Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirty-four ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and twenty-two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $1,060.4138.

COST has been the subject of a number of research reports. Raymond James Financial lifted their price objective on 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,104.00 to $1,106.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Evercore set a $1,100.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Roth Mkm boosted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $769.00 to $781.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th.

Trending Headlines about Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco reported strong business momentum, with digital sales jumping more than 21% and gas volumes hitting a record, reinforcing that customer traffic and spending remain healthy. Costco’s Digital Sales Jumped 21% and Gas Volumes Hit a Record. So Why Did COST Stock Drop 5%?
• Positive Sentiment: Costco continues to emphasize value by cutting prices on select Kirkland Signature products, which could help drive member loyalty and support sales in a tough consumer environment. Costco Leans On Kirkland Price Cuts To Support Growth Narrative
• Positive Sentiment: May sales were reported at $24.01 billion, up 14.5% from a year earlier, suggesting Costco is still posting strong top-line growth. Is Costco (COST) One of Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top 11 Dividend Stock Picks?
• Positive Sentiment: CEO Ron Vachris receiving a leadership award for advancing women in corporate governance adds an ESG and board-diversity angle that may appeal to some institutional investors. Costco Governance In Focus As CEO Earned Board Diversity Leadership Honor
• Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data was reported as effectively unchanged at zero shares, offering little signal on bearish positioning. Dollar Tree has an advantage Costco can’t match
• Negative Sentiment: The stock has also been pressured by recent articles questioning whether Costco has already priced in much of its growth, with some investors focusing on the shares trading below recent highs. Should You Buy Costco Wholesale Stock While It’s Below $1,000?

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hurley Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 120.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $971.80 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $1,006.30 and a 200-day moving average of $965.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.07. Costco Wholesale has a twelve month low of $844.06 and a twelve month high of $1,096.50. The firm has a market cap of $430.97 billion, a PE ratio of 49.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.72 and a beta of 0.88.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last issued its quarterly 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). Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 28.04% and a net margin of 3.01%.The company had revenue of $70.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $70.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $4.28 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale will post 20.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st were paid a dividend of $1.47 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 1st. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is an increase from Costco Wholesale’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.58%.

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.