Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. lifted its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST – Free Report) by 120.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,400 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 11,700 shares during the quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $19,808,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in COST. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter worth about $5,692,035,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Costco Wholesale by 96,316.6% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,378,758 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,364,888,000 after acquiring an additional 1,377,328 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 1.7% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,356,271 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $42,920,107,000 after acquiring an additional 711,560 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 9.8% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,291,557 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,248,384,000 after acquiring an additional 383,887 shares during the period. Finally, Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. boosted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 15,055.5% in the second quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 320,994 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $317,722,000 after acquiring an additional 318,876 shares during the period. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Costco Wholesale Stock Performance
COST stock opened at $976.17 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $899.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $930.26. The company has a market capitalization of $433.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.29, a PEG ratio of 5.89 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,078.23.
Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.85%.
Trending Headlines about Costco Wholesale
Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Costco to report double?digit profit growth in its fiscal second quarter — a near?term catalyst that could lift the stock if results beat or guide higher. Earnings Preview: What to Expect From Costco Wholesale’s Report
- Positive Sentiment: Costco plans multiple new membership perks in 2026 after introducing a controversial benefit last year — initiatives that could help retain and expand its >81M paid members and support sales/margin stability. Costco Introduced a Controversial Perk Last Year — and It Plans to Follow This Up With 4 New Benefits in 2026
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst/bull coverage highlights Costco’s multi?year outperformance and argues for continued upside over the long term, supporting investor confidence in growth durability. Where Will Costco Stock Be in 5 Years?
- Positive Sentiment: Coverage recommending Costco as a buy highlights continued sales and profit growth, reinforcing a bullish narrative for longer?term investors. 3 Reasons to Buy Costco Stock Like There’s No Tomorrow
- Neutral Sentiment: Pattern?trading research lists Costco among seasonal trades with attractive historical returns — a short?term technical interest that may boost trading volume but is speculative. 5 Best Pattern Trades for This Quarter
- Neutral Sentiment: A draft environmental impact report was released for a planned Costco in El Dorado Hills — local expansion news with limited near?term market impact but positive for long?term growth. Draft environmental impact report out for Costco in El Dorado Hills
- Neutral Sentiment: Minor insider selling reported (Susan Decker sold 458 shares) — routine and small in size, unlikely to materially affect investor sentiment. Susan Decker Sells 458 Shares of Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Stock
- Negative Sentiment: Several bearish/commentary pieces argue the recent new?year rally is overextended and that Costco may face a pullback — raising near?term downside risk if sentiment shifts. Costco: Sell The New Year Rally
- Negative Sentiment: Debate over Costco’s rich valuation (high P/E vs. growth) is prompting caution among some analysts and investors — valuation concerns can cap upside despite strong fundamentals. Assessing Whether Costco Wholesale (COST) Deserves Its Rich P/E After Strong Multi?Year Returns
Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale
In other news, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president owned 8,240 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,550,476.80. The trade was a 15.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 2,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were 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 owned 2,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,860,260. This trade represents a 54.55% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 8,465 shares of company stock worth $7,711,088 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of analysts have recently weighed in on COST shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $900.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,134.00 to $1,146.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Oppenheimer cut their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,130.00 to $1,050.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,225.00 to $1,130.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $1,044.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $996.00.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Costco Wholesale
About Costco Wholesale
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.
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