Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Shares Down 0.3% - Time to Sell?

Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) shares dropped 0.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $955.50 and last traded at $962.25. Approximately 679,553 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 63% from the average daily volume of 1,854,138 shares. The stock had previously closed at $965.25.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

COST has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $1,016.00 price objective for the company. Tigress Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $1,065.00 price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $990.00 to $1,030.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. 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. Finally, Oppenheimer reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $1,075.00 price objective (up previously from $980.00) on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. 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 stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,013.59.

Costco Wholesale Trading Down 0.7 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $425.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.29, a PEG ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 0.84. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $952.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $904.81.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid 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 0.48%. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is 27.25%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Barrett & Company Inc. boosted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale by 59.3% during the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 43 shares of the retailer's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the period. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth about $55,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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