Forum Financial Management LP Lowers Holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST

Forum Financial Management LP lowered its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) by 38.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,497 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 2,166 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $3,484,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 12.3% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,825 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $18,165,000 after purchasing an additional 2,172 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,123 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,029,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 4.5% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,853 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,814,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.1% during the second quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 2,110 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,089,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 2.2% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 8,502 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,416,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. 68.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $935.47 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $993.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $971.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market cap of $414.86 billion, a PE ratio of 47.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.59 and a beta of 0.88. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $844.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1,096.50.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 28th. The retailer reported $4.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.94 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $70.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $70.12 billion. Costco Wholesale had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 28.04%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $4.28 EPS. Analysts expect that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 20.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 1st were paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 1st. This is an increase from Costco Wholesale’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Costco Wholesale news, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 885 shares of Costco Wholesale 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 sale, the director owned 4,779 shares in the company, valued at $4,575,653.55. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Costco Wholesale

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts highlighted Costco’s executive membership growth as a key earnings driver, saying richer fee income and a better sales mix could unlock more profit, with a China expansion opportunity adding longer-term upside. Costco’s Executive Penetration Could Unlock More Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Several articles pointed to Costco’s strong post-earnings setup versus peers, noting robust revenue growth, sticky membership cash flow, and a resilient value proposition as households remain squeezed by inflation. Costco vs. Target: One Retailer Is A Much Stronger Buy In 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Costco is using AI to improve online search and product listings, and early results suggest digital traffic has roughly tripled, with strong conversion rates that could support e-commerce growth. Costco (COST) Is Using AI To Triple Digital Traffic And Lift Conversions
• Positive Sentiment: Costco was also named a top retail pick by Bernstein and described as a better buy than some peers because of its membership model and consistent execution. Costco Stock (COST) Crowned Top Retail Pick for the Rest of 2026 — Here’s Why
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional coverage discussed Costco’s ability to benefit from inflation and geopolitical supply pressures, but also warned that the stock’s valuation is already rich versus expected growth. Costco: Hormuz And Inflation Provide Momentum But Be Mindful Of The Valuation
• Negative Sentiment: Bearish commentary argued Costco’s slower growth profile may not justify its high earnings multiple, which is likely contributing to selling pressure. Costco Stock: Future 10 Percent And Decelerating Growth Rate Not Worth 50x Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Another article was explicitly titled “More Pain To Come,” reinforcing concerns that investors may be rotating away from Costco despite its operational strengths. Costco Stock: More Pain To Come

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

COST has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, June 1st. Raymond James Financial raised their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,192.00 to $1,194.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Citigroup started coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $1,020.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group increased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $917.00 to $975.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,061.45.

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.