Sanford C. Bernstein Increases Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Price Target to $1,194.00

Key Points

• Sanford C. Bernstein raised its price target on Costco to $1,194 from $1,192 and kept an outperform rating, implying about 25% upside from the current price.
• Costco shares were down 4.0% to $955.44 in Friday trading, even as Wall Street remains broadly bullish with a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target of $1,055.79.
• The company’s latest quarter showed strong revenue of $70.53 billion versus estimates, but EPS missed expectations slightly at $4.93 versus $4.98, highlighting some margin pressure despite solid sales growth.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) had its price target raised by research analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 in a research report issued on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The firm presently has an "outperform" rating on the retailer's stock. Sanford C. Bernstein's target price would indicate a potential upside of 24.97% from the company's current price.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on COST. Evercore set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Robert W. Baird set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, February 5th. DA Davidson restated a "neutral" rating and set a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, April 10th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $1,125.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday. Finally, Roth Mkm upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,055.79.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 4.0%

COST stock traded down $39.76 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $955.44. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,356,024 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,104,118. The company's fifty day moving average price is $1,008.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $962.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.59. Costco Wholesale has a twelve month low of $844.06 and a twelve month high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $423.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.77, a PEG ratio of 4.94 and a beta of 0.92.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.98 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $69.68 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.28 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale will post 20.33 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total transaction of $732,204.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,121 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,139,485.42. This trade represents a 10.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Hurley Capital LLC increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco reported stronger-than-expected sales, with revenue of $70.53 billion versus estimates of $69.68 billion, and U.S. same-store sales rising 9.8%, showing that value-focused shoppers are still spending. Reuters article
• Positive Sentiment: Fuel demand was a standout driver, with Costco’s gas stations setting record volumes as drivers chased lower prices, adding an extra boost to traffic and sales. MarketWatch article
• Positive Sentiment: Digital demand and membership strength continue to support the long-term thesis, with multiple articles highlighting surging e-commerce activity and resilient member-driven growth. TipRanks article
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remained bullish after the report, with BTIG and Morgan Stanley reaffirming positive ratings and raising price targets to $1,125 and $1,130, respectively. TipRanks article
• Neutral Sentiment: EPS came in at $4.93, slightly below the $4.98 consensus, so margin pressure remains a concern even as top-line momentum stays strong. MarketBeat earnings report
• Negative Sentiment: Gross margin and transportation costs are still pressuring profitability, which is why some commentary described the quarter as “mixed” despite the sales beat. Motley Fool article

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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