Webster Bank N. A. Sells 319 Shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST)

Webster Bank N. A. reduced its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,735 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 319 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale accounts for 1.3% of Webster Bank N. A.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Webster Bank N. A.'s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $11,669,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at about $58,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $58,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

COST stock traded up $5.35 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $964.02. 1,707,943 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,930,781. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The stock has a market cap of $427.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.61, a P/E/G ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 0.84. Costco Wholesale Co. has a one year low of $690.80 and a one year high of $1,008.25. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $953.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $905.62.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $1.16 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.48%. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

COST has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup increased their price target on Costco Wholesale from $800.00 to $1,060.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted 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 report on Friday, December 13th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $840.00 to $1,040.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $975.00 to $1,075.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $1,016.00 target price for the company. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,013.59.

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.