Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Acquires 2,513 Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 216,731 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,513 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale comprises about 0.4% of Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $186,896,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of COST. Busey Bank boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Busey Bank now owns 2,651 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,454,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares during the period. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,403 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,299,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Tandem Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.1% in the third quarter. Tandem Investment Partners LLC now owns 990 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $916,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Optima Capital LLC lifted its position in Costco Wholesale by 0.9% in the third quarter. Optima Capital LLC now owns 1,192 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,104,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gratus Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.8% during the third quarter. Gratus Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,399 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,295,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP Teresa A. Jones sold 850 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $986.26, for a total transaction of $838,321.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,228 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,169,907.28. This trade represents a 16.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 730 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,003.02, for a total transaction of $732,204.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,121 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,139,485.42. The trade was a 10.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $999.89 on Monday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 12 month low of $844.06 and a 12 month high of $1,067.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $443.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.00, a P/E/G ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $995.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $945.03.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 11th. The retailer reported $4.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.55 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $69.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.96 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 28.57%. The company’s revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.02 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 1st will be issued a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Costco Wholesale’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 1st. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.04%.

Costco Wholesale News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target hike to $1,110 signals stronger upside expectations from sell?side coverage; this upgrade is a direct catalyst supporting the stock’s gain. Price Target Raised to $1,110.00
• Positive Sentiment: Earlier analyst upgrade drove a ~1.3% intraday lift, showing market sensitivity to analyst sentiment and the potential for further momentum on positive coverage. Stock Price Up 1.3% on Analyst Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage from TheStreet and UBS emphasizes Costco’s competitive edge (treasure?hunt merchandising, value proposition) versus Walmart/Target — supports the narrative of durable membership-driven sales and pricing power. Costco’s key edge sets it apart
• Positive Sentiment: Price-competition evidence: a shopper comparison found Costco meaningfully cheaper than Walmart on a basket of items — reinforces Costco’s value proposition and membership retention thesis. Shopper compared 32 items at Walmart and Costco
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple Motley Fool pieces include Costco among defensive, long?haul consumer stocks — supports risk?off investor demand and buy?and?hold narratives. The Market Is Shaky, But These 2 Stocks Are Built for the Long Haul
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation debate: several writeups question whether COST is priced for perfection at roughly $1,000/share — useful for investors weighing continued upside vs limited margin for disappointment. Assessing Whether Costco Looks Overvalued
• Neutral Sentiment: “Still a Buy or Time to Wait?” pieces highlight strong execution but note the stock may be priced for perfection — balanced commentary for investors deciding entry points. Costco at $1,000: Still a Buy or Time to Wait?
• Neutral Sentiment: Consumer / product stories (laundry cart tip, bakery changes, product updates) drive foot traffic and member experience but are unlikely to move the stock materially on their own. Why You Should Be Bringing Costco’s Laundry Cart
• Negative Sentiment: Minor institutional trimming: Baskin Financial sold 617 shares (small position reduction) — not a major red flag but worth noting as part of 13F activity. Baskin Financial Services Inc. Sells 617 Shares

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on COST shares. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, February 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $1,185.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,175.00 to $1,315.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Raymond James Financial raised their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $1,155.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Roth Mkm reaffirmed a “sell” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,045.97.

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.