Czech National Bank Acquires 5,395 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 4.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 126,281 shares of the retailer's stock after buying an additional 5,395 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale makes up about 0.6% of Czech National Bank's holdings, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Czech National Bank's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $118,132,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Diamant Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 99,278.0% during the first quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,726,899 shares of the retailer's stock worth $672,690,000 after acquiring an additional 6,720,130 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth about $5,195,415,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 838.9% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,125,405 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $5,282,182,000 after purchasing an additional 5,472,968 shares in the last quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 907.1% during the fourth quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 1,785,080 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $1,539,346,000 after purchasing an additional 1,607,833 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 45.0% during the third quarter. Amundi now owns 3,176,606 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $2,893,697,000 after purchasing an additional 986,182 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale 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 completion of 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 0.8%

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $949.15 on Friday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12 month low of $844.06 and a 12 month high of $1,096.50. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $950.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $982.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The firm has a market cap of $420.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.74, a PEG ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.87.

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

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.58%.

Costco Wholesale News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong July sales support the investment case. Costco reported July net sales of $23.12 billion, up 10.7% year over year, while sales for the first 48 weeks of the fiscal year rose 10.1% to $273.55 billion. The results indicate continued customer traffic and spending momentum and are likely the main reason the stock has increased. Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports July Sales Results
• Positive Sentiment: Comparable-store sales also improved in July. MarketWatch reported that Costco’s same-store sales increased, suggesting that growth was not driven solely by new warehouse openings. Broad-based comparable sales are generally viewed favorably because they indicate stronger underlying demand and member engagement. Costco Same-Store Sales Rise in July
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s brand strategy continues to attract attention. Lord & Taylor is reportedly pursuing a Costco-like model, including greater emphasis on private-label merchandise. The comparison highlights the strength of Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand and the competitive advantages of its membership and private-label ecosystem. Formerly bankrupt department store bets on Costco strategy
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain focused on valuation. A TipRanks review noted that COST has risen about 10% year to date while inflation remains a concern. Strong sales support earnings expectations, but the stock’s high earnings multiple leaves less room for disappointing results or slowing growth. Is Costco Stock Still a Good Buy After Its July Sales Report?
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles about student benefits, new groceries, and higher-income consumer spending provide lifestyle or industry context but do not materially change Costco’s earnings outlook. Costco Student Discount
• Negative Sentiment: A proposed tax-sharing agreement connected to a potential Costco and gas-station development has drawn opposition from local residents. The issue appears localized and is unlikely to affect Costco’s near-term financial results, but it could create permitting or reputational friction. Residents Oppose Tax-Sharing Agreement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COST has been the topic of several recent research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They issued a "sector perform" rating and a $1,000.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 price objective for the company. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. TD Cowen reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $1,175.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Oppenheimer increased 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. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,059.53.

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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