Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Trading 0.3% Higher - Time to Buy?

Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) shares shot up 0.3% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $943.50 and last traded at $942.33. 717,178 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 60% from the average session volume of 1,779,074 shares. The stock had previously closed at $939.68.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on COST. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $909.00 to $935.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,050.00 to $1,145.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,019.00 to $1,020.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $975.00 to $1,090.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $1,100.00 price target on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costco Wholesale currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,013.59.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $428.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 0.84. The company's 50 day moving average price is $951.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $903.97. 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 Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $1.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. Costco Wholesale's dividend payout ratio is currently 27.25%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the second quarter worth $4,202,000. Ascent Group LLC raised its stake in Costco Wholesale by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 11,861 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $10,082,000 after acquiring an additional 214 shares during the period. Buck Wealth Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the second quarter valued at about $300,000. Doheny Asset Management CA boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 4.5% during the second quarter. Doheny Asset Management CA now owns 4,221 shares of the retailer's stock worth $3,588,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. Finally, Copperwynd Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 3.5% in the second quarter. Copperwynd Financial LLC now owns 1,621 shares of the retailer's stock worth $1,333,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.48% of the company's stock.

Costco Wholesale Company 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.