Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST Stock Sold by Mechanics Bank Trust Department

Mechanics Bank Trust Department lowered its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 4.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,535 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 681 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale comprises 1.9% of Mechanics Bank Trust Department’s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Mechanics Bank Trust Department’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $14,142,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sarasin & Partners LLP lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 6.9% during the second quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 214,194 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $200,372,000 after purchasing an additional 13,795 shares during the period. Perryman Financial Advisory Inc. AD acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $9,300,000. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan now owns 158,416 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $148,193,000 after purchasing an additional 6,200 shares during the period. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hyperion Asset Management Ltd now owns 68,762 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $64,325,000 after purchasing an additional 5,656 shares during the period. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 15.0% in the 2nd quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,766 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $21,297,000 after buying an additional 2,974 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

NASDAQ:COST traded down $4.81 on Tuesday, reaching $954.63. The stock had a trading volume of 1,421,685 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,185,239. The company has a market capitalization of $423.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.88. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $930.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $963.12.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.21. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.04% and a return on equity of 27.60%. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $94.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.87 earnings per share. Costco Wholesale’s quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.85 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Raymond James Financial cut their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 25th. HSBC raised Costco Wholesale to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, September 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,015.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 25th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Finally, Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $1,160.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Twenty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,046.27.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco reported September net sales of approximately $30.02 billion, up 13% year over year. Digital sales grew 19%, supported by expanded delivery options and personalization, reinforcing expectations for continued membership and e-commerce momentum. Costco Wholesale Posts 13% September Sales Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s $21.3 billion liquidity cushion, manageable debt and strong cash generation give it financial flexibility to open warehouses and invest in growth. Its balance sheet is viewed as stronger than many retail competitors. How Costco’s Balance Sheet Gives It an Edge
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its FY2027 earnings forecast to $22.80 per share from $22.67 and projects FY2028 EPS of $25.01, signaling confidence in Costco’s longer-term earnings trajectory.
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco continues to be characterized as a resilient, “all-weather” retailer, with its membership model and essential-goods exposure supporting long-term investor interest. However, the stock’s recent gains make comparisons with its prior record and future growth increasingly important. Costco Stock Performance Over the Past Year
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation remains a key concern: COST trades at roughly 45–46 times earnings, well above the broader market. A 5.2% 10-year Treasury yield also offers substantially more income than Costco’s dividend, potentially limiting demand for the stock among yield-focused investors. Costco Stock Versus 10-Year Treasury Notes
• Negative Sentiment: Some September sales growth benefited from elevated gasoline prices, which increase reported fuel revenue. If gas prices decline, that boost could fade, leaving investors more dependent on underlying membership, merchandise and digital growth. What Cheaper Gas Would Mean for Costco Sales and Margins

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares in the company, valued at $6,534,244.62. This represents a 23.57% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Costco Wholesale Company Profile

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells a broad selection of merchandise, including groceries, fresh foods, beverages, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal products. It also offers services such as gasoline, pharmacies, optical departments, hearing-aid centers, food courts, travel services, and business delivery in selected markets.

Costco markets many products under its private-label Kirkland Signature brand and sells merchandise through warehouse locations and e-commerce platforms.