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Stock Ratings / Consumer Staples / COST / earnings
KO (76) WMT (69) KOF (67) PEP (61) ⌘ Pro Terminal →

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Next Earnings Date & Expected ±4.5% Move

$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?
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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?
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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?
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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 →
NEXT EST. WINDOW: Jan 6, 2027 (~64 DAYS)

Options-Implied Post-Earnings ±4.5% Bell Curve

±$45.55 Expected Swing
$966.73 (-4.5%)Spot $1,012.28$1,057.83 (+4.5%)
MODEL EARNINGS SETUP GAUGE

COST Quantitative Pre-Earnings Setup: 81/100

Trailing EPS: $20.76 • YoY Revenue Growth: 10.1%

Model Bullish Setup (81/100)Model Risk Weight (19/100)
Derived deterministically from RQD cash-flow quality, SEC accrual safety, and institutional flow (not a community poll).
LOG YOUR PERSONAL PRE-EARNINGS STANCE (SAVED LOCALLY IN BROWSER):

Recent SEC Reported Revenue, Net Profit & Diluted EPS Cadence

PeriodFiledRevenueNet ProfitFree Cash FlowGross Margin
Q4 20262026-10-07$95.72B$3.00B$2.70B12.7%
Q3 20262026-06-03$70.53B$2.19B$1.97B12.8%
Q2 20262026-03-11$69.60B$2.04B$1.71B12.8%
Q1 20262025-12-17$67.31B$2.00B$3.16B13.1%
Q4 20252025-10-08$86.16B$2.61B$2.35B12.9%
Q3 20252025-06-05$63.20B$1.90B$1.71B13%
ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher + Options & Swing Structure Desk

Whale Flow & Momentum Playbook: Evaluating COST & AI Leaders Without Chasing Tops

  • ✓Institutional whale strikes & implied earnings move audit on COST
  • ✓How disciplined traders manage risk using pre-published trigger & invalidation levels
  • ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on tracked leaders
RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED
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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

When is COST's next earnings date?

Based on SEC filing cadence, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)'s next quarterly reporting window is estimated around Jan 6, 2027.

How much is COST stock expected to move on earnings?

Volatility modeling currently projects a ±4.5% event move for COST, spanning a range between $966.73 and $1057.83.

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.

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