Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel CA Sells 14 Shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST)

Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel CA reduced its stake in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,033 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 14 shares during the period. Costco Wholesale makes up approximately 1.3% of Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel CA’s holdings, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel CA’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $1,863,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of COST. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $41,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth about $58,000. 68.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Costco Wholesale Stock Up 2.6 %

Costco Wholesale stock opened at $1,005.83 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $954.51 and a 200-day moving average of $908.28. 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 twelve month low of $697.27 and a twelve month high of $1,009.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $446.49 billion, a PE ratio of 59.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.84 and a beta of 0.84.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a $1.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.46%. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.25%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on COST shares. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Costco Wholesale from $880.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $800.00 to $1,060.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $1,016.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Costco Wholesale from $1,075.00 to $1,175.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $975.00 to $1,075.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,013.59.

Costco Wholesale 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.