Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund Has $46.96 Million Position in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its stake in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 32.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 50,729 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 12,450 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale makes up about 0.6% of Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $46,956,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bulwark Capital Corp acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter worth about $25,000. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Anderson Financial Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 900.0% during the 1st quarter. Anderson Financial Strategies LLC now owns 40 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the period. Financial Connections Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 975.0% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 43 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 72.0% during the 2nd quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 43 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on COST. Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $1,044.00 price target on Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Argus lifted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,170.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, BTIG Research began coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $1,115.00 target price for the company. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $996.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Javier Polit sold 558 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $862.89, for a total value of $481,492.62. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 10,190 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,792,849.10. The trade was a 5.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Tiffany Marie Barbre sold 1,239 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $934.62, for a total transaction of $1,157,994.18. Following the sale, the insider owned 5,155 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,817,966.10. This trade represents a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 8,946 shares of company stock valued at $8,175,048. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: December net sales accelerated: Costco reported $29.86B in December net sales (up 8.5% YoY) with total-company comparable sales +7.0% and digitally-enabled sales up ~19%. The top-line strength is driving optimism about holiday momentum and FY2026 growth. Costco December Sales Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and coverage: Multiple firms reaffirmed bullish views (Telsey $1,100 PT, J.P. Morgan maintain Buy with $1,000 PT; new Deutsche Bank coverage is Buy). Upgrades and high price targets support upside expectations. Analyst Ratings & Price Targets
• Positive Sentiment: Retail momentum and commentary: Coverage from Benzinga, The Motley Fool and Investopedia highlights a “holiday blowout,” strong monthly sales data and shoppers favoring Costco’s value proposition — factors likely supporting near-term sentiment and multiple expansion. Why Costco Stock Popped Today
• Positive Sentiment: Investor speculation about capital returns: Some commentary (TipRanks) notes investors hunting for a potential special dividend given strong sales and cash flow — such prospects can boost short-term buying interest. Special Dividend Speculation
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation context: Commentary notes Costco still trades at a premium (high forward P/E) relative to many peers; strong sales help justify premium but keep valuation sensitivity to execution and margins. Valuation Comparison Commentary
• Neutral Sentiment: High visibility but mixed positioning: Jim Cramer noted granular portfolio moves (selling some Costco for a trust) while calling the company “too good” to fully exit — a nuanced endorsement that signals confidence but also profit-taking. Jim Cramer on Costco
• Negative Sentiment: Local development/legal risk: A lawsuit is attempting to block a new Paramus, NJ Costco, creating a near-term local legal headwind (unlikely to affect company-wide sales materially but worth watching for incremental legal/PR noise). Paramus Lawsuit
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling and institutional flows: Recent data show notable insider sales and mixed institutional activity (some large funds trimming positions), which could weigh on sentiment if sales continue. QuiverQuant Sales & Ownership Data

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $915.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 1.04. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week high of $1,078.23. The firm has a market cap of $406.28 billion, a PE ratio of 49.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.29 and a beta of 1.02. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $892.31 and its 200-day moving average is $932.51.

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

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Friday, October 31st were paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 31st. Costco Wholesale’s payout ratio is currently 27.85%.

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.