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.
We've already run the numbers on COST.
Our AI has a Buy, Hold or Be Careful call on Costco right now — in plain English, why, the 4 factors moving it, and the bottom line. That's the part a beginner actually needs, and it's the one thing on this page we don't give away for free.
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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, Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising consumer electronics, appliances, small electrics, 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, deli, and bakery products. The company is also involved in warehouse ancillary operations, which include gasoline, pharmacies, food courts, optical, hearing aids, and tire installation centers. In addition, it engages in e-commerce, business centers, travel, and other businesses. Further, the company operates e-commerce sites; and offers branded and private-label products in various categories. 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 |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-30 | 20.78 |
| 2025-08-31 | 18.24 |
| 2024-09-01 | 16.60 |
| 2023-09-03 | 14.18 |
Who owns Costco?
Institutions — pension funds, asset managers, index providers — hold 74.4% of COST, and the concentration matters: the largest single holder alone controls 7.72% of the company.
| Holder | Shares | % held |
|---|---|---|
| 34.20M | 7.72% | |
| 28.98M | 6.54% | |
| 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, none were an open-market buy or sell — they are awards, vesting, option exercises or derivative conversions, which is normal and says nothing about conviction either way. Insiders sell for many ordinary reasons — scheduled plans, tax, diversification — so a sale is not by itself a signal.
| Insider | Date | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-22 | AWARD / VEST | 266 | — | |
| 2026-10-22 | AWARD / VEST | 2.0K | — | |
| 2026-10-22 | AWARD / VEST | 266 | — |
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 13 separate members or more and worth $102K–$530K combined (filings report bands, never exact amounts). 13 purchase-side, 12 sale-side, most recently on 2026-09-18.
| Member | Date | Action | Amount filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-18 | SELL | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2026-07-30 | SELL | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2026-07-10 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 |
Names withheld — plus 22 more records not shown.
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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 2026-10-28 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.