Sterling Investment Counsel LLC Has $1.25 Million Stake in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST)

Sterling Investment Counsel LLC reduced its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 32.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,368 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 655 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale accounts for approximately 0.8% of Sterling Investment Counsel LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC's holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $1,254,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth approximately $41,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth $55,000. Finally, Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth approximately $58,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

COST traded up $14.99 during trading on Thursday, reaching $979.01. 1,785,690 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,923,543. Costco Wholesale Co. has a fifty-two week low of $691.50 and a fifty-two week high of $1,008.25. The company has a market capitalization of $434.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.49, a PEG ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $953.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $906.03.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $1.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.47%. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on COST shares. Oppenheimer reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $1,075.00 price objective (up from $980.00) on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $850.00 to $940.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and set a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,050.00 to $1,145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $840.00 to $1,040.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,013.59.

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.