Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) Shares Acquired by Smart Money Group LLC

Smart Money Group LLC boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) by 5.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 876 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. Smart Money Group LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $803,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $55,000. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at $58,000. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale during the third quarter worth about $58,000. Finally, Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc increased its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 329.4% in the 3rd quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 73 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:COST opened at $943.19 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $418.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.60 and a beta of 0.84. The company’s fifty day moving average is $949.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $901.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Costco Wholesale Co. has a 12-month low of $675.96 and a 12-month high of $1,008.25.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Richard A. Galanti sold 1,416 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $894.68, for a total transaction of $1,266,866.88. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 27,400 shares in the company, valued at $24,514,232. This represents a 4.91 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on COST. StockNews.com cut shares of Costco Wholesale from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Costco Wholesale from $935.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,075.00 to $1,175.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $975.00 to $1,090.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Tigress Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $1,065.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,013.59.

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.