CCostco runs members-only warehouse clubs that sell food, household goods, electronics and other products in bulk at low prices to households and small businesses. Its own Kirkland Signature store brand is priced below comparable national brands, yet those products earn Costco higher margins than the national labels they sit beside. Goods arrive in large lots and are sold from pallets in no-frills buildings, which keeps handling costs down, and the company makes money from annual membership fees and product sales, along with gas stations, pharmacies, optical centers and an online store. Costco opened its first warehouse in Seattle in 1983 and is based in Issaquah, Washington.
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Costco declares a $30-a-share special dividend worth about $13 billion, twice the size of its last one. Key points * Costco declared a special cash dividend of $30 a share, about $13.3 billion in total, payable Dec. 4 to shareholders of record on Nov. 24 [[1]]. * It is Costco's sixth special dividend since 2012 and double the $15 payout of January 2024, which cost about $6.7 billion [[1]] [[2]]. * Costco held $20.2 billion of cash and $1.1 billion of short-term investments at the end of fiscal 2026 on Aug. 30, against $9.2 billion of net income for the year [[3]]. Costco Wholesale declared a special cash dividend of $30 a share on Tuesday, a payout the company put at about $13.3 billion [[1]]. The dividend is payable Dec. 4 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 24, according to a filing made after the U.S. market close [[1]]. The board also reauthorized a stock repurchase program of up to $4 billion that expires in November 2030 [[1]]. It replaces the $4 billion program adopted in 2023, which was due to expire in January 2027 and under which Costco had bought back $3.1 billion of stock [[1]]. The biggest of six special payouts. Costco has now declared six special dividends: $7 a share in 2012, $5 in 2015, $7 in 2017, $10 in 2020, $15 paid in January 2024 and the new $30 [[2]] [[1]]. The $15 dividend cost about $6.7 billion, so the new payout is roughly twice as large in both per-share and total terms [[2]] [[1]]. Costco does not pay specials on a schedule, and the gap since the last one is almost three years. The $13.3 billion total implies about 443 million shares, in line with the 444 million diluted shares Costco averaged in fiscal 2026 [[1]] [[3]]. What the balance sheet can bear. Costco ended fiscal 2026 on Aug. 30 with $20.2 billion of cash and cash equivalents and $1.1 billion of short-term investments, according to MLQ.ai's SEC-derived financials [[3]]. Long-term debt was $3.9 billion [[3]]. The special dividend will use about 62% of that combined cash and investments, and it equals about 1.4 times the $9.2 billion Costco earned in fiscal 2026 [[3]]. | Fiscal year | Revenue | Operating income | Net income | | FY2025 | $275.2B | $10.4B | $8.1B | | FY2026 | $303.2B | $11.7B | $9.2B | Costco operates 945 warehouses, 653 of them in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada and 43 in Mexico, plus e-commerce sites in nine countries [[1]]. A board seat opens. In the same filing, Costco disclosed that Helena Foulkes told the board on Nov. 7 that she was resigning from it and its committees, effective that day [[1]]. Foulkes had served since August 2023 on the audit and nominating and governance committees. Costco said she had recently been elected governor of Rhode Island and that her departure was not due to any disagreement with the company [[1]]. The filing did not name a replacement. Companies mentioned. At the intersection of AI, tech, and markets. The stories that matter, in one email. Free - unsubscribe anytime.
Costco announces recall of popular Kirkland item in 12 states. One batch of the whipped cream may contain "cleaning chemicals." By Lisa MulcahyPublished: Nov 10, 2026 2:40 PM EST We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. * Alamance Foods recalled Kirkland Signature Real Heavy Whipped Cream sold at Costco between October 11-31, 2026, in 12 states. * Consumers reported chemical taste and smell but no serious health effects requiring medical care have been documented so far. * Affected customers can return the product to Costco for a full refund; look for 15 oz red and white cans with item code AC50 and best-by date of 04/02/2027 with timestamps 00:35-02:45. If you recently bought whipped cream at Costco for your Thanksgiving pies, here's an important heads-up. On November 7, Alamance Foods announced that it's issued a voluntary recall of Kirkland Signature Real Heavy Whipped Cream, which it manufactures. The recall is for one batch of the product because it may contain a small amount of a "cleaning chemical." The whipped cream was sold between October 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 at Costco stores in 12 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Alamance Foods states that Costco members who bought this batch of cream experienced a chemical taste and smell, but that "no serious adverse effects requiring medical care have been reported." The recall is currently listed by Costco; the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has not posted a recall notice for this product. Recalled whipped cream. The cream is packaged in red and white cans. Here's the information to look for on that label: * Product name: Kirkland Signature Real Heavy Whipped Cream, 15 oz (425 g) * Item: #1777000 * Case pack: 8CT/3PK * Item code: AC50 * Best If Used By: 04/02/2027 * Timestamps affected on can: 00:35-02:45 What to do if you have the recalled whipped cream. Don't eat it. If you have eaten some of it, monitor yourself for any symptoms, and if you feel sick, contact your health care provider. Alamance Foods is informing Costco members via letter if records show that they or their add-on members bought the product. You can take the cream back to your local Costco for a full refund. If you have questions, issues, or concerns, email Alamance Foods at [email protected]. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Costco Wholesale Corporation $COST stock: United Capital Management of KS Inc. raises position. United Capital Management of KS Inc. lifted its position in shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report) by 4.0% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 14,849 shares of the retailer's stock after buying an additional 567 shares during the quarter. Costco Wholesale accounts for approximately 1.8% of United Capital Management of KS Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position. United Capital Management of KS Inc.'s holdings in Costco Wholesale were worth $13,518,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of COST. Montis Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 6.4% during the third quarter. Montis Financial LLC now owns 351 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $320,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 7.3% during the third quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 43,235 shares of the retailer's stock worth $39,359,000 after acquiring an additional 2,942 shares during the last quarter. Texas Bank & Trust Co boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 1.9% during the third quarter. Texas Bank & Trust Co now owns 1,955 shares of the retailer's stock worth $1,780,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Fairscale Capital LLC boosted its position in Costco Wholesale by 3.1% during the third quarter. Fairscale Capital LLC now owns 404 shares of the retailer's stock worth $368,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vestor Capital LLC grew its stake in Costco Wholesale by 443.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vestor Capital LLC now owns 3,510 shares of the retailer's stock worth $3,195,000 after acquiring an additional 2,864 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.48% of the company's stock. Costco Wholesale news summary. Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week: * Costco's digital sales rose 22.5% in October, outpacing store comparable sales. Delivery partnerships, personalization and stronger online engagement are helping the company capture changing shopping habits, which could support sales growth. * Costco closed a California warehouse after 37 years and opened a replacement location about a mile away. The new site is 152,000 square feet; this appears to be a relocation rather than a meaningful reduction in the company's local presence. * An article about Costco's new Medicare Advantage plan highlights a potential consumer trade-off: a member who later wants Medigap coverage may face health questions or be denied after a 12-month trial right ends. The report focuses on enrollment considerations and does not quantify a financial effect for Costco. Insider transactions at Costco Wholesale. In other news, EVP Claudine Adamo sold 2,200 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $915.93, for a total transaction of $2,015,046.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 7,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,534,244.62. The trade was a 23.57% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP William Richard Wilcox sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $958.21, for a total transaction of $1,054,031.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 3,094 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,964,701.74. This trade represents a 26.23% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Costco Wholesale price performance. Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $1,066.18 on Tuesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a twelve month low of $844.06 and a twelve month high of $1,096.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $472.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.36, a PEG ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The business's fifty day moving average price is $954.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $972.91. Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 24th. The retailer reported $6.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $95.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $94.97 billion. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 27.60% and a net margin of 3.04%. The firm's revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.87 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 22.70 earnings per share for the current year. Costco Wholesale announces dividend. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 30th. Costco Wholesale's payout ratio is currently 28.32%. Analyst upgrades and downgrades. Several research analysts have weighed in on COST shares. HSBC upgraded Costco Wholesale to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Raymond James Financial decreased their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 25th. DA Davidson lifted their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $1,000.00 to $1,040.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. CICC Research started coverage on Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, October 21st. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $1,050.00 target price for the company. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Monday, September 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have assigned a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,090.55. Costco Wholesale profile. Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership-based warehouse clubs that offer a broad selection of merchandise at generally low prices. Its products include groceries, fresh foods, appliances, electronics, apparel, furniture, and household goods, as well as its Kirkland Signature private-label line. The company also provides services such as gasoline stations, pharmacies, optical and hearing-aid centers, food courts, and travel offerings. Costco serves members through warehouses and online channels. Founded in 1983 in Seattle, Costco has expanded across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST - Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Costco Wholesale Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Costco Wholesale and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Costco issues whipped cream recall over possible cleaning chemical. Posted: Nov 9, 2026 / 04:39 PM EST Updated: Nov 9, 2026 / 04:39 PM EST (WSPA) - Costco is warning customers about a voluntary recall affecting some Kirkland Signature whipped cream products after the manufacturer said a batch may contain a small amount of a cleaning chemical. According to a notice sent to Costco members, Denise Kuhn, director of compliance for Alamance Foods, Inc., said the company is voluntarily recalling certain cans of Kirkland Signature Real Heavy Whipped Cream "out of an abundance of caution." The recall affects 15-ounce cans with a best-by date of April 2, 2027 and can timestamps between 00:35 and 02:45. The company said it learned that one batch of the product may contain a small amount of a cleaning chemical. Customers have reported a chemical smell and taste, but no serious adverse health effects requiring medical care have been reported. The affected whipped cream was sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Consumers who have the recalled product should stop using it and return it to their local Costco warehouse for a full refund, the notice states.
One of the best new kitchen items at Costco in 2026 is A must-have for meat lovers. Add Mashed on Google: Mashed may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The pipeline to becoming a hardcore meat lover might begin with an impassioned declaration about brisket followed by experimentation with dry brines. Maybe the burgeoning meat fanatic starts making secret-recipe rubs and adds a thermometer to their arsenal. But what comes next? It's time to get elemental with woodchips and smoking, of course. And it just so happens that Costco has released a Nordic Ware Deluxe Kettle Smoker. The $79.99 smoker comes in an attractive burnt orange-red color. Thanks to its affordability and straightforwardness, it could be viewed as a gateway to using larger outdoor equipment. The domed device - complete with adjustable vents and extra headroom for unwieldy slabs of brisket - is capable of both wet and dry smoking. Wet smoking (which involves higher humidity levels) is a nice option for thick cuts to help break down collagen over time. Going the dry route works best for crispy, burnished skin. Control over the smoke intensity is another handy feature. For example, it can help ensure a salmon centrepiece gets a lighter smoke and that robust pork ribs are penetrated with deeper flavor. Of course, the item has its perceived shortcomings as well. At the time of writing, it had wracked up a not hugely compelling 3.9 out of 5 rating on the Costco website. Customers like the convenience of being able to use the cooking equipment indoors and that it creates minimal smoke. One notable criticism, however, is rusting. Costco suggests that the aluminized steel should be highly durable, but one reviewer complained of a "dime-sized rust spot on the cooking pan" the day after using it. The benefits of smoker cooking. If you don't already own a smoker, you might wonder what you stand to gain. The short answer is much more flavor. A smoker can level up your cooking, imparting juicy trout with a whisper of fruity, crisp apple, creating chicken thighs with moreish char, and offsetting the saltiness of fall-apart pork ribs with rich, cherry sweetness. What tips the Costco smoker into one of the best new kitchen finds of 2026 is that it takes some of the guesswork out of woodchip sourcing and pairing. It comes with a five-strong line-up of apple, sugar maple, cherry, hickory and sweet mesquite finely ground, natural woodchips, as well as a recipe guide. Taste boost aside, smoking is also a smart move for all but guaranteeing the holy grail of meat cookery - tenderness. Chasing that elusive melt-in-the-mouth texture is a lot easier with a smoker, which breaks down tissues in the meat and renders fat over a prolonged period of time and with low heat. That low and slow style doesn't just combat dryness, either. It actually helps meat to retain more of its nutritional value. That doesn't mean hickory-smoked brisket laced with BBQ sauce and served with a mini mac & cheese mountain will be good for you, but it will probably be great for your taste buds.
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Industries
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Issaquah, WA
Founded
1983
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