California State Teachers Retirement System Has $684.69 Million Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

California State Teachers Retirement System lowered its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 2.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 687,142 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 15,252 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale comprises about 0.7% of California State Teachers Retirement System’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. California State Teachers Retirement System’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $684,689,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 750.0% during the 1st quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 34 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 1.6%

NASDAQ:COST opened at $966.58 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $428.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.62, a P/E/G ratio of 4.60 and a beta of 0.88. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12-month low of $844.06 and a 12-month high of $1,096.50. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $960.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $981.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.94 by ($0.01). Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. The company had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.12 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.28 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is presently 29.58%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

COST has been the topic of a number of research reports. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $1,175.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 target price on Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,059.07.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total transaction of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,575,653.55. This represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco has begun operating its Port St. Lucie, Florida distribution center independently from the power grid using on-site solar generation and battery storage. The project could reduce energy costs, improve resilience and support Costco’s net-zero and sustainability goals. Breaking Free from the Grid, Costco Teams with Trinity Energy to Pioneer True Commercial Energy Independence
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentators continue to highlight Costco’s long-term growth profile. Expected earnings growth, recurring membership revenue and strong customer loyalty support the bullish investment case, although the stock already trades at a high earnings multiple. Why Costco Is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term
• Positive Sentiment: Kirkland Signature is described as an increasingly important growth engine. Its lower prices, broad product expansion and reported savings of roughly 15% to 20% can strengthen customer loyalty, differentiate Costco and support merchandise margins. Costco’s Kirkland Brand Is Becoming a Powerful Growth Engine
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco’s use of free water samples illustrates its strategy of encouraging shoppers to discover and purchase new products. Retail experts viewed the tactic as a creative engagement and merchandising initiative, but the article does not indicate a material near-term financial impact. Costco Offered Shoppers Free Samples of Water
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for a proposed Costco store in South Reno remain uncertain, potentially delaying a future contribution from that market. The development issue appears localized and is unlikely to materially affect Costco’s overall valuation. What Happened to the Proposed New South Reno Costco Store?
• Negative Sentiment: Eligible Washington Costco shoppers may receive payments from a reported $14 million settlement. While the settlement appears limited relative to Costco’s size, it creates a legal expense and could add reputational risk. Washington Costco Shoppers Eligible for Cash in $14 Million Settlement
• Negative Sentiment: Promotional gas discounts from 7-Eleven are increasing competition for Costco’s fuel business, potentially weakening one of the membership club’s customer-traffic advantages as households remain pressured by high gasoline prices. 7-Eleven Has a Gas Discount That Challenges Costco

Costco Wholesale 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.