Vanguard Discloses 9.20% Stake in Costco (COST)

TL;DR

**Vanguard still owns a huge chunk of Costco, showing long-term confidence.**

AI Summary

The Vanguard Group, a major investment firm, filed an amended SC 13G/A on February 13, 2024, disclosing its ownership of 40,849,498 shares of Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) common stock as of December 29, 2023. This represents a 9.20% stake in the company. This filing indicates Vanguard's continued significant, but slightly reduced, passive investment in Costco, which matters to investors as large institutional holdings can provide stability and signal confidence in the company's long-term prospects.

Why It Matters

This filing shows that one of the world's largest asset managers, Vanguard, maintains a substantial, albeit slightly decreased, passive ownership in Costco, signaling continued institutional confidence in the retail giant.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — This filing is a routine update from a passive institutional investor and does not indicate any immediate significant risk or change in company operations.

Analyst Insight

A smart investor would note Vanguard's continued substantial, passive holding as a sign of long-term institutional confidence in Costco, but recognize this is a routine update and not an active investment decision.

Key Numbers

• 40,849,498 — Shares Beneficially Owned (Represents Vanguard's total ownership of Costco common stock as of December 29, 2023.)
• 9.20% — Percentage of Class (Indicates Vanguard's significant stake in Costco, showing it remains a major institutional holder.)
• 9 — Amendment Number (This is the 9th amendment to Vanguard's Schedule 13G filing for Costco, indicating ongoing updates to its position.)

Key Players & Entities

• The Vanguard Group (company) — the reporting person and institutional investor
• Costco Wholesale Corp (company) — the subject company whose securities are being reported
• 40,849,498 shares (dollar_amount) — the total number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by Vanguard
• 9.20% (dollar_amount) — the percentage of Costco's common stock beneficially owned by Vanguard
• December 29, 2023 (date) — the date of the event requiring the filing of this statement

Forward-Looking Statements

• Vanguard will likely maintain a significant, passive stake in Costco for the foreseeable future. (The Vanguard Group) — high confidence, target: 2025-12-31
• Costco's stock price will continue to be influenced by large institutional holdings, providing a degree of stability. (Costco Wholesale Corp) — medium confidence, target: 2024-12-31

FAQ

Filing Documents

• tv0691-costcowholesalecorp.htm (SC 13G/A) — 11KB
• 0001104659-24-020691.txt ( ) — 13KB

(a) - Name of Issuer

Item 1(a) - Name of Issuer: Costco Wholesale Corp

(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

Item 1(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 999 Lake Drive Issaquah, WA 98027-8990

(a) - Name of Person Filing

Item 2(a) - Name of Person Filing: The Vanguard Group - 23-1945930

(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence

Item 2(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355

(c) – Citizenship

Item 2(c) – Citizenship: Pennsylvania

(d) - Title of Class of Securities

Item 2(d) - Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock

(e) - CUSIP Number

Item 2(e) - CUSIP Number 22160K105

- Type of Filing

Item 3 - Type of Filing: This statement is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1. An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

- Ownership

Item 4 - Ownership: (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: (b) Percent of Class: (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or direct to vote: (ii) shared power to vote or direct to vote: (iii) sole power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of: (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: Comments: The responses to questions 5 through 9 and 11 on the cover page(s) are incorporated by reference into this Item 4.

- Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Item 5 - Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following

- Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

Item 6 - Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: The Vanguard Group, Inc.'s clients, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein. No one other person's interest in the securities reported herein is more than 5%. Item 7 - Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired The Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company: Not applicable

- Identification and Classification of Members of Group

Item 8 - Identification and Classification of Members of Group: Not applicable

- Notice of Dissolution of Group

Item 9 - Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not applicable

- Certification

Item 10 - Certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 13, 2024 By /s/ Ashley Grim Name: Ashley Grim Title: Head of Global Fund Administration

View Full Filing

View this SC 13G/A filing on SEC EDGAR