Is Costco (COST) a Buy Right Now?
A plain-English read on Costco stock — what the chart and the numbers are saying today, with no jargon and no hype.
What this means, in plain English
Costco is currently trading at $945.47, reflecting a 1.16% change. The stock is in a downtrend, as it sits below its 200-day moving average—the average price over the last 200 days—of $960.76. This indicates that the broader momentum for the company has been sliding downward recently.
The RSI, or Relative Strength Index—a gauge of whether a stock has climbed too far or fallen too fast—is at 48.1. This shows the stock is in a neutral zone, neither overbought nor oversold. With a P/E ratio of 51.8, investors are paying a premium for each dollar of company earnings.
Should you buy Costco stock?
Deciding to buy depends on your risk tolerance, but the current downtrend warrants extreme caution. With the price sitting near its 50-day average of $944.42, it is best to wait for more stability before considering a position.
Is COST a good stock for beginners?
Costco is a massive, well-known company, but its high P/E ratio of 51.8 means it is not necessarily a cheap investment. Beginners should be aware that even stable companies experience volatility, or price swings, as seen by the wide 52-week range of $844.06 to $1096.5.
What's driving COST right now
The stock is trading below its 200-day average of $960.76, which signals a downward trend.
An RSI of 48.1 indicates that the stock is currently in a neutral position without strong momentum.
The stock has a recent support level, or floor, at $925.77 where buyers have historically stepped in.
A P/E ratio of 51.8 suggests that investors are paying a high price relative to the company's earnings.
What Costco actually does
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. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, lawn and garden, sporting goods, tires, toys and seasonal, automotive, stamps, tickets, apparel, furniture, domestics, housewares, special order kiosks, and jewelry; and fresh food, such as meat, produce, service deli, and bakery products. The company is also involved in warehouse ancillary operations, which include gasoline, pharmacies, optical, food courts, hearing-aid centers, and tire installation centers. In addition, it engages in e-commerce, business centers, travel, and other businesses. The company was formerly known as Costco Companies, Inc. and changed its name to Costco Wholesale Corporation in August 1999. Costco Wholesale Corporation was founded in 1976 and is based in Issaquah, Washington.
Costco by the numbers
Wall Street consensus on COST is Buy. That is the analyst community's view, shown for context — it is not our read and not a recommendation.
Costco's earnings history
Earnings per share for Costco's last 4 reported financial years, as filed — EPS has risen over that span. We don't hold analyst consensus estimates for these periods, so no beat-or-miss judgement is shown.
| Period end | EPS reported |
|---|---|
| 2025-08-31 | 18.24 |
| 2024-09-01 | 16.60 |
| 2023-09-03 | 14.18 |
| 2022-08-28 | 13.17 |
Who owns Costco?
Institutions — pension funds, asset managers, index providers — hold 74.5% of COST, and the concentration matters: the largest single holder alone controls 7.71% of the company.
| Holder | Shares | % held |
|---|---|---|
| 34.20M | 7.71% | |
| 28.98M | 6.53% | |
| 18.38M | 4.15% |
Names withheld — plus 3 more records not shown.
See who owns itWhat Costco insiders have been doing
Executives and directors must disclose their own trades in company stock. Of the last 6 disclosed transactions we hold for Costco, 3 were sales and 0 were open-market purchases; the other 3 were awards, vesting or option exercises rather than a decision to buy or sell. Insiders sell for many ordinary reasons — scheduled plans, tax, diversification — so a sale is not by itself a signal.
| Insider | Date | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-10 | AWARD / VEST | 5.2K | — | |
| 2026-06-23 | SELL | 885 | $847.3K | |
| 2026-04-01 | SELL | 700 | $695.1K |
Names withheld — plus 3 more records not shown.
See which insidersThe numbers behind the read
Who in Washington has been trading COST?
Members of Congress must disclose trades over $1,000 within 45 days under the STOCK Act. At least 25 disclosures name COST — filed by 14 separate members or more and worth $137K–$580K combined (filings report bands, never exact amounts). 17 purchase-side, 8 sale-side, most recently on 2026-07-30.
| Member | Date | Action | Amount filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-30 | SELL | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2026-07-10 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2025-11-05 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 |
Names withheld — plus 22 more records not shown.
See which membersCostco is currently showing signs of weakness; proceed with caution until the price shows a clearer trend above its key averages.
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Beginner questions about COST
Should I buy COST stock?+
With the price at $945.47 and in a downtrend below its 200-day average, it is wise to be careful before buying.
Is COST a good long-term investment?+
While Costco is a large company, its 52-week range of $844.06 to $1096.5 shows that even big stocks can move significantly over time.
Is COST a buy or a sell?+
The stock is currently below its 200-day average of $960.76, which suggests a cautious outlook rather than an immediate buy signal.
Is COST overvalued?+
With a P/E ratio of 51.8, investors are currently paying a high premium for Costco's earnings compared to historical standards.
Is COST a good stock for beginners?+
Beginners should note the stock's volatility, as it has traded between $844.06 and $1096.5 over the past year.
Important disclaimer
This page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold Costco (COST) or any other security. The Money GPS is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or financial planner, and no content here should be relied upon to make an investment decision.
The verdict, indicators, and commentary are generated automatically — in part using AI — from third-party market data (via Yahoo Finance) that may be delayed, incomplete, or inaccurate, and is provided “as is” without any warranty. Figures reflect the market as of 2026-08-28 and change constantly; the read above may already be out of date. A “Buy,” “Hold,” or “Be Careful” label is a simplified, rules-based signal for beginners — not a price target or a guarantee of any outcome.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of your entire principal. Past performance and historical patterns do not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial professional who knows your personal circumstances before investing. You are solely responsible for your own investment decisions. The Money GPS and its authors may hold positions in the securities discussed and accept no liability for any loss arising from the use of this information.