Vinva Investment Management Ltd Has $31.16 Million Stock Holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• Vinva Investment Management raised its Costco stake 18.5% in Q3 to 33,989 shares valued at $31.16 million, and institutional investors collectively own about 68.48% of the company.
• Costco beat Q2 estimates with $69.6B in revenue and $4.58 EPS, driven by membership growth and ~22.6% online sales, spurring analyst upgrades and renewed focus on buybacks/special dividends.
• Valuation and payout — Costco carries a $443B market cap and a P/E of 51.9, pays a $5.20 annualized dividend (0.5% yield), and holds a consensus "Moderate Buy" price target of $1,035.35 amid some valuation concerns and recent insider selling.

Vinva Investment Management Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 18.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 33,989 shares of the retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 5,315 shares during the period. Vinva Investment Management Ltd's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $31,163,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,356,271 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $42,920,107,000 after acquiring an additional 711,560 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.5% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 18,325,416 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $18,141,062,000 after purchasing an additional 90,107 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.5% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,275,056 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $10,124,263,000 after purchasing an additional 150,844 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the second quarter valued at approximately $5,692,035,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 9.8% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,291,557 shares of the retailer's stock worth $4,248,384,000 after purchasing an additional 383,887 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 double‑beat — Costco reported revenue of ~$69.6B and GAAP EPS of $4.58, with comp‑store strength and membership fee growth that underpin near‑term sales momentum. This is the main catalyst supporting the rally. Costco Wholesale beats quarterly comparable sales estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and higher price targets — several brokers (notably a large Street high by BMO cited in coverage) raised targets and reiterated outperform/overweight views, adding upward pressure. Costco Stock Scores New Street‑High Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Capital returns & balance‑sheet strength — commentary and notes on buybacks, a rising cash pile and the “special dividend” thesis are attracting income/return‑focused investors and support further upside. Costco Wholesale: Buy Now, Get Paid Later as Cash and Returns Build
• Positive Sentiment: Digital and membership momentum — online sales growth (~22.6%) and rising membership income are cited on the call as durable drivers of mix and margins, supporting investor confidence. Costco Digital Innovations Fuel 22.6% Online Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst moves — while many raised targets, a few (e.g., Goldman) trimmed targets even as they kept buy calls; that creates a mix of conviction levels among institutional holders. Goldman Sachs adjusts price target on Costco
• Neutral Sentiment: Muted market reaction — despite the beat, some headlines note a tepid price move (and some pre‑market weakness) as investors weigh valuation metrics versus growth. That can lead to intraday volatility. Costco Stock Exhibits Muted Reaction Amid Double‑Beat Earnings Report
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation concerns and “red flags” narrative — some outlets argue the stock is expensive (high P/E, PEG) and list risks that could cap upside; those narratives are pressuring more value‑sensitive investors. Is Costco Too Expensive? 3 Red Flags That Could Send Shares Sliding

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 1.6%

Shares of COST stock opened at $998.10 on Friday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,067.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $961.64 and a 200-day moving average of $935.74. The company has a market capitalization of $443.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.90, a P/E/G ratio of 4.77 and a beta of 1.01.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 5th. The retailer reported $4.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.55 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $69.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $68.96 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 29.37%. The firm's revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.02 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is 27.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on COST shares. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,065.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Northcoast Research set a $1,100.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 24th. Robert W. Baird set a $1,100.00 target price on Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Gordon Haskett boosted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,100.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Citigroup restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, February 20th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,035.35.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $916.32, for a total transaction of $1,374,480.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 8,240 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,550,476.80. This represents a 15.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP James C. Klauer sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $939.00, for a total value of $1,408,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 44,837 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $42,101,943. The trade was a 3.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 6,915 shares of company stock valued at $6,317,097. Corporate 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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