Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC Acquires New Shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC disclosed a new stake in Costco Wholesale, buying 1,239 shares valued at about $1.07 million in the fourth quarter. The position represents roughly 1.0% of the firm’s portfolio.
• Other institutional investors also increased their Costco holdings, and institutions now own 68.48% of the company’s stock. Insider ownership remains low at 0.10%, though EVP Claudine Adamo recently sold 730 shares.
• Analyst sentiment remains constructive overall, with Costco carrying a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target price of $1,052.60. The company also reported solid recent results and raised its quarterly dividend to $1.47 per share.

Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 1,239 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $1,068,000. Costco Wholesale comprises 1.0% of Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 9.1% in the 4th quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 66,282 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $57,158,000 after purchasing an additional 5,546 shares during the last quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 139.2% in the 4th quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas now owns 3,493 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $3,012,000 after purchasing an additional 2,033 shares during the last quarter. Leeward Financial Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Leeward Financial Partners LLC now owns 10,017 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $8,638,000 after purchasing an additional 1,503 shares during the last quarter. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 45.9% in the 4th quarter. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. now owns 477 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $411,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc now owns 10,928 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $9,424,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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 dated 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. The trade was a 10.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

COST has been the subject of several analyst reports. Daiwa Securities Group lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $917.00 to $975.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $1,050.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. TD Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $1,192.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Tuesday, May 12th. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $1,052.60.

More Costco Wholesale News

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 Stock Performance

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

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

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 1st. This is a positive change from Costco Wholesale's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is presently 30.58%.

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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