Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Shares Sold by Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA

Key Points

• Massachusetts Financial Services cut its stake in Costco by 13.0%, selling 21,293 shares and leaving 142,063 shares valued at $122,507,000 per its latest 13F filing.
• Analyst coverage is broadly constructive with 22 Buys, 11 Holds and 1 Sell, a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,043.13.
• Operationally, Costco beat the quarter's estimates (EPS $4.58 vs. $4.55; revenue $69.6B, up 9.2% YoY) and has near-term tailwinds from a membership fee increase and higher gas prices supporting in‑club spending and margins.

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lowered its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 13.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 142,063 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 21,293 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $122,507,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in COST. Hurley Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the third quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $34,000. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $35,000. AXS Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

COST has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $1,050.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, March 5th. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,103.00 to $1,104.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. UBS Group set a $1,175.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Evercore set a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,043.13.

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 1.8%

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $980.85 on Tuesday. The firm's 50-day moving average is $995.75 and its 200-day moving average is $943.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.06. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1 year low of $844.06 and a 1 year high of $1,067.08. The company has a market cap of $435.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.01, a PEG ratio of 4.92 and a beta of 0.99.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The company had revenue of $69.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.96 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.02 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.04%.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Higher gas prices are boosting store traffic and March sales, which helps gasoline margin and ancillary in-club spending — a near-term sales tailwind for Costco. Higher Gas Prices Are Already Having a Positive Impact on Costco's Sales
• Positive Sentiment: Costco recently raised membership fees (first increase in seven years), which should lift recurring revenue and margins given high renewal rates. This supports longer‑term cash flow even if it pressures membership-sensitive customers. Costco Raised Membership Fees for the First Time in 7 Years. Here's What Investors Learned From It.
• Positive Sentiment: International sales (especially Other International) are accelerating versus the U.S., shifting Costco’s growth mix and reducing reliance on domestic comps. That diversification can support revenue growth expectations. Costco's International Sales Surge Signals Shift in Growth Mix
• Positive Sentiment: Brand strength in Japan (local bestsellers and a differentiated “American” offering) underscores Costco’s international merchandising and membership appeal, supporting long-term expansion potential. Costco Japan's top-selling product baffled execs — until they watched shoppers open it and sniff. Here's what they said
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains constructive but cautious — DA Davidson reiterated a neutral rating, signaling no immediate analyst-driven catalyst. Costco Wholesale's (COST) Neutral Rating Reiterated at DA Davidson
• Neutral Sentiment: Profiles and rankings (Zacks, Fool) continue to highlight Costco as a strong growth/quality name, which supports investor interest but is unlikely to move the stock alone. Here's Why Costco (COST) is a Strong Growth Stock
• Negative Sentiment: Broader retail-sector volatility and recent weakness (retail stocks have lagged the market) can weigh on Costco’s multiple as investors de-risk consumer names, contributing to the down move today. 1 Consumer Stock to Research Further and 2 We Ignore

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP James C. Klauer sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $939.00, for a total value of $1,408,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 44,837 shares of the company's stock, valued at $42,101,943. This trade represents a 3.24% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Teresa A. Jones sold 850 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 21st. The stock was 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 directly owned 4,228 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,169,907.28. This trade represents a 16.74% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 3,538 shares of company stock worth $3,416,416 in the last 90 days. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Costco Wholesale 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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