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

From the Filing

0001104659-24-020691.txt : 20240213 0001104659-24-020691.hdr.sgml : 20240213 20240213170230 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-24-020691 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13G/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20240213 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20240213 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000909832 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331] ORGANIZATION NAME: 07 Trade & Services IRS NUMBER: 911223280 STATE OF INCORPORATION: WA FISCAL YEAR END: 0903 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-42471 FILM NUMBER: 24627865 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 999 LAKE DRIVE CITY: ISSAQUAH STATE: WA ZIP: 98027- BUSINESS PHONE: 4253138100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 999 LAKE DRIVE CITY: ISSAQUAH STATE: WA ZIP: 98027 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COSTCO COMPANIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19970401 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PRICE/COSTCO INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930728 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VANGUARD GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000102909 ORGANIZATION NAME: IRS NUMBER: 231945930 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 2600 STREET 2: V26 CITY: VALLEY FORGE STATE: PA ZIP: 19482-2600 BUSINESS PHONE: 6106691000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 2600 STREET 2: V26 CITY: VALLEY FORGE STATE: PA ZIP: 19482-2600 SC 13G/A 1 tv0691-costcowholesalecorp.htm SCHEDULE 13G/A costcowholesalecorp SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Schedule 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.: 9)* Name of issuer:  Costco Wholesale Corp Title of Class of Securities:  Common Stock CUSIP Number:  22160K105 Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement: December 29, 2023 Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: ☒ Rule 13d-1(b) ☐ Rule 13d-1(c) ☐ Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). (Continued on the following page(s))     13G CUSIP No.:  22160K105 1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON The Vanguard Group - 23-1945930 2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE [LINE] IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP A.  B.  X 3.  SEC USE ONLY 4.  CITIZENSHIP OF PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Pennsylvania (For questions 5-8, report the number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with:) 5.  SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6.  SHARED VOTING POWER 590,686 7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 38,448,025 8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,904,999 9.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 40,353,024 10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES N/A 11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 9.09% 12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Schedule 13G Under the Securities Act of 1934 Item 1(a) - Name of Issuer: Costco Wholesale Corp Item 1(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 999 Lake Drive Issaquah, WA 98027-8990 Item 2(a) - Name of Person Filing: The Vanguard Group - 23-1945930 Item 2(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA&#160