Goelzer Investment Management Inc. Reduces Holdings in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST)

Goelzer Investment Management Inc. cut its holdings in Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,677 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 146 shares during the period. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $8,867,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Costco Wholesale in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Costco Wholesale in the fourth quarter valued at $55,000. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Costco Wholesale during the 3rd quarter worth $58,000. Finally, Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in Costco Wholesale during the 4th quarter worth about $58,000. 68.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Loop Capital boosted their price target on shares of Costco Wholesale from $1,005.00 to $1,095.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Costco Wholesale from $840.00 to $1,040.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Citigroup raised their price target on Costco Wholesale from $800.00 to $1,060.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. DA Davidson upped their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $880.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $990.00 to $1,030.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,013.59.

Costco Wholesale Stock Down 0.3 %

COST stock opened at $939.68 on Friday. Costco Wholesale Co. has a one year low of $675.96 and a one year high of $1,008.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.98. The company has a fifty day moving average of $951.57 and a 200-day moving average of $903.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $417.12 billion, a PE ratio of 55.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 0.84.

Costco Wholesale Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a $1.16 dividend. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.25%.

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.