Optas LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST)

Optas LLC lifted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) by 13.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,744 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 335 shares during the period. Optas LLC’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $2,515,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in COST. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth about $41,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 4th quarter worth about $55,000. Finally, Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $58,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Costco Wholesale Price Performance

NASDAQ:COST opened at $1,021.86 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $955.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $909.45. The firm has a market cap of $453.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.00, a PEG ratio of 5.84 and a beta of 0.84. Costco Wholesale Co. has a one year low of $697.27 and a one year high of $1,024.35. 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 business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $1.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,019.00 to $1,020.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,075.00 to $1,175.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $935.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Costco Wholesale from $800.00 to $1,060.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $840.00 to $1,040.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently 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.