Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Sold by AIA Group Ltd

AIA Group Ltd lowered its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 33.6% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,816 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 9,000 shares during the period. AIA Group Ltd's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $16,666,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 750.0% during the first quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 34 shares of the retailer's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 2.5%

Shares of COST stock opened at $933.51 on Friday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. The business's fifty day moving average is $947.83 and its 200-day moving average is $981.19. The stock has a market cap of $413.99 billion, a PE ratio of 46.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.87.

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

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on COST. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, July 13th. They issued a "sector perform" rating and a $1,000.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Truist Financial raised their price target on Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating and set a $1,125.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,059.53.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Costco Wholesale News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Medicare expansion creates a new growth opportunity. Costco is partnering with nonprofit insurer SCAN Group to offer limited Costco-branded Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans, initially in select states. The initiative targets Costco’s sizable senior-member base and gives the retailer exposure to the large Medicare market, although the financial contribution is likely to develop gradually. Costco Enters The Medicare Insurance Market
• Positive Sentiment: Costco increased its dividend by 13.1%. The raise signals confidence in cash generation and strengthens the shareholder-return case, though the regular dividend yield remains relatively modest because of COST’s high share price. Costco Just Upped Its Dividend by 13.1%
• Positive Sentiment: Additional growth engines are emerging. Analysts point to Costco’s membership model, Kirkland Signature products, retail media, artificial-intelligence-powered search and pharmacy operations as areas that could support growth beyond warehouse sales. Costco Is Quietly Building Its Next Big Growth Engine
• Neutral Sentiment: Product news is likely to have limited stock impact. Costco brought back a popular discontinued item, which may support member engagement but is not material to companywide earnings. Costco Brought Back a Popular Favorite
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and retail concerns are weighing on the shares. COST trades at a high earnings multiple, leaving less room for execution disappointments. Its latest quarterly EPS narrowly missed estimates despite revenue exceeding expectations, while the stock declined more than the broader market in the latest session. Why Costco Fell More Than the Broader Market

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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