Americana Partners LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Americana Partners LLC raised its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 17.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,193 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 2,366 shares during the quarter. Americana Partners LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $14,989,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Ridgewood Investments LLC raised its position in Costco Wholesale by 7.4% in the second quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 159 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $157,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Wagner Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 3.4% in the second quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC now owns 330 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $326,000 after buying an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Hobbs Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.4% in the second quarter. Hobbs Wealth Management LLC now owns 262 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Busey Bank raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Busey Bank now owns 2,651 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,454,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the period. Finally, Pasadena Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pasadena Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,403 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,299,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of COST opened at $963.61 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $427.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.77 and a beta of 1.02. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52-week low of $844.06 and a 52-week high of $1,078.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $895.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $929.72.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 11th. The retailer reported $4.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.27 by $0.07. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 2.96% and a return on equity of 29.35%. The company had revenue of $67.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $67.03 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $4.04 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 30th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on COST. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Raymond James Financial cut their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,070.00 to $1,000.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,060.00 to $1,025.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Finally, Gordon Haskett cut their price objective on 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. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $996.00.

Key Headlines Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Company reported strong December sales and membership-driven resilience, supporting the recent rally and reinforcing revenue/traffic momentum that investors prize in retail. Costco Stock Rallies on December Sales: Buy, Hold or Take Profits?
• Positive Sentiment: Costco boosted gas rewards for its co‑branded credit card to 5% cash back at Costco pumps — a move that should increase card-driven visits and fuel purchases, lifting fuel and in-club spending. Costco quietly boosts gas rewards for branded credit card holders
• Positive Sentiment: Operational scheduling that keeps stores open on MLK Day and favorable holiday-hours decisions are small but additive to traffic and convenience, supporting near-term sales. Costco Stores Will Stay Open on MLK Day Despite Holiday Closures Elsewhere
• Positive Sentiment: Company choice on holiday hours that members like (more open availability) should help traffic and member satisfaction. Costco makes big decision members will love
• Neutral Sentiment: Costco switched its food-court beverage supplier back to Coca-Cola after a decade with Pepsi — a branding/operational change with limited financial impact but positive for consumer familiarity. Costco Switches Food Court Back to Coke After Decade With Pepsi
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst pieces and commentary (e.g., whether COST can hit $1,000) underscore long-term bullish sentiment driven by same-store sales and earnings consistency; useful for investor framing but not an immediate catalyst. Can Costco Stock Reach $1,000 in 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: Several lifestyle and product stories (bakery guide, Indian grocery picks) highlight strong consumer engagement and brand affinity — positive for traffic/loyalty but not direct near-term financial catalysts. The Ultimate Guide to the Costco Bakery: Hidden Gems, Secret Rules, and Insider Tips
• Negative Sentiment: A large grocery rival announced expansion plans, which could increase competitive pressure in key markets over time. Investors will watch for any share/promo pressure or margin impact. Huge Costco grocery rival launches expansion plans
• Negative Sentiment: An executive sold about $1.41M of COST stock — a headline that can attract short-term attention and be viewed negatively even if sales are routine. Insider Selling: Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) EVP Sells $1,408,500.00 in Stock

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 2,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $930.13, for a total value of $2,232,312.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 2,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,860,260. This represents a 54.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $916.32, for a total value of $1,374,480.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 8,240 shares in the company, valued at $7,550,476.80. This represents a 15.40% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 11,946 shares of company stock valued at $10,958,028 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

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.