Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Shares Down 1.8% - Here's Why

Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report)'s share price traded down 1.8% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $1,054.33 and last traded at $1,052.13. 655,760 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average session volume of 1,876,586 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,071.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price target 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. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $950.00 to $1,150.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $800.00 to $1,060.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,075.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,021.93.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 0.0 %

The company's 50-day moving average is $974.70 and its 200 day moving average is $928.97. The company has a market capitalization of $459.45 billion, a PE ratio of 60.78, a P/E/G ratio of 6.32 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.98.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a dividend of $1.16 per share. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is presently 27.25%.

Institutional Trading of Costco Wholesale

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Investment Management Corp VA ADV purchased a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Synergy Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its stake in Costco Wholesale by 250.0% during the 4th quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 35 shares of the retailer's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares during the period. Finally, Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

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.