Erste Asset Management GmbH Purchases 7,007 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• Erste Asset Management increased its Costco position by 42.2% in the second quarter, purchasing 7,007 shares and bringing its holdings to 23,609 shares valued at approximately $22.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own 68.48% of the stock.
• Costco’s shares opened at $961.05, with a market capitalization of about $426.2 billion and a high valuation of 48.34 times earnings. The company narrowly missed quarterly EPS estimates but exceeded revenue expectations, while analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus and a $1,059.53 price target.
• Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares for approximately $847,343, reducing his ownership by 15.62%. Costco also paid a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, equivalent to a 0.6% annualized yield.

Erste Asset Management GmbH grew its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 42.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 23,609 shares of the retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 7,007 shares during the period. Erste Asset Management GmbH's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $22,297,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Joseph Group Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Market-share gains in Canada: Costco is now Canada’s second-largest grocery store chain, indicating continued customer adoption and potential for international growth. Costco Wholesale Is Now Canada’s Second Largest Grocery Store Chain
• Positive Sentiment: Resilient value proposition: Analysts continue to highlight Costco’s ability to attract and retain members through low prices, including inexpensive gasoline. This value positioning could support demand as consumers remain selective. Retail Stocks Poised for an Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Expansion remains a growth driver: Seven additional U.S. locations are planned for 2026, adding warehouse capacity and supporting membership and sales growth over time. Seven New Costco Locations Coming in 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Tariff-refund uncertainty: Costco says it will return tariff-related refunds to customers, but the timing and mechanics remain unclear. The policy may reinforce customer goodwill, although refunds could create temporary administrative and cash-flow considerations. Costco Tariff Refunds
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational and competitive updates: Costco will close U.S. warehouses on September 7 for Labor Day, while rival BJ’s continues expanding. These developments are unlikely to materially change near-term earnings but highlight ongoing competitive dynamics. Costco Labor Day Closure
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation remains a concern: Despite a recent pullback, Costco’s roughly 48-times P/E ratio leaves limited room for execution misses. Moderating sales growth and potential margin pressure could keep investors cautious, particularly after the latest quarter narrowly missed EPS expectations. Is Costco Stock Worth Buying Now or Still Too Pricey to Touch?

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $961.05 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $426.21 billion, a PE ratio of 48.34, a P/E/G ratio of 4.57 and a beta of 0.87. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $949.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $981.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,096.50.

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

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were given 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 of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is currently 29.58%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on COST shares. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and set a $1,120.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Guggenheim restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,088.00 to $1,159.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 29th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average 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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