KTF Investments LLC Purchases New Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• KTF Investments LLC initiated a new position in Costco, buying 1,359 shares (~$1.17M), while several large institutions materially increased stakes — institutional investors now own about 68.48% of the stock.
• Costco topped estimates for the quarter with $4.58 EPS (vs. $4.55) and $69.6B in revenue (up 9.2% YoY); analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $1,045.97.
• Costco raised its quarterly dividend to $1.47 (from $1.30), equal to an annualized $5.88 and a yield of about 0.6%.

KTF Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,359 shares of the retailer's stock, valued at approximately $1,172,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1,586.8% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,137,436 shares of the retailer's stock worth $980,857,000 after purchasing an additional 1,070,005 shares in the last quarter. Amundi grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 45.0% during the 3rd quarter. Amundi now owns 3,176,606 shares of the retailer's stock worth $2,893,697,000 after purchasing an additional 986,182 shares in the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 112.2% during the 3rd quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 477,425 shares of the retailer's stock worth $441,919,000 after purchasing an additional 252,453 shares in the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 638.7% during the 2nd quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 227,310 shares of the retailer's stock worth $225,023,000 after purchasing an additional 196,537 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $158,189,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on COST shares. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,171.00 to $1,088.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Raymond James Financial increased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Rothschild & Co Redburn increased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $890.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Evercore set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $926.00 to $977.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Twenty-two 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.com, Costco Wholesale currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,045.97.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $998.01 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $996.71 and a 200-day moving average of $948.66. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,067.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company has a market cap of $442.77 billion, a PE ratio of 51.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.98 and a beta of 0.99.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 11th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.55 by $0.03. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The company had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.96 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.02 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st will be issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This is a boost from Costco Wholesale's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 1st. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is currently 30.58%.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Membership renewal rates remain near record highs, which supports recurring revenue, cash flow and the margin profile that underpins Costco’s rich valuation. Targeted outreach and auto‑renewal programs could further stabilize retention. Costco's Renewal Rates Hold Strong: Can Digital Members Catch Up?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst previews expect Costco’s upcoming quarter to show low‑double‑digit EPS growth, reinforcing near‑term earnings momentum and supporting consensus estimates ahead of the print. Here's What to Expect From Costco Wholesale’s Next Earnings Report
• Neutral Sentiment: Heightened retail and investor attention: Zacks notes COST is a "trending" stock, which can boost volume and volatility but doesn't change fundamentals. Expect bigger intraday swings while momentum is concentrated. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Neutral Sentiment: Some customer-service and product FAQs (e.g., tire returns) circulated broadly; these are largely operational/consumer‑facing stories with limited impact on corporate profitability. Does Costco accept returns on tires?
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive pressure: BJ’s expanded aggressively into Texas and the warehouse‑club segment is getting more competitive. Increased competition could pressure membership growth, traffic or pricing in certain markets over time. BJ’s takes on Costco with major expansion
• Negative Sentiment: Digital-member renewal rates lag in some cohorts; if digital sign‑ups consistently underperform, membership revenue growth could slow unless outreach/auto‑renewal efforts fully close the gap. Costco's Renewal Rates Hold Strong: Can Digital Members Catch Up?

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In related news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total value of $732,204.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,121 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,139,485.42. This represents a 10.66% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

About Costco Wholesale

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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