Independent Advisor Alliance trimmed its position in Costco Wholesale Corporation by 2.1% during the third quarter, selling 686 shares and ending the period with 32,229 shares. At the end of the quarter, the fund’s Costco stake represented approximately 0.8% of its total portfolio, ranking it as the 20th largest holding. The reduced position was valued at $29.8 million according to the latest SEC filing, signaling a modest reallocation of assets within the firm’s broader equity investments.

Several other institutional investors adjusted their Costco holdings in recent quarters. Peterson Wealth Services added 72 shares to bring its total to 13,616 shares, while Fishman Jay A Ltd. MI increased its position by 575 shares to a total of 16,888 shares. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated expanded its stake by 49.3%, acquiring 1,248 additional shares to reach 3,780 shares. Meanwhile, Permanent Capital Management LP initiated a new position valued at $874,000, and Wealthspire Advisors LLC added 312 shares for a total holding of 15,799 shares. Collectively, hedge funds and other institutions now own 68.48% of Costco’s outstanding shares.

In the fiscal quarter ended December 11th, Costco reported earnings per share of $4.34, beating consensus estimates by $0.07 and up from $4.04 a year earlier. Revenue rose 8.3% year-over-year to $67.31 billion, surpassing analyst expectations by $280 million. Return on equity stood at 29.35%, with a net margin of 2.96%. The board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share, payable February 13th to shareholders of record on January 30th, representing an annualized payout of $5.20 and a dividend payout ratio of 27.85%.

Wall Street sentiment remains generally positive, with 21 analysts maintaining Buy ratings, 12 issuing Hold ratings and one issuing a Sell. The consensus price target stands at $996.00, reflecting expectations for continued membership‐fee growth and same-store sales expansion. Research notes in December and early January highlighted Costco’s resilient business model and strong cash flow generation, even as some firms lowered price objectives to reflect a more cautious near-term consumer environment.