Oxford Financial Group LTD. LLC Buys New Holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Oxford Financial Group LTD. LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 3,643 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $3,408,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of COST. World Investment Advisors grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 20,081 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $15,835,000 after purchasing an additional 1,560 shares during the period. Sarasin & Partners LLP lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 214,194 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $200,372,000 after purchasing an additional 13,795 shares during the period. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at $9,300,000. Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd as trustee for Retail Employees Superannuation Trust purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $5,813,000. Finally, Hyperion Asset Management Ltd boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 9.0% during the second quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $64,325,000 after buying an additional 5,656 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale

In other news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the director directly owned 4,779 shares in the company, 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 SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,205.00 to $1,275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $977.00 to $1,011.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price objective on Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $1,000.00 price objective for the company. Twenty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,059.53.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations remain favorable. Costco’s history of exceeding estimates, combined with analysts’ expectations for strong sales and earnings momentum, could support the shares ahead of the next quarterly report. Why Costco Could Beat Earnings Estimates Again
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst maintains bullish outlook. Mizuho reiterated a Buy rating and a $1,100 price target, citing confidence in Costco’s membership-driven growth and core operating performance. Analyst Reiterates Buy on Costco
• Positive Sentiment: International expansion offers a longer-term growth driver. Solid international comparable sales, additional warehouse capacity and expansion opportunities in Asia and Europe could gradually make overseas markets more important to Costco’s growth. Can International Markets Become Costco’s Biggest Driver?
• Positive Sentiment: New-store growth continues. A large Southern California warehouse is nearing completion, highlighting Costco’s ongoing domestic expansion and potential membership and sales contributions. Costco’s New California Location
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco is partnering with SCAN Health on a Medicare Advantage plan, potentially broadening member benefits and customer engagement, though the direct financial impact remains unclear. Why Costco? Experts Weigh In on SCAN Health’s New MA Plan
• Neutral Sentiment: Fall bakery promotions and favorable consumer coverage reinforce Costco’s retail appeal but are unlikely to materially change near-term earnings. Costco Fall Bakery Items
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation is the primary risk. Commentary argues that Costco’s exceptional operating record and decade-long stock gains are already reflected in a high earnings multiple, leaving less room for disappointment and potentially limiting upside. Why Investors Should Pause
• Negative Sentiment: Target may offer a more attractive risk-reward profile because of its lower valuation and improving momentum, creating a relative headwind for COST. Costco vs. Target
• Negative Sentiment: Walmart’s new rotisserie-chicken offering intensifies competition in a high-visibility Costco category, although the immediate impact on Costco’s results is uncertain. Walmart Challenges Costco With Rotisserie Chicken

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $939.96 on Wednesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market cap of $416.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.87. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $945.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $979.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th were paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is 29.58%.

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.