First Trust Advisors LP Has $689.78 Million Stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• First Trust Advisors LP boosted its Costco stake by 18% in the first quarter, ending with 692,252 shares valued at about $689.8 million. Costco now ranks as the fund’s 28th-largest holding.
• Costco reported fiscal-quarter earnings of $4.93 per share, slightly missing estimates, while revenue came in at $70.53 billion, above expectations. Analysts still expect the company to post strong full-year EPS growth.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, payable August 7, and Wall Street remains broadly positive with a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of about $1,059.

First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 18.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 692,252 shares of the retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 105,782 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale accounts for approximately 0.5% of First Trust Advisors LP's portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. First Trust Advisors LP owned approximately 0.16% of Costco Wholesale worth $689,781,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of COST. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 750.0% in the first quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 34 shares of the retailer's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $929.22 on Wednesday. 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 stock has a market cap of $412.09 billion, a PE ratio of 46.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 0.88. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $972.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $979.28. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50.

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

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be given a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.58%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup initiated coverage on Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,110.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Guggenheim restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,059.07.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco is being praised for its long runway for expansion, with analysts pointing to plans for 26 net-new warehouses in fiscal 2026 and a broader international pipeline. Why Costco's Warehouse Growth Story Is Far From Over
• Positive Sentiment: New store-opening reports, including more locations coming in 2026 and a new Clarksville site, reinforce Costco’s continued footprint expansion and should support revenue growth expectations. 8 more Costco stores are coming in 2026. Is Ohio getting one? Costco coming to Freedom Farms in Clarksville
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s pharmacy and prescription-service expansion could make memberships more valuable and increase customer loyalty and visit frequency. Costco expands pharmacy, prescription services for members
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage around new premium items, such as Laifen hair dryers in stores, suggests Costco is still expanding its product assortment and strengthening its appeal to higher-spending members. Costco (COST) Brings Laifen Hair Dryer To Stores In Its Biggest US Retail Push
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles framed Costco as a strong long-term compounder and a potential future trillion-dollar company, which is supportive sentiment but not a near-term catalyst. Prediction: Costco Will Join the $1 Trillion Club by 2033
• Neutral Sentiment: Other commentary focused on Costco as a high-quality dividend or retirement holding, while also noting valuation concerns versus peers; this keeps the stock in the spotlight but does not change the business outlook immediately. Costco Is a Compelling Investment Opportunity, but This Stock Could Be an Even Better Buy Costco Is a No-Brainer Buy for Retirement Investors Right Now
• Negative Sentiment: Some coverage highlighted that COST has pulled back from recent highs and remains expensive on earnings metrics, which may be weighing on near-term trading. Price Prediction: Will Costco Hit a New-High This Year?
• Negative Sentiment: One report noted the stock edged lower even as Costco reportedly plans standalone gas stations, suggesting investors may be taking a cautious approach to the expansion news. Costco Stock (COST) Drops despite Bet on Stand-Alone Gas Stations in Sales Push

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

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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