DA Davidson Reiterates “Neutral” Rating for Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST)

DA Davidson restated their neutral rating on shares of Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $780.00 price objective on the retailer’s stock. DA Davidson also issued estimates for Costco Wholesale’s Q4 2024 earnings at $5.10 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $16.92 EPS.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $815.00 to $873.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 31st. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $850.00 to $925.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Roth Mkm reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $676.00 target price (up from $650.00) on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Friday, May 31st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Costco Wholesale from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $850.00 to $975.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $842.77.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $896.49 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $858.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $801.88. The stock has a market cap of $397.44 billion, a PE ratio of 55.54, a P/E/G ratio of 5.33 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.94. Costco Wholesale has a one year low of $540.23 and a one year high of $918.93.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 26th were given a $1.16 dividend. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 26th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 28.75%.

Insider Transactions at Costco Wholesale

In related news, insider Daniel M. Hines sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $844.20, for a total value of $1,266,300.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,492 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,545,746.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 350 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $851.53, for a total value of $298,035.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,920 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,041,057.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Daniel M. Hines sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $844.20, for a total value of $1,266,300.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 12,492 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,545,746.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 4,974 shares of company stock valued at $4,252,856. Insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gilbert & Cook Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 57.3% in the fourth quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 626 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $413,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Aveo Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in Costco Wholesale by 14.5% during the 4th quarter. Aveo Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,065 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $703,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC lifted its position in Costco Wholesale by 62.6% during the 4th quarter. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC now owns 3,309 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,184,000 after acquiring an additional 1,274 shares during the period. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $501,000. Finally, Calton & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $352,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. The company offers branded and private-label products in a range of merchandise categories.