Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) Stock Holdings Lowered by Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC

Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) by 4.5% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,562 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 121 shares during the quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $2,348,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COST. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth approximately $58,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on COST shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Oppenheimer reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $1,075.00 price objective (up previously from $980.00) on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,150.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on Costco Wholesale in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $1,016.00 price target for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,075.00 to $1,175.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,013.59.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of COST opened at $979.88 on Friday. Costco Wholesale Co. has a 12 month low of $691.50 and a 12 month high of $1,008.25. The stock has a market cap of $434.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.54, a P/E/G ratio of 5.75 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $954.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $906.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $1.16 dividend. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is 27.25%.

Costco Wholesale Profile

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.