Barlow Wealth Partners Boosts Stake to 34,452 Costco Shares; Insider Sales $8.55M
Barlow Wealth Partners boosted its Costco stake by 2.2% to 34,452 shares, making the position its sixth-largest holding valued at $32.5 million. Executives sold 9,315 shares totaling $8.55 million over the past quarter, and analysts’ price targets range between $1,000 and $1,200, reflecting mixed outlooks.
1. Barlow Wealth Partners Increases Stake in Costco
Barlow Wealth Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale Corporation by 2.2% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 740 shares to reach a total of 34,452 shares. Following this purchase, Costco represents 3.6% of Barlow’s portfolio, making it the firm’s sixth-largest position. Based on the most recent SEC filing, Barlow’s Costco stake is valued at $32.546 million, reflecting the firm’s confidence in the retailer’s consistent membership-driven revenue model and global expansion plans.
2. Major Institutional Ownership Movements
Several leading institutions adjusted their Costco positions in the second quarter. Vanguard Group increased its stake by 1.7%, adding 711,560 shares to reach 43,356,271 shares valued at $42.92 billion. State Street Corporation grew its position by 0.5%, acquiring 90,107 additional shares for a total holding of 18,325,416 shares worth $18.14 billion. Geode Capital Management lifted its stake by 1.5%, adding 150,844 shares to hold 10,275,056 shares valued at $10.12 billion. New entrant Norges Bank established a position valued at approximately $5.69 billion, while Invesco Ltd. expanded its stake by 9.8%, purchasing 383,887 shares to reach 4,291,557 shares valued at $4.25 billion. Institutional investors and hedge funds now account for 68.48% of the company’s equity.
3. Recent Insider Sales Signal Modest Position Reductions
In the last quarter, two executive vice presidents reduced their holdings. Javier Polit sold 2,049 shares on December 29, realizing proceeds of $1.777 million and cutting his position by 16.0% to 10,748 shares. Russell D. Miller sold 1,500 shares on January 9 for $1.374 million, representing a 15.4% reduction to 8,240 shares. Collectively, insiders divested 9,315 shares valued at $8.55 million, leaving total insider ownership at 0.10% of outstanding shares.
4. Analyst Ratings and Price Target Revisions
Over the past quarter, analysts have adjusted their views on Costco. Argus raised its price target from $1,170 to $1,200 and maintained a buy rating, citing resilient same-store sales and membership renewal metrics. Robert W. Baird trimmed its target from $1,125 to $1,000 but kept an outperform rating, highlighting strong margin trends. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating following robust Q2 revenue growth, while DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral stance with a $1,000 target. Telsey Advisory Group sustained its outperform rating and set a $1,100 objective, noting accelerating international expansion as a key catalyst. In total, 21 firms rate the stock a buy, 12 a hold and one a sell, yielding a consensus view of Moderate Buy.