Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Stock Sold by First Bank & Trust

Key Points

• First Bank & Trust cut its Costco stake by 26.3% in the third quarter, selling 1,633 shares and retaining 4,577 shares valued at about $4.17 million. Institutional investors overall own approximately 68.5% of Costco.
• Costco exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $6.75 in EPS and $95.72 billion in revenue, with revenue up 11.1% year over year. The company also declared a $1.47 quarterly dividend, representing a 0.6% yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,087.40, though Costco’s elevated valuation— including a P/E ratio near 47.6—leaves the stock exposed to slower growth or macroeconomic pressure.

First Bank & Trust trimmed its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 26.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,577 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 1,633 shares during the period. First Bank & Trust's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $4,167,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in COST. Sarasin & Partners LLP grew its position in Costco Wholesale by 6.9% in the second quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 214,194 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $200,372,000 after acquiring an additional 13,795 shares in the last quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.1% during the second quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan now owns 158,416 shares of the retailer's stock worth $148,193,000 after purchasing an additional 6,200 shares in the last quarter. Silvant Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth $16,013,000. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 9.0% during the second quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer's stock worth $64,325,000 after purchasing an additional 5,656 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 15.0% in the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,766 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $21,297,000 after purchasing an additional 2,974 shares during the period. 68.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $989.11 on Monday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week high of $1,096.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a market cap of $438.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.23 and a beta of 0.88. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $933.15 and a 200-day moving average of $963.04.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $94.97 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.04% and a return on equity of 27.60%. The business's revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.87 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.70 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 30th. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio is 28.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on COST. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and set a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Oppenheimer reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $1,160.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,091.00 to $1,079.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Robert W. Baird set a $1,175.00 target price on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Finally, Tigress Financial lifted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,065.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday. Twenty-four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,087.40.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In related news, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 1,100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $958.21, for a total value of $1,054,031.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 3,094 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,964,701.74. The trade was a 26.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total value of $2,015,046.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 7,134 shares in the company, valued at $6,534,244.62. The trade was a 23.57% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: September sales accelerated: Costco reported September net sales of $30.02 billion, up 13% year over year, while digitally enabled sales increased 19%. The results reinforce the strength of Costco’s membership model, e-commerce business and value-focused offering. September Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains strong: Tigress Financial reiterated a Buy rating while setting a $1,065 price target after previously publicizing a higher $1,250 target. Other coverage highlights Costco’s sales growth, membership loyalty and digital gains, supporting the recent recovery above key moving averages. Tigress Financial Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend maintained: Costco declared a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, payable November 13 to shareholders of record October 30. While the approximately 0.6% yield is modest, the payment signals continued cash-flow strength. Costco Dividend Announcement
• Positive Sentiment: Expansion pipeline: Proposed warehouse projects in Macon and Oakland, along with a planned Merced County relocation, point to continued investment in Costco’s store network. Infrastructure financing of up to $30 million could support the Macon development. Macon Costco Project
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco’s fiscal 2027 executive bonus plan adds sustainability-related measures. The change may support long-term operational goals, but it is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Costco Executive Bonus Update
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and macro risks remain: Costco trades at a high earnings multiple, leaving the stock vulnerable if growth or membership trends slow. Persistent inflation and potentially higher interest rates could also pressure consumer spending and market valuations.
• Negative Sentiment: An executive sold 1,100 shares worth approximately $1.05 million. The transaction is relatively small compared with Costco’s market value, but it may add a modest cautionary signal for investors. Costco Insider Sale

Costco Wholesale Profile

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells merchandise in bulk and at competitive prices through warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms, serving individual consumers, businesses and other organizations.

Its product selection includes groceries and fresh foods, household supplies, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, health and beauty products, jewelry, automotive products and prescription drugs. Costco also provides services such as optical care, pharmacy services, hearing-aid sales, travel offerings and fuel sales, depending on location.

The company traces its roots to Price Club, which opened in San Diego in 1976.

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