Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Increases Stock Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Key Points

• Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in Costco by 1.2%, acquiring 2,513 shares to hold 216,731 shares worth about $186.9 million, making COST the firm's 27th-largest holding (0.4% of its portfolio).
• Costco posted a slight beat for the quarter (EPS $4.58 vs. $4.55; revenue $69.6B, +9.2% YoY) and raised its quarterly dividend to $1.47 (annualized $5.88, yield ~0.6%; ex-dividend May 1), while analysts maintain a consensus "Moderate Buy" with average targets near $1,046 and several price-target upgrades toward $1,100.

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 1.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 216,731 shares of the retailer's stock after buying an additional 2,513 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale makes up 0.4% of Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $186,896,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hurley Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the third quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the period. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Collier Financial bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. AXS Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In other news, EVP Teresa A. Jones sold 850 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $986.26, for a total transaction of $838,321.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,228 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,169,907.28. This represents a 16.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. This represents a 10.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,103.00 to $1,104.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Robert W. Baird set a $1,100.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,065.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Evercore set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,045.97.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target hike to $1,110 signals stronger upside expectations from sell‑side coverage; this upgrade is a direct catalyst supporting the stock’s gain. Price Target Raised to $1,110.00
• Positive Sentiment: Earlier analyst upgrade drove a ~1.3% intraday lift, showing market sensitivity to analyst sentiment and the potential for further momentum on positive coverage. Stock Price Up 1.3% on Analyst Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage from TheStreet and UBS emphasizes Costco’s competitive edge (treasure‑hunt merchandising, value proposition) versus Walmart/Target — supports the narrative of durable membership-driven sales and pricing power. Costco’s key edge sets it apart
• Positive Sentiment: Price-competition evidence: a shopper comparison found Costco meaningfully cheaper than Walmart on a basket of items — reinforces Costco’s value proposition and membership retention thesis. Shopper compared 32 items at Walmart and Costco
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple Motley Fool pieces include Costco among defensive, long‑haul consumer stocks — supports risk‑off investor demand and buy‑and‑hold narratives. The Market Is Shaky, But These 2 Stocks Are Built for the Long Haul
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation debate: several writeups question whether COST is priced for perfection at roughly $1,000/share — useful for investors weighing continued upside vs limited margin for disappointment. Assessing Whether Costco Looks Overvalued
• Neutral Sentiment: “Still a Buy or Time to Wait?” pieces highlight strong execution but note the stock may be priced for perfection — balanced commentary for investors deciding entry points. Costco at $1,000: Still a Buy or Time to Wait?
• Neutral Sentiment: Consumer / product stories (laundry cart tip, bakery changes, product updates) drive foot traffic and member experience but are unlikely to move the stock materially on their own. Why You Should Be Bringing Costco's Laundry Cart
• Negative Sentiment: Minor institutional trimming: Baskin Financial sold 617 shares (small position reduction) — not a major red flag but worth noting as part of 13F activity. Baskin Financial Services Inc. Sells 617 Shares

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $999.89 on Monday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,067.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.06. The stock has a market cap of $443.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.99. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $995.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $945.03.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 11th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.55 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $69.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $68.96 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.02 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st will be issued 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 is Friday, May 1st. This is an increase from Costco Wholesale's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.04%.

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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