Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Acquired by Victory Financial Group LLC

Key Points

• Victory Financial Group LLC boosted its position in Costco by 84% in Q4, buying 1,011 shares to hold 2,214 shares worth about $1.91 million, while institutional investors own roughly 68.48% of the stock.
• Costco slightly beat quarterly EPS expectations ($4.58 vs. $4.55) with revenue of $69.6 billion (up 9.2% YoY); the company has a $442B market cap and a consensus analyst rating of Moderate Buy with a $1,039.13 price target.
• Insiders sold 5,038 shares totaling $4.79 million over the past three months (including EVP Teresa Jones and Director Susan Decker), leaving insiders with just 0.10% ownership.

Victory Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 84.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,214 shares of the retailer's stock after buying an additional 1,011 shares during the quarter. Victory Financial Group LLC's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $1,910,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of COST. Hurley Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the third quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. AXS Investments LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In other news, EVP Teresa A. Jones sold 850 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $986.26, for a total transaction of $838,321.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 4,228 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,169,907.28. The trade was a 16.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Susan L. Decker sold 458 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total transaction of $437,390.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,532 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,148,060. The trade was a 5.09% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 5,038 shares of company stock valued at $4,790,896 over the last three months. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on COST. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,171.00 to $1,088.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 6th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and set a $1,125.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Tuesday. HSBC reduced their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,045.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $890.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. 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 MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,039.13.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $996.43 on Wednesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12 month low of $844.06 and a 12 month 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 firm has a market capitalization of $442.07 billion, a PE ratio of 51.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.92 and a beta of 1.01. The business's fifty day moving average price is $988.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $939.28.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 in the previous year, the business earned $4.02 EPS. Costco Wholesale's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is presently 27.04%.

Costco Wholesale News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $1,125 price target, signaling analyst confidence and potential upside. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Costco will roll out its first stand‑alone gas station to members (separate from warehouses), expanding a proven membership-acquisition tool that can drive traffic and renewals. Costco Will Soon Open Its First Stand-Alone Gas Station
• Positive Sentiment: High gas prices may actually benefit warehouse clubs like Costco by making fuel a loss leader that attracts memberships and in‑store spending, supporting same‑store traffic and retention. Surprising Beneficiaries of High Gas Prices
• Positive Sentiment: Costco plans aggressive warehouse expansion (~28 new warehouses in FY26), which supports long‑term revenue and membership growth assumptions. Warehouse Expansion Plans
• Positive Sentiment: High-profile endorsements (e.g., Jim Cramer calling Costco a buy in the current environment) and strong Q2 metrics (high renewal rates, comp sales beat) are sustaining investor appetite. Jim Cramer on Costco
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain split on near‑term sales momentum (March sales expected to climb but views differ), leaving some uncertainty around guidance and short‑term comps. Analyst Split on March Sales
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces comparing Costco to Amazon and Walmart highlight Costco’s strong membership model but reiterate valuation risks versus peers — useful context but not new company‑specific news. Costco vs Amazon
• Negative Sentiment: Costco faces a lawsuit alleging it raised prices and then sought tariff refunds from the government — a legal/regulatory overhang that could create reputational or financial risk if it escalates. Lawsuit Over Prices and Tariff Refunds
• Negative Sentiment: Local consumer complaints (e.g., backlash over an “overpriced” new dessert) and commentary about lofty valuation (high forward P/E) remind investors that execution and PR missteps can weigh on sentiment. Members Furious Overpriced Dessert

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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