Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Stock Rating Upgraded by Northcoast Research

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) was upgraded by analysts at Northcoast Research from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. The firm presently has a $1,100.00 price objective on the retailer’s stock. Northcoast Research’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 26.04% from the company’s current price.

COST has been the subject of a number of other reports. HSBC lowered their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,045.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 12th. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $975.00 to $950.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Gordon Haskett reduced their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,150.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Daiwa Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $947.00 to $917.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Hovde Group assumed coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $16.00 price objective on the stock. Nineteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $992.08.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of COST stock opened at $872.75 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $903.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $940.47. The firm has a market cap of $387.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.75, a P/E/G ratio of 5.23 and a beta of 1.00. Costco Wholesale has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,078.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 11th. The retailer reported $4.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.27 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $67.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $67.03 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 29.35% and a net margin of 2.96%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.04 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In other Costco Wholesale news, insider Tiffany Marie Barbre sold 1,239 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $934.62, for a total value of $1,157,994.18. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 5,155 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,817,966.10. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 3,381 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.00, for a total transaction of $3,093,615.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 9,740 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,912,100. The trade was a 25.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 9,720 shares of company stock valued at $9,010,257. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Costco Wholesale

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in COST. Bulwark Capital Corp acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Soundwatch Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 635.7% in the 2nd quarter. Soundwatch Capital LLC now owns 2,553 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 2,206 shares during the period. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Hurley Capital LLC increased its stake in Costco Wholesale by 120.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 33 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Northcoast Research upgraded COST from Neutral to Buy and set a $1,100 price target (roughly +26% upside vs. current levels), a direct catalyst for upside by raising institutional conviction. Northcoast upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Long-form bullish takes argue Costco can be a “multimillionaire-maker” thanks to steady membership renewals, expanding store footprint and resilient consumer demand — messaging that supports a buy-and-hold thesis. Is Costco Stock a Multimillionaire Maker?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst/commentary pieces and listicles are pitching Costco as a compelling 2026 investment (membership economics, margin resilience, steady comps), reinforcing demand from long-term retail investors. 4 Reasons You Should Invest in Costco Stock in 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s Quality ranking moved higher after a Q1 beat and its public stance on tariff/legal issues — positive signals for fundamentals and investor confidence. Costco Tops Quality Rankings Amid Q1 Beat
• Neutral Sentiment: Holiday-store-hour coverage (Christmas Eve/Day) is driving local traffic/volume questions but is not a material company fundamental change; useful for short-term foot-traffic monitoring. Is Costco open or closed on Christmas Day 2025?
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry comparisons (Walmart vs. Costco) and general retail commentary are circulating; they provide context but not immediate directional pressure on COST. Walmart vs. Costco
• Negative Sentiment: BJ’s Wholesale Club is pursuing a major expansion in Texas, signaling intensifying competition in key markets that could pressure margins or market share in the long run. BJ’s challenges Costco
• Negative Sentiment: Some analysis notes COST has been a “surprising loser” this year despite solid fundamentals, a narrative that can weigh on sentiment and explain profit-taking into the year-end. Where Will Costco Stock Be in 3 Years?

Costco Wholesale Company 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.