Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)

Over the past six months, Costco's stock price has decreased by 4.15%. Key events include the release of fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2025 operating results, where the company reported EPS of $5.87 and revenue of $86.16 billion. Several financial analysts have adjusted their ratings and price targets for Costco. Company insiders sold a total of 7,981 shares valued at approximately $7.59 million in the last three months. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.30, which was paid on August 15, 2025. In July 2025, Costco reported $20.89 billion in sales, an 8.5% year-over-year gain.

Costco experiences increased net sales and earnings during the winter holiday season. The company strategically introduces seasonal items one to two months before the start of the respective season. Deals on seasonal merchandise are typically available right after the season concludes.

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores, focusing on offering quality merchandise at lower prices with high sales volumes. Its product categories include groceries, electronics, apparel, and more, along with services like gasoline stations and optical laboratories. The private label brand, Kirkland Signature, is a significant part of its offerings, and membership fees contribute substantially to profits.

As of September 2025, Costco operates 914 warehouses worldwide, with approximately 85% located in North America. The company has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, France, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Costco also operates e-commerce websites in several of these regions.

Costco maintains a strong brand reputation, recognized for its operating efficiency and customer-focused culture. The company's strategy of offering low prices on bulk items contributes to its appeal. In 2014, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) named Costco number one in the specialty retail store industry. In 2023, Costco announced a crackdown on membership sharing to ensure that only paying members utilize their services.

Costco is predominantly owned by institutional investors, who collectively hold over 70% of the company's shares. The largest institutional shareholders include The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The top individual shareholders of Costco include Craig Jelinek, Patrick Callans, and Richard Galanti. Insiders own less than 1% of the company.