Costco Wholesale Corp NASDAQ:COST Price, Chart, News & Insight

NASDAQ:COST

Costco Stock Falls 1.7% Premarket After JPMorgan Lowers Price Target

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) shares fell 1.7% in premarket trading on Thursday after JPMorgan lowered its price target on the warehouse retailer to $1,100 from $1,110 while maintaining its *Overweight* rating.

Why Is Costco Stock Falling Today?

The modest premarket decline followed a slight reduction in JPMorgan's price target, although the firm continued to recommend the stock with an *Overweight* rating, signaling that its long-term investment thesis remains intact.

The revised target reflects a more conservative valuation rather than a change in the company's underlying fundamentals, as the new target still implies upside from Costco's recent trading price.

Costco's Fundamentals Remain Strong

Costco continues to benefit from resilient consumer spending, industry-leading membership renewal rates, and steady traffic across its warehouse network. The retailer has also maintained strong comparable sales growth by offering competitive pricing and expanding its private-label Kirkland Signature products.

In recent quarters, Costco has continued to gain market share as consumers increasingly seek value amid a still uncertain economic environment.

What Investors Are Watching Next

Investors will continue to monitor monthly comparable sales, membership fee income, and consumer spending trends for signs that Costco can sustain its growth momentum. Market participants are also watching for any future updates regarding membership fee increases and the company's ongoing warehouse expansion plans.

While the slight reduction in JPMorgan's price target weighed on shares in premarket trading, the firm's continued *Overweight* rating suggests Wall Street remains constructive on Costco's long-term growth prospects.

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The Investor 07-09-26

Costco Shares Slip After Citi Starts Coverage With Neutral Rating

Costco (NASDAQ: COST) fell 1.3% after Citigroup initiated coverage of the warehouse retailer with a Neutral rating and a $1,020 price target.

The rating reflects a balanced view of Costco's strong business fundamentals and premium valuation. Citi acknowledged the company's industry-leading membership model, loyal customer base, and consistent execution, but suggested much of that strength is already reflected in the stock price.

Costco remains one of the retail sector's top performers, benefiting from high membership renewal rates, resilient consumer demand, and steady market-share gains. The company also generates a significant portion of its profits from recurring membership fees, providing a stable earnings base.

While Citi's price target implies some upside from current levels, investors appeared to focus on the Neutral rating, sending shares modestly lower. The reaction suggests valuation concerns may be outweighing the company's otherwise strong long-term growth outlook.

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Global Finance News 06-18-26

Costco Gains After Analyst Reiterates Rating Following Strong Earnings Report

Costco Wholesale (COST) shares rose about 1.4% as investors continued to digest the company's recent earnings report and a fresh analyst update from DA Davidson.

The firm reiterated its Neutral rating on Costco while maintaining a $1,000 price target, signaling confidence in the retailer's operational strength despite the stock's already premium valuation. With shares trading near $976, the target suggests analysts see limited but still positive upside from current levels.

Costco recently reported another solid quarter, supported by strong membership renewal rates, resilient consumer spending, and continued growth in e-commerce and international operations. The retailer has consistently outperformed many competitors by offering value-focused pricing, a strategy that remains attractive even as consumers navigate an uncertain economic environment.

While analysts continue to praise Costco's business model, loyal customer base, and steady cash generation, some remain cautious about valuation after the stock's strong performance over the past several years. This helps explain the Neutral rating despite the company's strong fundamentals.

Today's gain suggests investors remain confident in Costco's ability to deliver stable growth regardless of broader economic conditions. As consumers continue to prioritize value and essential spending, Costco remains one of the most defensive and reliable names in the retail sector.

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WS Investor 06-04-26

Costco Slips 3% Despite Strong Earnings Beat as Investors Digest Valuation and Slowing Adjusted Comparable Sales

COSTCO fell 3% following its fiscal third-quarter 2026 earnings report, even though the warehouse retail giant delivered another quarter of double-digit sales growth, strong comparable sales and rising profitability. The pullback appears to reflect investor concerns over valuation and signs of moderating growth rather than any weakness in the underlying business.

Costco reported third-quarter net sales of $69.15 billion, an increase of 11.6% from a year earlier, while total revenue rose to $70.53 billion. Net income climbed to $2.19 billion, or $4.93 per diluted share, up from $1.90 billion, or $4.28 per share, in the prior-year period. The results continued Costco’s long track record of consistent growth and operational execution.

Comparable sales remained impressive across all major markets. Reported comparable sales increased 9.8% companywide, including gains of 9.4% in the United States, 10.7% in Canada and 11.2% in other international markets. Digital sales were particularly strong, rising 21.5% during the quarter.

However, investors appeared to focus on the adjusted comparable sales figures, which exclude gasoline price fluctuations and foreign exchange effects. On that basis, total company comparable sales growth was 6.6%, a solid result but somewhat lower than the headline figures and indicative of a more moderate pace of underlying growth.

Another factor likely weighing on the stock was valuation. Costco shares entered the earnings release near all-time highs after significantly outperforming the broader market over the past several years. With expectations elevated, even strong results may not have been enough to justify further multiple expansion.

Despite the market reaction, Costco's financial position remains exceptionally strong. Cash and cash equivalents rose to nearly $19 billion, operating cash flow increased to $11.1 billion during the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026, and operating income climbed 12.3% year over year to $2.82 billion in the quarter. Membership fee revenue also increased to $1.37 billion, providing a stable and highly profitable recurring revenue stream.

The company continues to expand globally, ending the quarter with 931 warehouses worldwide, including seven locations in China and growing operations across Europe and Asia. Digital sales growth above 20% also highlights Costco’s increasing ability to blend its traditional warehouse model with e-commerce capabilities.

The stock's decline suggests investors were taking profits after another strong run rather than reacting to disappointing fundamentals. Costco delivered robust sales growth, expanding profits and continued market share gains, but with the shares already priced for near-perfection, the market appeared to demand an even larger upside surprise to sustain the rally.

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The Investor 05-30-26

Costco announced a quarterly cash dividend on common stock and approved a quarterly increase from $1.30 to $1.47 per share, $5.88 on an annualized basis. The quarterly dividend is payable May 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 1, 2026.

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WS Investor 04-16-26

Costco Reports Strong March Sales Growth Despite Calendar Headwind

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $28.41 billion for March (five weeks ended April 5, 2026), marking an 11.3% increase year-over-year.

Comparable sales rose 9.4% globally, with solid performance across regions, including 8.7% growth in the U.S. and double-digit gains internationally. E-commerce continued to outperform, with digitally enabled sales surging over 23%.

For the first 31 weeks of the fiscal year, total sales reached $173.26 billion, up 9.1% from the prior year.

The company noted that having one fewer shopping day due to the Easter calendar shift negatively impacted results by approximately 1.5 percentage points, indicating underlying demand remained strong.

Costco’s performance highlights resilient consumer spending and continued momentum in both physical and digital retail channels.
Globe Newswire

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WS Investor 04-09-26

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported solid January sales growth, with net sales rising 9.3% year over year to $21.33 billion for the four weeks ended February 1, 2026. For the first 22 weeks of the fiscal year, net sales increased 8.5% to $123.16 billion.

Comparable sales grew 7.1% globally for the four-week period and 6.6% over 22 weeks, led by strong performance in Canada and international markets, while digitally enabled comparable sales surged 34.4% for the month. Excluding the effects of gasoline price changes and foreign exchange, total company comparable sales rose 6.4% for the four weeks and 6.3% year to date. The later timing of Lunar and Chinese New Year modestly weighed on international results.

Source: Costco Wholesale Corporation, GlobeNewswire, February 4, 2026.

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WS Investor 02-06-26

Costco has declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $1.30 per share. The quarterly dividend is payable February 13, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 30, 2026.

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European Investor 01-17-26

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $29.86 billion for December, covering the five weeks ended January 4, 2026, representing an 8.5% increase from the prior year. For the first 18 weeks of the fiscal year, net sales rose 8.3% year over year to $101.83 billion.

Comparable sales increased 7.0% companywide for the five-week period, with digitally enabled sales up 18.9%. Excluding gasoline price and foreign exchange impacts, total comparable sales grew 6.2%, highlighting continued strong demand across U.S., Canadian, and international markets.

Source: Costco Wholesale Corporation / GlobeNewswire

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WS Investor 01-08-26

Costco Wholesale reported higher sales and profit for its first quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by solid comparable growth and strong digitally enabled demand. The retailer said net sales rose 8.2% to $65.98 billion for the 12 weeks ended Nov. 23, 2025, while comparable sales increased 6.4% companywide, with digitally enabled comparable sales up 20.5% excluding gasoline price and foreign-exchange impacts. Net income climbed to $2.001 billion, or $4.50 per diluted share, compared with $1.798 billion, or $4.04 per share, a year earlier, reflecting a $72 million tax benefit tied to stock-based compensation.

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Global Finance News 12-12-25

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