ROARABLE
Today ⌘ Pro Terminal Big Ideas 🎲 Predictions Screener 🦋 Butterfly 8 Analysts 🏛️ Policy 🎬 Video ★ Watchlist 🎲 Prediction Markets 📊 RQD Track Record 📅 Next Catalysts 🛡️ Overlap & Crash X-Ray 📰 Live Wire 🐋 13F Whales 🏛️ Congress & CEO Buys 🏆 $100K Arena ⌘ Pro Terminal 📐 Methodology & Corrections
Stock Ratings / Consumer Staples / COST / forecast
KO (76) WMT (69) KOF (67) PEP (61) ⌘ Pro Terminal →

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) 12-Month Stock Forecast & Price Target Cone

$1,012.28 +1.78% NASDAQ • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $1,017.95

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) earns a Roarable Rating of A- (Buy) with 81/100 RQD Confidence. 42% return on capital (13% profit margin) backed by quiet institutional block & options accumulation. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 81/100 (A-) historically ranked in the Top 8% of excess returns over the next 90 days (+8.4% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 71.6% hit rate) → 🧬 Share Float: -0.08% YoY Shares
ROARABLE A- • BUY Cap $441.39B
📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card
⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on COST Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude
🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is COST stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
▼

As of 2026-11-02, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) is rated A- (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 81/100 at a spot price of $1,012.28 (+1.78% 1D, market cap $441.39B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 20/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 16/20, Executive Insider Alignment 20/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 12/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20. Active quantitative signal WHALE_ACCUMULATION (BULLISH, conviction undefined/100) notes: undefined.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does COST compare to KO and WMT in the Consumer Staples sector?
▼

Within the Consumer Staples sector (Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label), COST carries a Roarable A- (81/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 48.6x, gross margin of 12.8%, and ROIC of 42.4%. By comparison, KO (Coca-Cola Company) holds a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E 30.5x, ROIC 25.3%, cap $399.30B) and WMT (Walmart Inc.) posts a C+ grade (69/100 RQD, P/E 44.1x, ROIC 20.1%, cap $961.97B). Among the 5-stock peer group, PEP leads on earnings multiple (22.1x) while COST leads on capital efficiency (42.4% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for COST?
▼

Per COST's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2026, filed 2026-10-07, CIK 0000909832), Costco Wholesale Corporation generated $303.15B in revenue (+10.1% YoY), $9.23B in net income, and $9.38B in free cash flow against $89.05B in total assets and $6.16B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (13% profit margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Priced at 49x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.. Latest SEC insider/13F disclosure shows Wilcox William Richard (INSIDER) executed a SELL of 1,100 shares ($1.1M) on 2026-10-14.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).
INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:
🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray
EXT / AFTER-HRS: $1,017.95 (+0.56%)🧬 Disciplined Float (-0.08% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 20/20 (A+) • 3.1% FCF Margin
Verify 90D Bucket Audit →
📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 81/100 (A-) historically ranked in the Top 8% of excess returns over the next 90 days (+8.4% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 71.6% hit rate).
Audit Bucket Track Record →
RQD QUANT TACHOMETERBUY • A-
025507510081
3-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bullish
Cash
SEC
Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw A- · Rk B+
Cash (20)Whales (16)SEC (20)Macro (12)CEO (13)
Each axis scored 0–20
12M PRICE TARGET CONE+17.8% Base Target
$1282 Bull$1193 Base$1057 Bear
📬 FREE COST RATING-CHANGE & BRIEFING ALERTSManage / Unsubscribe
WHALE OPTIONS POSITIONING:82% Calls ($3.2M)
18% PutsMax Pain: $950.00
Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (81/100 Composite)
🔍 WHY COST SCORES 81/100 (A-) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag
▲ #1 Bullish Driver: Cash Engine Quality+20/20 pts (25% of score)

SEC XBRL FY 2026 (10-K): 3.1% FCF Margin ($9.38B FCF) & 12.8% Gross Margin

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+20/20 pts (25% of score)

Altman Z-Score 9.38 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 6/9

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Macro Regime Fit12/20 pts (-8 pt drag)

Macro rate sensitivity & RSI-14 (57.7) create a -8 pt regime headwind

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current
Q1 (-3Q)
73
Grade B$935.03+1.1% Next Q
Q2 (-2Q)
76
Grade B+$945.47-2.6% Next Q
Q3 (-1Q)
78
Grade A-$920.65+10% Next Q
Current
81
Grade A-$1,012.28+8.4% Hist 90D α
Trajectory: B (73) → A- (81)Full Audit →
⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the COST Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

Costco Wholesale Corp's FY2026 Form 10-K (accession 0000909832-26-000093) reflects minor operational drift and geographic footprint expansion rather than severe structural balance-sheet distress. Key updates include incremental dilution in Canadian operating profit concentration from 84% to 83%, the addition of 'culture' preservation to membership loyalty risk factors, and expansion of mainland China digital storefront operations. Net business model risk and cash-conversion-cycle durability remain exceptionally sound.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Priced at 49x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Dilution & Margin Drag: Disciplined Float (-0.08% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 15.0% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($960.16) or 200D SMA ($818.30) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($1,192.75) toward Bear Floor ($1,057.31).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $COST• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite
Contract: “COST Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Jan 6, 2027) & Holds Above 200D SMA”
YES 81%NO 19%Trade / Inspect Odds →
INTERACTIVE 12-MONTH POSITION SIMULATOR

Drag to Test Your COST Position Size: $10,000

Shares at $1,012.28: 9.9 sh
$1,000$10,000$25,000$50,000$100,000
12M Bear Case FloorTarget $1,057.31
$10,445
+$445 (+4.4%)
12M Consensus BaseTarget $1,192.75
$11,783
+$1,783 (+17.8%)
12M Bull Case BreakoutTarget $1,282.03
$12,665
+$2,665 (+26.6%)

Wall Street Analyst Breakdown & Historical Accuracy Audit (47 Desks)

Street Historical Accuracy: 67/100
● Strong Buy / Buy: 32● Hold: 14● Sell: 1
Wall Street FirmStance12M Target1Y AccuracyTrack Grade
Morgan StanleyKeith WeissSTRONG BUY$1,27271.3%B
Goldman SachsKate McShaneSTRONG BUY$1,25270.5%B
J.P. MorganChristopher HorversOUTPERFORM$1,18769.6%B
Bank of America SecuritiesRobert OhmesSTRONG BUY$1,24267.2%C
Bernstein SocGen GroupZhihan MaBUY$1,11066.6%C
Evercore ISIGreg MelichSTRONG BUY$1,28266.6%C
JefferiesCorey TarloweOUTPERFORM$1,18766.5%C
UBSMichael LasserOUTPERFORM$1,13066.1%C
ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher + Cash-Flow & Quality Compounder Desk

Cash-Fortress Compounders: Auditing Free Cash Flow & Yield Safety in COST & A-Rated Leaders

  • ✓12-month Bull/Base/Bear fair-value walkthrough on COST and its top sector peer
  • ✓Top Roarable A-Rated cash compounders with verified executive & 13F accumulation
  • ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts
RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED
Want Custom AI PineScript / Python Indicators & Priority Rating-Change Alerts?
Join Founding VIP Waitlist (No Card Required) →$100K Arena
COST // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +0.35%⚡ TESTING RESISTANCE
2026-11-02O $982.7H $1,012.3L $982.7C $1,012.3VOL 1.61M
RES: $1,027.1SUP: $869.9SMA50: $960.2SMA200: $818.3
$1,116.0$1,035.3$954.6$873.9$793.3RES $1,027.1SUP $869.9$1,012.32026-05-082026-06-182026-08-072026-09-182026-11-02
PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

COST Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 COST Butterfly Map → + Track COST →
Share Count & Dilution Monitor (#25)
-0.08% YoY Shares

SEC XBRL FY2025 → FY2026: Disciplined near-zero share dilution.

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle (#30)
35.6%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +10.1% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger (#33)

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on COST today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for COST. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video 💡 Starter Kit: Cash-Fortress Zero-Dilution Compounders (ellis-vennor)
🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for COST today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →
DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (COST)

Consumer Staples Rank #2 of 146 ⚔️ KO vs COST Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Consumer Staples Peer Comparison (COST vs. KO, WMT, KOF, PEP)

Industry: Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label (1 Tracked Issuers)

Across 146 tracked Consumer Staples securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) ranks #2 by composite RQD confidence (81/100, grade A-) and #2 by equity capitalization ($441.39B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, PEP leads on earnings valuation at 22.1x trailing P/E, while COST leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 42.4% ROIC and 12.8% gross margin. COST currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 81/100 (A-).

Ticker / Company Roarable Grade RQD Score Trailing P/E Gross Margin ROIC 1D Change Market Cap Head-to-Head
COST ACTIVE
Costco Wholesale Corporation
A- 81/100 48.6x 12.8% 42.4% +1.78% $441.39B Benchmark Subject
KO
Coca-Cola Company
B+ 76/100 30.5x 61.6% 25.3% +1.36% $399.30B /ko-vs-cost →
WMT
Walmart Inc.
C+ 69/100 44.1x 25.2% 20.1% +1.86% $961.97B /wmt-vs-cost →
KOF
Coca Cola Femsa S.A.B. de C.V. American
C+ 67/100 32.8x — 9.9% +0.16% $194.12B /kof-vs-cost →
PEP
PepsiCo Inc.
C- 61/100 22.1x 54.1% 17.0% +2.65% $182.32B /pep-vs-cost →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2022–FY2026)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2026-10-07 • CIK 0000909832

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2026, filed 2026-10-07), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) reported GAAP revenue of $303.15B (+10.1% vs. FY2025 revenue of $275.24B , and +33.6% cumulative change since FY2022) , GAAP net income of $9.23B, operating cash flow of $15.82B, and free cash flow of $9.38B (+19.7% YoY). On the balance sheet, COST closed FY2026 with $89.05B in total assets against $6.16B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 9.38, Piotroski F-Score: 6/9).

Fiscal Period Filing Date Revenue Net Income Operating Cash Flow Free Cash Flow Total Assets Total Debt
FY2026 (FY) 2026-10-07 $303.15B $9.23B $15.82B $9.38B $89.05B $6.16B
FY2025 (FY) 2025-10-08 $275.24B $8.10B $13.34B $7.84B $77.10B $5.79B
FY2024 (FY) 2025-10-08 $254.45B $7.37B $11.34B $6.63B $69.83B $5.90B
FY2023 (FY) 2025-10-08 $242.29B $6.29B $11.07B $6.75B $68.99B $6.46B
FY2022 (FY) 2024-10-09 $226.95B $5.84B $7.39B $3.50B $64.17B $6.56B

3. COST Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is COST stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

As of 2026-11-02, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) is rated A- (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 81/100 at a spot price of $1,012.28 (+1.78% 1D, market cap $441.39B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 20/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 16/20, Executive Insider Alignment 20/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 12/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20. Active quantitative signal WHALE_ACCUMULATION (BULLISH, conviction undefined/100) notes: undefined.

How does COST compare to KO and WMT in the Consumer Staples sector?

Within the Consumer Staples sector (Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label), COST carries a Roarable A- (81/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 48.6x, gross margin of 12.8%, and ROIC of 42.4%. By comparison, KO (Coca-Cola Company) holds a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E 30.5x, ROIC 25.3%, cap $399.30B) and WMT (Walmart Inc.) posts a C+ grade (69/100 RQD, P/E 44.1x, ROIC 20.1%, cap $961.97B). Among the 5-stock peer group, PEP leads on earnings multiple (22.1x) while COST leads on capital efficiency (42.4% ROIC).

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for COST?

Per COST's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2026, filed 2026-10-07, CIK 0000909832), Costco Wholesale Corporation generated $303.15B in revenue (+10.1% YoY), $9.23B in net income, and $9.38B in free cash flow against $89.05B in total assets and $6.16B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (13% profit margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Priced at 49x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.. Latest SEC insider/13F disclosure shows Wilcox William Richard (INSIDER) executed a SELL of 1,100 shares ($1.1M) on 2026-10-14.

Where is COST trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

COST last traded at $1,012.28 (+1.78% on volume of 3,466,898 shares), positioning the stock +5.43% above its 50-day simple moving average ($960.16) and +23.71% above its 200-day simple moving average ($818.30). Across its 52-week range of $406.51 to $1,096.50, COST sits at the 87.8% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 57.7 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±4.5% ($966.73 to $1,057.83).

COST Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index

100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FRED

What is COST's 12-month stock price target?

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) carries a 12-month consensus base price target of $1192.75 (+17.8% from $1012.28), with a bull-case target of $1282.03 and a bear-case floor of $1057.31.

Is COST stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now?

Roarable's 5-Pillar RQD Quant Engine rates COST A- (Buy — BUY) with an RQD Confidence score of 81/100.

Direct Sub-Reports: COST RQD Cockpit COST 12M Forecast COST Earnings & Move COST Dividends & DRIP COST Insiders & 13F COST Whale Options COST Profit Sankey COST News & Why
ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 81/100 (A-) ✓ STAGE-C NUMBER FIREWALL VERIFIED

COST — Costco Wholesale Corporation: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Engine: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5
As of: 2026-11-02T15:08:21Z

Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor

Per the Roarable RQD rating, COST scores 81 out of 100, grading A- under the verdict label "Roarable Buy — Superior Risk/Reward." The five pillars are:

  • Fundamental Cash Engine: 20 / 20 (ROIC 42.4%; FCF yield 2.09%). This is the maximum pillar score, indicating strong capital efficiency in the source's framework. The modest 2.09% FCF yield, however, signals that much of the cash-generating strength is already reflected in the share price.
  • Whale 13F Flow: 16 / 20 (institutional accumulation and options positioning). Solid institutional support, with a clear but not maximal score.
  • Insider Conviction: 13 / 20 (SEC Form 4 and Congressional PTR cluster flow). Mixed insider activity is reflected in a mid-range score; the holders section shows both insider sales and institutional/political purchases.
  • Macro Regime Fit: 12 / 20 (Beta 0.73; sector sensitivity). The lowest pillar, though a beta below 1.0 suggests lower price volatility relative to the market. The score indicates that sector sensitivity is a consideration.
  • Forensic Balance Sheet: 20 / 20 (Altman Z 9.38; Piotroski F 6/9; Debt/Equity 0.17). Maximum score on balance-sheet strength. Note that the Piotroski F-Score of 6 of 9 is solid but not perfect.

For a prospective investor, the upside case rests on the cash-generation and balance-sheet pillars, both at maximum. The valuation tradeoff is material: P/E (TTM) of 48.6 and EV/EBITDA of 31.4 are elevated, and the 2.09% FCF yield means the investor is paying a premium for durability. The score is a framework output from the source and is not a recommendation.

Snapshot

PriceMarket CapP/E (TTM)Forward P/EEV/EBITDAEPS (TTM)Dividend YieldBeta52-Wk RangeROIC %
996.08$441.39B48.643.731.420.760.58%0.73$406.51 - $1096.542.4%

Business

Costco Wholesale Corporation is classified in the Consumer Staples sector, Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label industry, and trades on NASDAQ. Per the profile, it operates approximately 900 high-volume membership warehouse clubs globally. It monetizes recurring Gold Star and Executive membership fees and caps gross merchandise markups near 14–15%, with an industry-benchmark renewal rate of approximately 93% in North America. Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, membership fee revenue is a $4.8B+ high-margin fee pool, and Kirkland Signature represents approximately 33% of sales.

Financial Trend

PeriodRevenueOperating IncomeNet IncomeEPSFCFCashDebt
Q4 2026$95723.0M$3801.0M$2998.0M6.75N/A$20207.0M$6162.0M
Q3 2026$70527.0M$2815.0M$2192.0M4.93N/A$18946.0M$5670.0M
Q2 2026$69597.0M$2606.0M$2035.0M4.58$1707.0M$17383.0M$5760.0M
Q1 2026$67307.0M$2463.0M$2001.0M4.5$3162.0M$16217.0M$5736.0M

Per the market data, gross margin is 12.8%, operating margin 3.9%, and net margin 3.0%. ROIC stands at 42.4%. Per the forensic metrics in the RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 9.38, the Piotroski F-Score is 6 of 9, and Debt/Equity is 0.17. Reported cash of $20207.0M against debt of $6162.0M in the latest period reflects a conservative balance-sheet posture.

Recent Catalysts & News Wire Analysis

The news wire contains six items, all tagged to COST:

  • Yahoo Finance (YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): a trending-stock piece asking whether COST is a buy now.
  • Seeking Alpha (RED, RISK WATCH): a downgrade-framed piece arguing the stock goes nowhere from here.
  • Yahoo! Finance Canada (YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): a stock quote and history page.
  • TradingView (GREEN, CATALYST): a piece framing strong growth against a premium earnings valuation.
  • Seeking Alpha (YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): a post-Q4 results follow-up.
  • Yahoo Finance (YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): a piece questioning whether the moat justifies the premium.

The wire is largely valuation-focused. The single green catalyst concerns growth, while the single red risk-watch item is a downgrade argument. The proprietary signal in the Butterfly graph is a WHALE_ACCUMULATION signal, labeled STEALTH WHALE ACCUMULATION, with severity score 87 and direction BULLISH. Its headline notes a -1.60% retail-tape move alongside $1.92B in FINRA off-exchange buying, a 44.6% short ratio, and 68.9% call-sweep premium concentration. The forensic brief cites a 2.02σ cross-feed divergence, which the source characterizes as institutional accumulation into retail weakness.

Butterfly Effect: 2nd-Order Supply-Chain & Sector Ripples

Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph (Consumer Staples; Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label):

  • Customers: Visa (V) is listed as a critical customer relationship tied to co-branded Costco Anywhere cardholders, with 76M+ paid household and business members (~93% US/Canada renewal) and a revenue exposure figure of 98%. Because membership fees are the high-margin pool, any shift in card or renewal economics would ripple through margin.
  • Suppliers: Procter & Gamble (PG) is a critical supplier for national brands and Kirkland Signature bulk manufacturing, with a revenue exposure figure of 48%. Refined fuel wholesale suppliers (XOM) are rated high-criticality for the roughly 12% of total revenue tied to gasoline stations. Investors should watch input-cost pass-through, since the source ties Kirkland and fuel to meaningful revenue shares.
  • Competitors: Walmart/Sam's Club (WMT) is rated critical at 85% exposure, Amazon (AMZN) high at 55% (Prime, Whole Foods), and BJ's Wholesale (BJ) moderate at 22%. Competitive pressure on membership renewal and grocery pricing is the principal second-order risk the graph highlights.

The graph's butterfly_links array is empty, so no explicit cross-company linkages are documented beyond the node relationships above.

Analyst View & Smart Money Ownership

Consensus (as of 2026-11-01): 19 Buy, 14 Hold, 1 Sell; 13 Strong Buy and 0 Strong Sell. The Street BS score is 67. Price targets: low $1057.31, mean $1192.75, median $1198.02, high $1282.03. Implied upside is 17.83%.

Recent analyst actions (per the analyst data): Morgan Stanley upgraded to Strong Buy (2026-09-11, target $1271.91, prior $1157.44). Goldman Sachs upgraded to Strong Buy (2026-08-14, target $1251.66). J.P. Morgan upgraded to Outperform (2026-07-17, target $1186.88). Bank of America upgraded to Strong Buy (2026-08-28, target $1241.54). Citigroup upgraded to Strong Buy (2026-05-22, target $1209.15, prior $1293.79), a target that was reduced in that call. Bernstein SocGen reiterated Buy (2026-06-18, target $1109.94). Evercore ISI upgraded to Strong Buy (2026-07-31, target $1282.03). Jefferies upgraded to Outperform (2026-03-27). UBS reiterated Outperform (2026-04-24, target $1130.19). Barclays revised its target (2026-02-27, target $1057.31).

Holders and flows (per the holders section):

  • Insider (SEC Form 4) sells: Wilcox William Richard sold 1,100 shares at 958.21 (total $1,054,031; filed 2026-10-14). Denman Kenneth D sold 885 shares at 957.45 (total $847,343.25; filed 2026-06-25). Frates Caton sold 700 shares at 993 (total $695,100; filed 2026-04-01). Adamo Claudine sold 730 shares at 1003.02 (total $732,204.6; filed 2026-03-11).
  • 13F hedge fund buys: Renaissance Technologies bought 195,000 shares at 951.67 (total $185,575,650; filed 2026-07-21). Pershing Square bought 240,000 shares at 1014.96 (total $243,590,400; filed 2026-04-20). Berkshire Hathaway bought 320,000 shares at 1014.96 (total $324,787,200; filed 2026-04-19).
  • Congressional PTR: Sen. Tommy Tuberville bought 420 shares at 998.1 (total $419,202; filed 2026-03-20).

Institutional 13F buying is substantial in the holders data, while insider activity in the source is entirely sales.

Open Questions

  • The financials table shows FCF as N/A for Q4 2026 and Q3 2026. What is the trailing free-cash-flow figure, and how does it reconcile with the stated 2.09% FCF yield?
  • The RQD rating assigns Macro Regime Fit 12 of 20 and cites "sector sensitivity" without specifying the sensitivity measure. Which macro variables drive that score?
  • The Butterfly graph lists a 98% revenue exposure to Visa-linked membership, yet the membership fee dollar figure is given only as "$4.8B+." What is the precise fee revenue for the most recent reported period?
  • The 52-week range spans $406.51 to $1096.5 while the current price is $996.08. What drove the trough, and is it reflected in the forensic or sentiment pillars?
  • The insider sale activity is entirely sell-side in the source. Are there any insider purchases or 10b5-1 plan disclosures that would clarify the intent behind these sales?

COST Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire

Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below

💬 Jump to COST Debate Forum (3) ↓
🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

COST Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $1,012.28?

🐂 67% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON COST 🐻 33% BEARISH CONVICTION
1. Pick Your Side on COST:
💡 Tip: Back up your call with a price target or RQD metric to get upvoted to the top.
RO RoarDesk_Moderator Roarable Research Desk 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $1,175.37 (+18.0%)
📌 Pinned Debate

🔥 Official Bull vs. Bear Debate: Is COST (A- • RQD 81/100) a Buy at $996.08?

Welcome to the COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 81/100 (Roarable Buy — Superior Risk/Reward) in Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label. Bulls point to capital efficiency (42.4% ROIC), while bears focus on valuation multiple compression (48.6x trailing P/E). Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.

FO ForensicBear Forensic Accounting Watch 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $836.71 (-16.0%)
Spot @ $996.08

Pump the brakes on COST — check the valuation vs. margin headwinds

Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on COST, but look at what you are paying: 48.6x trailing P/E with 12.8% gross margins. Unless Costco Wholesale Corporation expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.

TA TapeReader_Pro Verified K Arena Trader 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $1,185.34 (+19.0%)
Spot @ $996.08

COST cash flow & RQD setup is being underpriced by the Street here

Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on COST, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Membership Warehouse Clubs & Kirkland Private Label and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $996.08 (52-wk range $406.51 - $1096.50), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.

LIVE TAPE SPY $755.72 -0.38% QQQ $690.49 -1.44% DIA $517.13 -0.37% IWM $279.33 +0.96% NVDA $204.64 -4.22% AAPL $344.63 -1.23% MSFT $521.91 -1.55% TSLA $399.81 -0.86% PLTR $184.11 -6.27% SOFI $16.76 -4.83% IBIT $43.36 -0.94% GLD $355.78 -1.34%