Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) is Norman Fields Gottscho Capital Management LLC’s Largest Position

Norman Fields Gottscho Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) by 0.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 59,457 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 137 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale accounts for 17.9% of Norman Fields Gottscho Capital Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. Norman Fields Gottscho Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $54,479,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 51,747.5% during the 2nd quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC now owns 619,578 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $5,266,000 after purchasing an additional 618,383 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC raised its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 1,300.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 308 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. First Foundation Advisors lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 16,357 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $13,903,000 after acquiring an additional 514 shares during the period. Fairbanks Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Fairbanks Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,175 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,699,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moser Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 1.5% during the second quarter. Moser Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,265 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $3,625,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Pierre Riel sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $896.71, for a total value of $1,793,420.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,155,409.10. This trade represents a 16.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Russell D. Miller sold 4,400 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $891.15, for a total value of $3,921,060.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,202 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,091,512.30. This trade represents a 30.13 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 7,816 shares of company stock valued at $6,981,347 in the last three months. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COST has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $975.00 to $1,090.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Tigress Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $1,065.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Loop Capital boosted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,005.00 to $1,095.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. StockNews.com lowered Costco Wholesale from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $909.00 to $935.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,013.59.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of COST opened at $922.71 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $944.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $897.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.97. Costco Wholesale Co. has a 52-week low of $654.03 and a 52-week high of $1,008.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $409.59 billion, a PE ratio of 54.18, a P/E/G ratio of 6.02 and a beta of 0.84.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 1st were paid a dividend of $1.16 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 1st. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.50%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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.