earnings ratio above 45, investors may be particularly sensitive to any slowdown in growth or membership appeal. Cramer Warns Costco May Have Lost Its Edge
• Negative Sentiment: Supplier bankruptcy headline: The loss of a Costco distribution deal contributed to a beverage brand’s Chapter 11 filing. This is not a direct financial threat to Costco, but it highlights vendor and product-selection risks within its merchandise ecosystem. Loss of Costco Deal Helps Push Beverage Brand Into Chapter 11

Costco Wholesale Profile

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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