Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Sold by Amundi

Key Points

• Amundi reduced its Costco stake by 14.6% in the second quarter, selling 414,555 shares and retaining 2.42 million shares worth approximately $2.27 billion. Institutional investors overall own 68.48% of the company.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $1,056.03, though some firms maintain neutral ratings and Costco’s elevated valuation may require continued strong growth.
• Costco shares opened at $904.77 and remain below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages after a recent decline. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $1.47, equivalent to a 0.6% annual yield.

Amundi cut its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 14.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,424,461 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 414,555 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale makes up approximately 0.5% of Amundi's investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Amundi owned approximately 0.55% of Costco Wholesale worth $2,268,011,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in COST. Schulz Wealth LTD. purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $307,000. Brown Financial Advisors increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 10.2% in the second quarter. Brown Financial Advisors now owns 1,177 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $1,101,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 3.1% in the second quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 448,285 shares of the retailer's stock worth $419,357,000 after acquiring an additional 13,371 shares during the period. Groupe la Francaise boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 18.5% during the 2nd quarter. Groupe la Francaise now owns 53,335 shares of the retailer's stock worth $49,618,000 after acquiring an additional 8,338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at about $58,848,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

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 transaction of $847,343.25. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on COST. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Oppenheimer upped their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 price target for the company. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,056.03.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s recent August and fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 sales results supported an analyst upgrade from “hold” to “buy,” accompanied by a $1,030 price target. The data were viewed as evidence of resilient consumer demand and improving visibility into retail trends. Analyst upgrade following sales reports
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts maintain substantially higher targets, including targets of $1,100 to $1,200, arguing that Costco’s membership model, recurring sales, and execution could support further valuation upside. Costco price prediction
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlights Costco’s ability to compete with Walmart and Amazon, while planned warehouse openings—including a reported $42 million Texas development and additional U.S. and Canadian locations—could expand its membership and sales base. Costco competition and growth
• Positive Sentiment: An Accenture survey suggests consumers may begin holiday shopping unusually early and spend more than in 2025, a potentially favorable backdrop for Costco’s seasonal merchandise and grocery sales. Holiday shopping outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Brokerage coverage remains favorable overall, with Costco carrying an average “Moderate Buy” rating, but the stock’s elevated valuation means continued earnings and sales growth may be required to justify further gains. Costco brokerage rating
• Neutral Sentiment: New warehouse projects and relocations should support long-term expansion, although local traffic concerns around one planned location could delay or complicate development. Lee’s Summit Costco development
• Negative Sentiment: Costco shares have closed lower for eight consecutive sessions, raising concerns about a technical or valuation-driven correction despite strong operating results.
• Negative Sentiment: Recent insider activity consisted of two sales and no purchases, while reports that Costco is rationing motor oil point to potential product-availability and supply-chain pressures.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $904.77 on Monday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $940.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $974.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $401.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.51, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th were issued a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.58%.

Costco Wholesale Company 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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