Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Stock Position Increased by JGP Wealth Management LLC

Key Points

• JGP Wealth Management increased its Costco stake by 1,574.4% in the third quarter, acquiring 66,898 additional shares for a total position worth approximately $64.8 million.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with 23 buy ratings, nine holds, and one sell; Costco has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $1,046.27.
• Costco exceeded quarterly expectations with $6.75 in earnings per share and $95.72 billion in revenue, though its valuation remains elevated at roughly 46 times earnings and its dividend yield is relatively low.

JGP Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 1,574.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 71,147 shares of the retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 66,898 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale accounts for approximately 5.6% of JGP Wealth Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest position. JGP Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $64,768,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Burk Holdings LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. HSBC raised Costco Wholesale to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,144.00 to $1,143.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 25th. BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating and issued a $1,125.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Oppenheimer restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $1,160.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,015.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Twenty-three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,046.27.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of COST stock opened at $959.44 on Tuesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $425.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.22, a P/E/G ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.88. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $930.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $963.26.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 27.60% and a net margin of 3.04%. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $94.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.87 EPS. Costco Wholesale's quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In other news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,534,244.62. The trade was a 23.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company 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: Strong September sales: Costco reported September net sales of $30.02 billion, a 13.0% year-over-year increase. Comparable sales excluding gasoline and currency effects rose 7.6%, accelerating from August’s 5.4%, suggesting resilient consumer demand. Costco Wholesale Posts 13% September Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Digital business remains a growth driver: September digital sales increased 19%, supported by expanded delivery options and more personalized shopping, extending Costco’s broader fiscal 2026 momentum. Costco’s 19% September Digital Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Historical performance supports dip-buying: Costco stock has historically recovered after sizable pullbacks; it was higher one year later in seven of nine instances since 2010 when it fell at least 14% from a record close. Costco Stock Is 14% Below Its Record
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend growth adds shareholder appeal: Costco’s dividend has risen 86% over five years, while investors continue to anticipate the possibility of another special dividend. Costco Dividend Income Outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Membership value is mixed: A comparison of 27 grocery staples found Costco often offers lower unit prices, but bulk packaging and the annual membership fee can make total spending less attractive for smaller households. Is a $65 Costco Membership Worth It for Groceries?
• Neutral Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed its “Sector Perform” rating, indicating no significant change in its near-term view. Royal Bank of Canada Reaffirms Sector Perform Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and yield risks remain: Costco trades at roughly 45–46 times earnings, a substantial premium to the broader market. With the 10-year Treasury yield near 5.2%, the company’s relatively small dividend is less attractive to income-focused investors. Costco Stock Versus 10-Year Treasury Notes
• Negative Sentiment: Some September sales growth benefited from elevated gasoline prices; cheaper fuel could reduce reported revenue and fuel-related traffic, increasing pressure on Costco to sustain growth through merchandise and membership gains. What Cheaper Gas Would Mean for Costco’s Sales and Margins

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells a broad selection of merchandise, including groceries, fresh foods, beverages, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal products. It also offers services such as gasoline, pharmacies, optical departments, hearing-aid centers, food courts, travel services, and business delivery in selected markets.

Costco markets many products under its private-label Kirkland Signature brand and sells merchandise through warehouse locations and e-commerce platforms.

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