Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Stock Picked Up by Analysts at TD Cowen

TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Zacks reports. The firm set a “strong-buy” rating on the retailer’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,011.00 to $955.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 25th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $1,125.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. CICC Research began coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Wednesday, October 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $1,050.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,015.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Finally, Freedom Broker cut their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,030.00 to $1,010.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,086.19.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 1.6%

NASDAQ:COST opened at $1,012.28 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $943.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $970.25. The company has a market capitalization of $448.57 billion, a PE ratio of 48.76, a P/E/G ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Costco Wholesale has a 1-year low of $844.06 and a 1-year high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.04% and a return on equity of 27.60%. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $94.97 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $5.87 EPS. Costco Wholesale’s quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Costco Wholesale will post 22.70 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Costco Wholesale

In other Costco Wholesale news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 7,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,534,244.62. This trade represents a 23.57% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 1,100 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $958.21, for a total value of $1,054,031.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 3,094 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,964,701.74. The trade was a 26.23% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Basso Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 3rd quarter worth $497,000. Caldwell Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 2.1% in the third quarter. Caldwell Trust Co now owns 16,941 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $15,422,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the period. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 11.5% in the third quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,827 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,663,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the period. Trace Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 0.4% in the third quarter. Trace Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,758 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,511,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the period. Finally, Compass Financial Management LLC increased its position in Costco Wholesale by 2.3% during the third quarter. Compass Financial Management LLC now owns 4,896 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,457,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. 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: Store expansion supports long-term growth. Costco plans to open 13 locations by the end of 2026, potentially expanding its membership base and sales footprint. Costco opening 13 locations by end of 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Membership acquisition remains a focus. A promotional offer providing new members with a $45 gift card could help drive sign-ups ahead of the holiday shopping season, supporting recurring membership-fee revenue. Costco membership Black Friday deal
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect continued earnings momentum. Costco’s upcoming fiscal first-quarter 2027 report is expected to show double-digit year-over-year EPS growth. Its latest quarter also beat consensus estimates on both earnings and revenue. What to expect from Costco Wholesale’s next quarterly earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Customer loyalty and digital engagement remain strengths. Coverage highlights near-record renewal rates, busy warehouses, a younger shopper base and growing use of Costco’s digital channels. These factors reinforce the company’s competitive advantages and long-term sales potential. The New Costco Shopper Is Under 40
• Neutral Sentiment: Healthcare partnerships could deepen member engagement. Integrations with NationsBenefits and SCAN Health Plan are expanding Costco’s role in Medicare-related spending across more than 600 U.S. warehouses, though the financial contribution is not yet clear. Medicare push and Costco investors
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation leaves little room for disappointment. Costco trades at roughly 49 times earnings, making execution and upcoming results especially important. Analysts remain positive, but the stock’s premium valuation could amplify downside if growth slows. Costco stock’s long-term competitive advantages

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a membership-based warehouse retail business under the Costco name. The company sells merchandise in bulk and at competitive prices through warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms, serving individual consumers, businesses and other organizations.

Its product selection includes groceries and fresh foods, household supplies, appliances, electronics, furniture, apparel, health and beauty products, jewelry, automotive products and prescription drugs. Costco also provides services such as optical care, pharmacy services, hearing-aid sales, travel offerings and fuel sales, depending on location.

The company traces its roots to Price Club, which opened in San Diego in 1976.