Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST is FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH's 9th Largest Position

Key Points

• FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH sold 1,141 Costco shares in Q4 (down 8%), leaving it with 13,079 shares worth $11.279 million and making Costco its ninth-largest holding; institutional investors own about 68.48% of the stock.
• Costco raised its quarterly dividend to $1.47 (annualized $5.88) with an ex-dividend date of May 1 and a yield near 0.6%, signaling confidence in cash flow.
• Recent results showed a slight EPS beat ($4.58 vs. $4.55) and revenue up 9.2% to $69.6 billion, while analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” with an average price target around $1,046 and the stock trading near $1,011 (P/E ~52.6).

FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH decreased its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 8.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,079 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 1,141 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale makes up 2.6% of FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH's portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $11,279,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated raised its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 49.3% in the third quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,780 shares of the retailer's stock worth $3,499,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares in the last quarter. Permanent Capital Management LP bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $874,000. FORA Capital LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $2,781,000. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 24.5% in the fourth quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 140,429 shares of the retailer's stock worth $121,098,000 after purchasing an additional 27,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Curtis Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 56.7% during the fourth quarter. Curtis Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,535 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $3,911,000 after acquiring an additional 1,641 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total value of $732,204.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. This trade represents a 10.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Board raised the quarterly cash dividend to $1.47 (annualized $5.88), signaling confidence in cash flow and making the stock more attractive to income-focused investors. Costco (COST) Approves Quarterly Dividend Increase Amid Robust Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlights that the September 2024 membership fee hike is now fully flowing into 2026 results, helping margin expansion and supporting recent EPS beats — a direct earnings tailwind. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): One of the Best Safe Stocks for Beginner Investors
• Positive Sentiment: Company continues to open new warehouses, plus a Costco Business Center and fuel station win that should boost regional sales and commercial accounts over time. Expansion supports long-term same-store growth and membership value. Costco aims for dozens more warehouses in coming years: Here’s when the newest open
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple commentary pieces debate valuation: some say near-$1,000 price is justified by cash generation and resilience, others warn the stock looks expensive — this debate can mute buying momentum. Is Costco's Stock Too Expensive Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Market-note pieces pointing to recent intraday moves and the stock’s position relative to its all-time high are creating short-term trading interest but not new fundamental news. Costco (COST) Ascends While Market Falls: Some Facts to Note
• Negative Sentiment: Sam’s Club launched initiatives touted as reasons some members might switch, renewing concerns about competitive pressure on membership growth and price-driven traffic. Sam's Club just gave members a reason to ditch Costco
• Negative Sentiment: Rivals such as BJ’s are expanding into new markets (e.g., Texas), adding localized competition that could pressure price or fuel margins in certain regions. New BJ's locations Texas: Club rivaling Costco, Sam's expands to Texas

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,175.00 to $1,315.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. UBS Group set a $1,175.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Roth Mkm restated a "sell" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,045.97.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $1,011.15 on Monday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,067.08. 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 business has a fifty day moving average price of $997.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $948.27. The company has a market capitalization of $448.60 billion, a PE ratio of 52.58, a PEG ratio of 4.98 and a beta of 0.99.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 11th. The retailer reported $4.58 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.55 by $0.03. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.57% and a net margin of 2.99%.The company had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.96 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.02 EPS. Costco Wholesale's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 1st will be issued a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 1st. This is a positive change from Costco Wholesale's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio is 27.04%.

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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