Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Trading 1.6% Higher – Here’s Why

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) traded up 1.6% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $921.99 and last traded at $918.91. 1,971,941 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 9% from the average session volume of 2,170,796 shares. The stock had previously closed at $904.77.

More Costco Wholesale News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Costco reported fiscal 2026 sales of approximately $297.3 billion, up 10.2% year over year. The company’s planned opening of 10 stores over the next two months also supports longer-term revenue and membership growth. Costco Caps FY26 With $297.3B In Sales, Up 10.2 Percent
• Positive Sentiment: E-commerce remains a key growth driver, with digital sales increasing 17.9% in August and 20.9% for fiscal 2026. Strong U.S. comparable sales and upcoming fourth-quarter results provide additional potential catalysts. Costco’s E-commerce Momentum Keeps Its Growth Engine Running
• Positive Sentiment: Costco’s 13% dividend increase reinforces confidence in cash generation and provides a favorable shareholder-return signal, although the regular yield remains modest. Costco Hiked Its Dividend by 13%
• Neutral Sentiment: RBC expects higher fuel costs to pressure fourth-quarter gross margin, but potential tariff refunds could offset much of the impact. Investors will likely focus on the balance between sales growth and margins in the earnings report. Costco Gross Margin Pressure From Higher Fuel Costs Likely to be Offset by Tariff Refunds
• Negative Sentiment: Costco nearly doubled the price of a 10-quart Kirkland motor-oil case to $57.99 and limited purchases amid supply disruptions and higher crude prices. The move may protect availability and margins, but it highlights inflationary pressure and could frustrate members. Costco Hikes Motor Oil Prices and Puts Limits on Purchases
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 45 times earnings, Costco’s valuation leaves limited room for execution misses. Analysts also note that a partner’s bankruptcy could benefit rival Reckitt rather than Costco, while the stock’s recent underperformance increases investor sensitivity to earnings and margin results. 2 Reasons to Watch COST and 1 to Stay Cautious

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on COST. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,125.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Weiss Ratings cut Costco Wholesale from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 2nd. Oppenheimer upped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,160.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. DA Davidson reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $1,000.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Finally, Mizuho set a $1,100.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,056.03.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 1.9%

The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The company has a market capitalization of $399.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.34, a PEG ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 0.86. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $938.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $973.21.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th were given a dividend of $1.47 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 24th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is 29.58%.

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In other news, Director Kenneth Denman sold 885 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $957.45, for a total value of $847,343.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in COST. Reynders McVeigh Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 1.7% during the second quarter. Reynders McVeigh Capital Management LLC now owns 10,721 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $10,030,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Bullseye Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Talon Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 21.7% in the 2nd quarter. Talon Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,033 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $966,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares during the period. Marathon Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Marathon Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,858 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $5,480,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Finally, U S Wealth Group LLC. increased its position in Costco Wholesale by 17.6% during the second quarter. U S Wealth Group LLC. now owns 2,995 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,802,000 after buying an additional 449 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership-based warehouse clubs that offer a broad selection of merchandise at generally competitive prices. Its product range includes groceries, fresh foods, apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, jewelry, hardware, and seasonal goods, along with private-label products sold under the Kirkland Signature brand.

The company also provides a variety of ancillary services, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, optical centers, hearing-aid centers, food courts, tire centers, and travel services.