In the first quarter of this year, Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. increased its stake in Costco Wholesale Co by a modest 0.3%. This was detailed in their latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

The institutional investor added 14 shares, bringing their total holdings to 4,472 shares of the retail giant's stock. This investment, valued at $3,276,000, makes Costco Wholesale the 20th largest holding in Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc.'s portfolio, comprising about 1.5% of their total holdings.

The bigger picture of institutional investments in Costco

Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. is not alone in seeing the potential in Costco's stock. Various hedge funds and institutional investors have also been adjusting their stakes in the company.

• B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings by 1.0% during the third quarter, now owning 28,855 shares valued at $16,302,000 after acquiring an additional 273 shares.
• Main Street Financial Solutions LLC grew its holdings by 4.7% in the fourth quarter, with a total of 1,763 shares worth $1,164,000 after buying 79 more shares.
• Cerity Partners LLC made a significant increase of 28.9% in the fourth quarter, resulting in ownership of 272,288 shares valued at $179,822,000 after acquiring an additional 61,122 shares.
• Metis Global Partners LLC raised its holdings by 15.6% in the fourth quarter, now owning 21,514 shares valued at $14,201,000 after purchasing an additional 2,909 shares.
• Strong Tower Advisory Services expanded its holdings by 7.9% in the first quarter, now owning 1,867 shares worth $1,346,000 after adding 137 more shares.

Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of Costco's stock, indicating strong confidence in the company's performance and future prospects.

Costco Wholesale’s impressive performance

Costco’s shares have shown remarkable growth, opening at $849.99 on Friday. The company boasts a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.94, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. With a market cap of $376.83 billion, Costco has a P/E ratio of 52.66, a PEG ratio of 5.62, and a beta of 0.79, reflecting its stability and growth potential in the market.

The stock has seen a 52-week low of $524.63 and a high of $873.96, with a 50-day moving average price of $801.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $739.95, indicating a strong upward trend.

Financial highlights and earnings

Costco's latest quarterly earnings data, announced on May 30th, further highlights its robust performance. The retailer reported earnings per share (EPS) of $3.78, surpassing analysts' expectations of $3.70 by $0.08. The company achieved a net margin of 2.83% and a return on equity of 30.02%.

During the quarter, Costco generated $58.52 billion in revenue, slightly above the consensus estimate of $58.16 billion. This represents a 9.1% increase compared to the same quarter last year, where the firm earned $3.43 per share. Research analysts predict that Costco Wholesale Co. will post 15.96 earnings per share for the current year, reflecting continued growth and profitability.

Dividend growth

Costco is also committed to returning value to its shareholders. The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.16 per share, which was paid on May 10th. This represents an annualized dividend of $4.64, yielding 0.55%. 

This dividend is an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.02, highlighting Costco's dedication to enhancing shareholder value. The dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.75%.

The future outlook

Costco Wholesale continues to demonstrate strong financial health and growth potential, attracting investments from institutional investors like Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. The company's consistent performance, solid earnings, and increasing dividends make it a valuable addition to any investment portfolio.

With its strategic expansion and commitment to delivering value to its shareholders, Costco Wholesale Co. remains a dominant player in the retail sector. Investors and market analysts alike will be closely watching the company's future developments, expecting continued success and profitability in the years to come.