S&P 500   5,061.82
DOW   37,735.11
QQQ   431.06
3 Energy Plays for Cash Flow: Buy 1 or Buy Them All
M&T Bank, Goldman Sachs rise; Salesforce, Tesla fall, Monday, 4/15/2024
Kinder Morgan Stock Bid Up In An Oil Breakout
The Charles Schwab Company Can Hit New Highs
When Will the Next Bull Market Be?
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Costco vs. Walmart: Revenue Comparison of Two Retail Giants
S&P 500   5,061.82
DOW   37,735.11
QQQ   431.06
3 Energy Plays for Cash Flow: Buy 1 or Buy Them All
M&T Bank, Goldman Sachs rise; Salesforce, Tesla fall, Monday, 4/15/2024
Kinder Morgan Stock Bid Up In An Oil Breakout
The Charles Schwab Company Can Hit New Highs
When Will the Next Bull Market Be?
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Costco vs. Walmart: Revenue Comparison of Two Retail Giants
S&P 500   5,061.82
DOW   37,735.11
QQQ   431.06
3 Energy Plays for Cash Flow: Buy 1 or Buy Them All
M&T Bank, Goldman Sachs rise; Salesforce, Tesla fall, Monday, 4/15/2024
Kinder Morgan Stock Bid Up In An Oil Breakout
The Charles Schwab Company Can Hit New Highs
When Will the Next Bull Market Be?
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Costco vs. Walmart: Revenue Comparison of Two Retail Giants
S&P 500   5,061.82
DOW   37,735.11
QQQ   431.06
3 Energy Plays for Cash Flow: Buy 1 or Buy Them All
M&T Bank, Goldman Sachs rise; Salesforce, Tesla fall, Monday, 4/15/2024
Kinder Morgan Stock Bid Up In An Oil Breakout
The Charles Schwab Company Can Hit New Highs
When Will the Next Bull Market Be?
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Costco vs. Walmart: Revenue Comparison of Two Retail Giants

Costco Wholesale (COST) Stock Price, News & Analysis

$718.28
-13.03 (-1.78%)
(As of 04/15/2024 ET)
Today's Range
$717.95
$741.00
50-Day Range
$704.88
$785.59
52-Week Range
$476.75
$787.08
Volume
1.80 million shs
Average Volume
1.67 million shs
Market Capitalization
$318.56 billion
P/E Ratio
46.98
Dividend Yield
0.57%
Price Target
$691.28

Costco Wholesale MarketRank™ Stock Analysis

Analyst Rating
Moderate Buy
2.75 Rating Score
Upside/​Downside
3.8% Downside
$691.28 Price Target
Short Interest
Healthy
1.44% of Float Sold Short
Dividend Strength
Strong
Based on Four Factors
Sustainability
-3.92
Upright™ Environmental Score
News Sentiment
0.72mentions of Costco Wholesale in the last 14 days
Based on 115 Articles This Week
Insider Trading
Selling Shares
$9.81 M Sold Last Quarter
Proj. Earnings Growth
9.72%
From $15.84 to $17.38 Per Share

Overall MarketRank

New Rank-Based ScoringMarketRank is calculated by averaging available category scores (with extra weight given to analysis and valuation), then ranking the company's weighted average against that of other companies.

4.56 out of 5 stars

Retail/Wholesale Sector

32nd out of 203 stocks

Variety Stores Industry

4th out of 11 stocks

COST stock logo

About Costco Wholesale Stock (NASDAQ:COST)

Costco Wholesale Corporation is central to the global warehouse membership club story. The company was founded in 1983 by Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman but its history dates back to 1976 because of the merger with Price Club. Costco, originally known as Costco Companies, quickly grew in its first two years and became the 1st company to go from $0 to $3 billion in revenue within the 1st 3 years. The company held its IPO in 1985.

Price Club was founded in 1976 by the Price family. It was among the very first warehouse membership clubs and targeted small merchants and businesses. It also saw quick success and went public in 1980. The Price family turned down an offer to merge with Walmart’s Sam’s Club in favor of a more suitable match-up with Costco. Coincidentally, Costco founder Jim Sinegal got his start in the retail business working for Sol Price at his original membership club, FedMart.

The new company was formed in 1993. It owned 206 stores and was called PriceCostco for a time. The Price family eventually exit the business in favor of new operations resulting in the rebranding to Costco Wholesale Corporation. The Price family's new business is called PriceSmart and operates a chain of membership clubs in the Caribbean and Central America. Price Club’s first store, opened in an old Howard Hughes airplane hangar, is still in operation and known as Costco #401.

Today, Costco is based in Issaquah, Washington and it is among the largest businesses in the world. The company operates as a member-only big-box retailer claiming more than 118 million members, it is ranked #10 on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 5th largest retailer internationally. In terms of scale, it is the largest retailer of choice and prime beef, organic foods and rotisserie chickens. Rotisserie chickens are a long-standing tradition at Costco which pioneered their use. The chickens are sold for less than cost and used to attract business into the store.

The company operates through a network of subsidiaries that own warehouses in 11 countries, including the US and Puerto Rico. The company retails branded and private-label merchandise across verticals and categories and at “discounted” or bulk-rate prices. Product categories include grocery and frozen foods, apparel, sporting goods, electronics, auto care, appliances, housewares and even furniture. Nearly 70% of the stores are located in the US with another 13% in Canada and the remainder scattered around the globe.

In addition to retail, the company also provides many services including pharmacy, eye care, food & beverage and auto care centers. The company also operates more than 665 gas stations across its footprint and a robust eCommerce channel. Other services include delivery, travel and curbside pickup. As of the year-end calendar 2022, the company operated more than 840 stores and was on track to open new stores in the coming years. Total revenue in 2022 topped $226 billion, the company employs more than 304,000 individuals and it is a member of the S&P 500, the S&P 100 and the NASDAQ 100.

 

 

COST Stock Price History

COST Stock News Headlines

Costco vs. Walmart: Revenue Comparison of Two Retail Giants (COST)
Costco and Walmart are 2 of the world's biggest retailers, but which is the better investment? Read more about these companies in our detailed breakdown.
Costco vs. Walmart: Revenue Comparison of Two Retail Giants
Few companies are more synonymous with retail in the United States than Costco Wholesale Corp NASDAQ: COST and Walmart Inc. NYSE: WMT. While both retail giants have rewarded investors over the years, their business models and strategies differ drastically.
Elon Musk’s ChatGPT Could Soon Mint New Millionaires
Elon Musk made $180 million on PayPal… $47 Billion on SpaceX…and $94.2 Billion on Tesla. He’s about to shock the world again with his version of ChatGPT.
PriceSmart Could Be the Smartest Buy of the Year (COST)
PriceSmart looks like a smart buy, with shares down 5% after a strong report and favorable outlook. This undervalued stock issued a special dividend worth 1.25%
Institutions Think This Consumer Stock Could Break Higher
Markets are preparing for the coming interest rate cycle proposed by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). Though most sectors have priced in this potential pivot, some have yet to reflect this trend higher.
Institutions Think This Consumer Stock Could Break Higher (COST)
PriceSmart is the stock where investment giants found the right opportunity to get above-average growth at the least risk possible. A cycle-beating business
5 Stocks in the Current Bull Market with Upside to Come
The S&P 500 was up more than 10% in the first 3 months of 2024, soaring to new all-time highs on the back of a recovering economy and artificial intelligence excitement. With a new bull market following 2022's lengthy decline, investor and consumer sentiment is trending upward.
5 Stocks in the Current Bull Market with Upside to Come (COST)
Explore our top picks for stocks to watch in the thriving bull market, including key strategies for diversification and risk management.
Elon Musk’s ChatGPT Could Soon Mint New Millionaires
Elon Musk made $180 million on PayPal… $47 Billion on SpaceX…and $94.2 Billion on Tesla. He’s about to shock the world again with his version of ChatGPT.
Top 3 Stocks Bought By Members of Congress In the First Quarter
The first quarter of 2024 will soon end, making now an excellent time to recap where big money and insider knowledge are investing. Today, we're looking at the top three stocks bought by US Congresspeople in Q1 2024, and the list is telling.
Top 3 Stocks Bought By Members of Congress In the First Quarter (COST)
The three hottest stocks bought by members of Congress are Palo Alto Networks, Costco, and Apple but who's buying? Read more to find out!
Walmart: Here’s Your Chance to Get in Cheaper in 2024 (COST)
After a 3-for-1 stock split in January, shares of Walmart stock are looking more attractive to retail investors; here's why you may want to buy
3 Must-Own Retail Stocks Primed for a Tax Refund Rally
Costco Is The Constant Grower Your Portfolio Needs
See More Headlines
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Company Calendar

Ex-Dividend for 2/16 Dividend
2/01/2024
Dividend Payable
2/16/2024
Last Earnings
3/07/2024
Today
4/16/2024
Ex-Dividend for 5/10 Dividend
4/25/2024
Dividend Payable
5/10/2024
Next Earnings (Estimated)
5/23/2024
Fiscal Year End
8/31/2024

Industry, Sector and Symbol

Industry
Variety stores
Sub-Industry
Hypermarkets & Super Centers
Current Symbol
NASDAQ:COST
CUSIP
22160K10
Employees
316,000
Year Founded
1983

Price Target and Rating

Average Stock Price Target
$691.28
High Stock Price Target
$870.00
Low Stock Price Target
$550.00
Potential Upside/Downside
-3.8%
Consensus Rating
Moderate Buy
Rating Score (0-4)
2.75
Research Coverage
24 Analysts

Profitability

Net Income
$6.29 billion
Pretax Margin
3.65%

Debt

Sales & Book Value

Annual Sales
$242.29 billion
Cash Flow
$19.07 per share
Book Value
$56.55 per share

Miscellaneous

Free Float
442,706,000
Market Cap
$318.56 billion
Optionable
Optionable
Beta
0.77

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Should I Buy Costco Wholesale Stock? COST Pros and Cons Explained

Pros

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Costco:

  • Costco's diversified product range, including groceries, electronics, and apparel, provides stability and resilience in various market conditions.
  • Strong membership model with loyal customers, ensuring a steady revenue stream and customer retention.
  • Expansion into international markets like China and Japan offers growth opportunities and diversification.
  • Costco's online presence and e-commerce initiatives cater to changing consumer preferences and boost sales.
  • Current stock price is attractive for value investors looking for long-term growth potential.

Cons

Investors should be bearish about investing in Costco for these reasons:

  • Intense competition in the retail industry may impact Costco's market share and margins.
  • Costco's focus on bulk sales may limit appeal to certain consumer segments seeking smaller quantities.
  • Economic downturns could affect consumer spending, impacting Costco's sales and profitability.
  • Increasing labor costs and regulatory challenges may put pressure on Costco's operating expenses.
  • Fluctuations in commodity prices could impact Costco's margins and profitability.
These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Please send any questions or comments about these Costco Wholesale pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

COST Stock Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy or sell Costco Wholesale stock right now?

24 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Costco Wholesale in the last twelve months. There are currently 6 hold ratings and 18 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" COST shares.
View COST analyst ratings
or view top-rated stocks.

What is Costco Wholesale's stock price target for 2024?

24 Wall Street analysts have issued twelve-month price objectives for Costco Wholesale's shares. Their COST share price targets range from $550.00 to $870.00. On average, they expect the company's stock price to reach $691.28 in the next year. This suggests that the stock has a possible downside of 3.8%.
View analysts price targets for COST
or view top-rated stocks among Wall Street analysts.

How have COST shares performed in 2024?

Costco Wholesale's stock was trading at $660.08 at the beginning of 2024. Since then, COST stock has increased by 8.8% and is now trading at $718.28.
View the best growth stocks for 2024 here
.

Are investors shorting Costco Wholesale?

Costco Wholesale saw a decrease in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 6,360,000 shares, a decrease of 5.9% from the March 15th total of 6,760,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,120,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days. Approximately 1.4% of the company's stock are sold short.
View Costco Wholesale's Short Interest
.

When is Costco Wholesale's next earnings date?

The company is scheduled to release its next quarterly earnings announcement on Thursday, May 23rd 2024.
View our COST earnings forecast
.

How were Costco Wholesale's earnings last quarter?

Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) released its earnings results on Thursday, March, 7th. The retailer reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $0.09. The retailer earned $58.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $59.11 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.73% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 28.80%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.30 earnings per share.
Read the conference call transcript
.

How often does Costco Wholesale pay dividends? What is the dividend yield for Costco Wholesale?

Costco Wholesale announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 26th will be paid a dividend of $1.16 per share on Friday, May 10th. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 25th. This is an increase from the stock's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02.
Read our dividend analysis for COST
.

Is Costco Wholesale a good dividend stock?

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) pays an annual dividend of $4.08 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 0.56%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 20 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 26.68%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, COST will have a dividend payout ratio of 23.48% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.
Read our dividend analysis for COST.

How were Costco Wholesale's same store sales last quarter?

Costco Wholesale same-store sales climbed 10% in the month of March. Costco Wholesale shares climbed by 0% in the first day of trading following the news.

What is Craig Jelinek's approval rating as Costco Wholesale's CEO?

3,447 employees have rated Costco Wholesale Chief Executive Officer Craig Jelinek on Glassdoor.com. Craig Jelinek has an approval rating of 92% among the company's employees. This puts Craig Jelinek in the top 30% of approval ratings compared to other CEOs of publicly-traded companies.

What other stocks do shareholders of Costco Wholesale own?

Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other Costco Wholesale investors own include NVIDIA (NVDA), Walt Disney (DIS), Alibaba Group (BABA), Home Depot (HD), Netflix (NFLX), Visa (V), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Tesla (TSLA), Walmart (WMT) and Boeing (BA).

Who are Costco Wholesale's major shareholders?

Costco Wholesale's stock is owned by many different institutional and retail investors. Top institutional shareholders include Global Assets Advisory LLC (0.16%), Los Angeles Capital Management LLC (0.07%), Congress Asset Management Co. MA (0.06%), Sarasin & Partners LLP (0.06%), Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC (0.03%) and Gateway Investment Advisers LLC (0.02%). Insiders that own company stock include Caton Frates, Claudine Adamo, Daniel M Hines, James C Klauer, James C Klauer, James P Murphy, Joseph P Portera, Kenneth D Denman, Mary Agnes Wilderotter, Patrick J Callans, Patrick J Callans, Pierre Riel, Richard A Galanti, Roland Michael Vachris, Russell D Miller, Susan L Decker, Timothy L Rose, W Craig Jelinek and Yoram Rubanenko.
View institutional ownership trends
.

How do I buy shares of Costco Wholesale?

Shares of COST stock can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Fidelity, and Vanguard Brokerage Services.
Compare Top Brokerages Here.

Does Costco Wholesale have any subsidiaries?
The following companies are subsidiares of Costco Wholesale: Costco De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Costco Insurance Agency Inc., Costco President Taiwan Inc., Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Costco Wholesale Japan Ltd., Costco Wholesale Korea Ltd., Costco Wholesale Membership Inc., Costco Wholesale United Kingdom Ltd., Innovel Solutions, NW Re Ltd., and PriceCostco International Inc..
Read More
This page (NASDAQ:COST) was last updated on 4/16/2024 by MarketBeat.com Staff

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