Dernières nouvelles pour Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Stock

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP

Costco Wholesale

Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given its frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below that of competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and generating strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and has over 60% share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.

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Nouriel Roubini, voiced strong criticism on Monday regarding President Donald Trump&#8217;s declaration of &#8220;Liberation Day,&#8221; which marks the imposition of new tariffs. Roubini described the term as &#8220;literally Orwellian doublespeak,&#8221; suggesting that the tariffs would lead to &#8220;lower growth and higher inflation.&#8221; 
What Happened: The prominent economist sometimes referred to as &#8220;Dr. Doom,&#8221; emphasized that the real impact of these tariffs would depend on the negotiations, which he anticipates will be &#8220;ugly and long-drawn.&#8221; Roubini questioned the notion of &#8220;liberation,&#8221; arguing that it would not benefit U.S. consumers, workers, or businesses, nor the global economy.
He further expressed skepticism about whether the &#8220;escalate to de-escalate&#8221; strategy, mentioned by Bessent, would prevail over the views of trade hawks like senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, trade negotiator Jamieson Greer, and Trump, whom he called &#8220;the biggest trade hawk of all.&#8221; Roubini suggested that advisors like economic adviser Kevin Hassett and chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Stephen Miran should guide the President towards more sensible decisions. He warned that the U.S. is &#8220;playing with fire&#8221; with these tariff policies.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Calling Tariff Day as "Liberation Day" is literally Orwellian doublespeak. Whatever the consequences of these tariffs will be &#8211; ie lower growth and higher inflation and how much of it depending on the eventual size of these tariffs post-negotiations that will be ugly and…
&mdash; Nouriel Roubini (@Nouriel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nouriel/status/1907422009610338407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Roubini&#8217;s comments came as Trump declared a national emergency to address foreign trade practices, imposing tariffs to protect American workers and strengthen the U.S. economy. The tariffs are part of a broader strategy to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce the trade deficit.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44601197/massive-data-breach-at-elon-musks-x-reportedly-exposes-data-of-millions-of-accounts-by-far-the-largest-so" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Massive Data Breach At Elon Musk&#8217;s X Reportedly Exposes Data Of Millions Of Accounts: &#8216;By Far The Largest Social Media Breach Ever&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The tariffs, set to take effect on Wednesday, have sparked significant debate. Trump claims they will reduce economic dependence on foreign goods and revive U.S. manufacturing. 
The executive order invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose a universal 10% tariff on all imports effective April 5, followed by higher individualized tariffs on countries with the largest trade deficits with the U.S. starting April 9. The White House claims these measures will address non-reciprocal trade relationships, currency manipulation, and other unfair practices while boosting domestic manufacturing, protecting American workers, and strengthening economic sovereignty.
However, critics like Anthony Scaramucci have labeled &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; as &#8220;Liquidation Day,&#8221; warning of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44608167/liberation-day-is-liquidation-day-says-anthony-scaramucci-heres-how-it-could-hit-your-wallet">potential financial burdens</a> on Americans. The tariffs are part of Trump&#8217;s broader economic strategy, which has been criticized for potentially leading to higher inflation and slower growth, as noted by Roubini in previous analyses.
Roubini, known for his accurate prediction of the 2008 financial crisis, has consistently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42257492/dr-doom-roubini-on-trumps-second-term-inflation-will-be-higher-growth-is-going-to-be-lower">expressed concerns</a> about Trump&#8217;s economic policies.
Image via Shutterstock
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

News

Politics

Economics

General

COST

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini: Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariff Label Is Orwellian Doublespeak, US 'Playing With Fire'

Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/walmart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remains engaged in</a> canvassing Chinese suppliers to slash prices across product categories by up to 10% for each round of tariffs. That&#8217;s how the retailer aims to shift the burden of tariffs onto the suppliers.
The ongoing negotiations could intensify after Trump launches new reciprocal tariffs against major US trading partners, adding to the 20% duties that Trump has already implemented on Chinese imports, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/china-ties-us-talks-to-tariff-removal-as-stalemate-deepens?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44569790/goldman-sachs-picks-amazon-google-and-meta-for-strong-growth-in-ecommerce-and-digital-advertising" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shoptalk 2025: Goldman Sachs Analyst Unveils Insights On AI, Video, Retail And Stock Picks</a>
Some Chinese manufacturers failed to meet Walmart&#8217;s demands to cut prices by up to 10% for each round of tariffs.
A Walmart spokeswoman told Bloomberg its supplier conversations focused on offering low prices.
Other&nbsp;US retailers expect the tariffs to increase prices, from Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) to Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>).
Some Chinese factory owners told Bloomberg that they have begun to weigh alternative manufacturing locations in Asia, such as Cambodia and Vietnam.
Walmart&#8217;s strong foothold in China provides some buffer from political retaliation when global businesses lay off staff on the mainland or exit the market altogether.
In March, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44226602/walmart-ceo-says-consumers-changing-spending-due-to-inflation-egg-prices-the-money-runs-out-before-the-month-is-gone-people-are-buying-smaller-pack-sizes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sparked concerns about</a> consumer spending in recent public comments. He highlighted that consumers are buying smaller pack sizes and running out of money.
On March 27, Walmart&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44508525/walmart-suffers-22-billion-valuation-drop-on-a-single-day-amid-declining-consumer-confidence" rel="noreferrer noopener">stock price fell</a> by 3.1% at market close, leading to a sharp decline in its market value to nearly $680 billion. Bill Adams of&nbsp;Comerica Bank attributed consumer confidence to &#8220;layoff headlines, a falling stock&nbsp;market, and tariff fears.&#8221;
Price Action: WMT stock is up 0.73% at $89.43 at last check Wednesday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Media

Walmart Pressures Chinese Suppliers To Cut Prices Amid New Tariff Battle

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Costco Wholesale. Our analysis of options history for Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) revealed 87 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 32% of traders were bullish, while 43% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 46 were puts, with a value of $2,971,319, and 41 were calls, valued at $3,105,922.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $640.0 to $1200.0 for Costco Wholesale over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Costco Wholesale's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Costco Wholesale's whale trades within a strike price range from $640.0 to $1200.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Costco Wholesale Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743536732_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$12.7</td>
<td>$12.15</td>
<td>$12.12</td>
<td>$1000.00</td>
<td>$271.3K</td>
<td align="right">795</td>
<td align="right">327</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$58.75</td>
<td>$58.0</td>
<td>$58.0</td>
<td>$950.00</td>
<td>$232.0K</td>
<td align="right">95</td>
<td align="right">66</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$45.65</td>
<td>$45.3</td>
<td>$45.3</td>
<td>$960.00</td>
<td>$226.5K</td>
<td align="right">946</td>
<td align="right">67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$10.8</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$10.65</td>
<td>$820.00</td>
<td>$213.0K</td>
<td align="right">765</td>
<td align="right">502</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$10.8</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$10.65</td>
<td>$820.00</td>
<td>$202.3K</td>
<td align="right">765</td>
<td align="right">302</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Costco Wholesale</h3>
Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given its frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below that of competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and generating strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and has over 60% share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Costco Wholesale, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Costco Wholesale</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,246,621, the price of COST is up 0.2% at $947.65. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 58 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Costco Wholesale</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $1062.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Baird persists with their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $1125. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1070. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Stifel keeps a Buy rating on Costco Wholesale with a target price of $1035. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group persists with their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $1100. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $980. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Costco Wholesale with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Markets

Spotlight on Costco Wholesale: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

Gold prices have surged nearly 58% after the late veteran investor and stock picker Charlie Munger&#8216;s top pick, Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>), started selling gold bars in June 2023.
What Happened: Gold prices have been hitting fresh record highs after surpassing the $3,000 mark. The latest record level notched by the Gold Spot U.S. Dollar was $3,149.03 per ounce.
Interestingly, Costco began selling gold bars in June 2023 in the U.S., and it quickly became a popular item. Since then, gold prices have rallied by 57.78% as of March 31, 2025, outpacing the gains in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500 index. SPY rose by 32.61% in the same period.
Costco, on the other hand, gained as much as 84.51% since June 2023.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033742/Costco-and-SPY-since-June-1-2023-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-850534" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033742/Costco-and-SPY-since-June-1-2023-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033742/Costco-and-SPY-since-June-1-2023-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033742/Costco-and-SPY-since-June-1-2023-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033742/Costco-and-SPY-since-June-1-2023-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033742/Costco-and-SPY-since-June-1-2023.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Paul Cerro, the CEO of Cedar Grove Capital Holdings, highlighted these metrics in an X post.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Want to know something crazy? Costco <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24COST&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$COST</a> started selling 1-ounce gold bars in June of 2023. Since then, the price of gold has been up 58%, compared to SPY, which is 32%. <a href="https://t.co/ui7YRBL9Dt">pic.twitter.com/ui7YRBL9Dt</a>
&mdash; Paul Cerro (@paulcerro) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulcerro/status/1906689385237536839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44578555/nancy-pelosis-pick-palo-alto-networks-downplays-ai-spending-need-analyst-warns-ai-digestion-phase-may-be-a-larger-problem">Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s Pick, Palo Alto Networks Downplays AI Spending Need: Analyst Warns &#8216;AI Digestion Phase May Be A Larger Problem&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Munger, a prominent investor and long-time board member of Costco, was a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495307/charlie-munger-identified-this-stock-30-years-ago-after-warren-buffett-passed-on-it-heres-how-it-is-doing-as-it-accomplishes-four-milestones-in-its-current-quarter">vocal admirer of the company&#8217;s business model</a>, owning a significant stake in Costco that he vowed never to sell.
"I love everything about Costco," he said during the Daily Journal's annual shareholder meeting back in February 2023. He admired Costco's business model and recognized its unique approach to retailing, including its efficient operations, low prices, and membership model.
"I'm a total addict, and I'm never going to sell a share," said Munger during the aforementioned shareholder meeting.
"I wish everything else in America was working as well as Costco does," he said in early 2022. "Think what a blessing that would be for us all."
Price Action: Gold prices have rallied 18.93% on a year-to-date basis, whereas SPY has declined 4.32% in the same period. Costco, on the other hand, was up 3.95% in 2025.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that COST&#8217;s price trend is weak over the medium and the short term, whereas the long-term trend is strong. It has a momentum ranking at the 85.24th percentile, but its value ranking was weaker. To know more about its fundamental growth and quality rankings, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">hop on to this page</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/COST"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="796" height="132" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033623/COST-Edge.png" alt="" class="wp-image-850531" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033623/COST-Edge.png 796w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033623/COST-Edge-300x50.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033623/COST-Edge-768x127.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px" /></a></figure>
Its consensus price target was $1030.46, with a ‘buy' rating, based on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COST/analyst-ratings">26 analysts tracked by Benzinga</a>. The price targets ranged from a low of $890 to a high of $1175. The latest ratings from Stifel, Evercore ISI Group, and Barclays averaged $1028.33, implying an 8.88% upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COST/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="386" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033650/Cost-ANR-new-1024x386.png" alt="" class="wp-image-850532" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033650/Cost-ANR-new-1024x386.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033650/Cost-ANR-new-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033650/Cost-ANR-new-768x289.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01033650/Cost-ANR-new.png 1078w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44554923/goldman-sachs-warns-us-stocks-are-at-risk-of-further-declines-but-policy-pivot-from-trump-or-fed-could-stoke-recovery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Warns US Stocks ‘Are At Risk Of Further Declines,' But Policy Pivot From Trump Or Fed Could Stoke Recovery</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Market Summary

Commodities

Charlie Munger's Top Pick Costco's Golden Touch: Gold Prices Soar 58%, Outpacing SPY Since It Started Selling Gold 33 Months Ago

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with COST, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 29 uncommon options trades for Costco Wholesale.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 72% bullish and 13%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 15 are puts, for a total amount of $1,138,775, and 14 are calls, for a total amount of $726,295.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $440.0 to $1080.0 for Costco Wholesale over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Costco Wholesale's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Costco Wholesale's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $440.0 to $1080.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Costco Wholesale 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743175859_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$15.6</td>
<td>$14.4</td>
<td>$14.67</td>
<td>$855.00</td>
<td>$264.0K</td>
<td align="right">698</td>
<td align="right">180</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$55.4</td>
<td>$53.3</td>
<td>$54.05</td>
<td>$895.00</td>
<td>$162.1K</td>
<td align="right">659</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$51.35</td>
<td>$50.3</td>
<td>$50.3</td>
<td>$880.00</td>
<td>$150.9K</td>
<td align="right">180</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$113.0</td>
<td>$112.0</td>
<td>$113.0</td>
<td>$900.00</td>
<td>$113.0K</td>
<td align="right">371</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$37.2</td>
<td>$36.1</td>
<td>$36.76</td>
<td>$910.00</td>
<td>$110.2K</td>
<td align="right">86</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Costco Wholesale</h3>
Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given its frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below that of competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and generating strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and has over 60% share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.
In light of the recent options history for Costco Wholesale, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Costco Wholesale's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 646,942, the price of COST is down by -0.68%, reaching $932.39.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 62 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Costco Wholesale</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $1075.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
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&#x2A; An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, which currently sits at a price target of $1100. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Stifel continues to hold a Buy rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1035. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Loop Capital continues to hold a Buy rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1135. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Baird persists with their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $1125. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $980. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Costco Wholesale options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

A Closer Look at Costco Wholesale's Options Market Dynamics

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Costco Wholesale.
Looking at options history for Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) we detected 27 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 40% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 40% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $590,506 and 18, calls, for a total amount of $860,730.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $700.0 and $1500.0 for Costco Wholesale, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Costco Wholesale's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Costco Wholesale's significant trades, within a strike price range of $700.0 to $1500.0, over the past month.
<h3>Costco Wholesale 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742827540_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$43.2</td>
<td>$41.95</td>
<td>$41.95</td>
<td>$910.00</td>
<td>$167.8K</td>
<td align="right">440</td>
<td align="right">124</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$24.8</td>
<td>$23.8</td>
<td>$23.8</td>
<td>$920.00</td>
<td>$142.8K</td>
<td align="right">103</td>
<td align="right">60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$21.6</td>
<td>$21.05</td>
<td>$21.6</td>
<td>$860.00</td>
<td>$107.9K</td>
<td align="right">444</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$33.3</td>
<td>$32.7</td>
<td>$32.7</td>
<td>$930.00</td>
<td>$81.7K</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$34.45</td>
<td>$29.6</td>
<td>$32.5</td>
<td>$900.00</td>
<td>$71.5K</td>
<td align="right">130</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Costco Wholesale</h3>
Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given its frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below that of competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and generating strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and has over 60% share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Costco Wholesale, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of Costco Wholesale</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 463,478, the price of COST is up by 1.48%, reaching $922.71.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 66 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Costco Wholesale</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $1036.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
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&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Costco Wholesale, which currently sits at a price target of $1035. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale with a target price of $1070. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group persists with their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $1100. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $980. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Truist Securities continues to hold a Hold rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $995. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Costco Wholesale options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

What the Options Market Tells Us About Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 8.65% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 19.8%. Currently, Costco Wholesale has a market capitalization of $400.77 billion. 
Buying $100 In COST: If an investor had bought $100 of COST stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $1,504.20 today based on a price of $903.27 for COST at the time of writing.
<h3>Costco Wholesale's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742485513_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 15 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Throughout the last three months, 16 analysts have evaluated Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>), offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $1072.19, a high estimate of $1135.00, and a low estimate of $980.00. Observing a 1.93% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $1051.88. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742472084_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive Costco Wholesale. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Mark Astrachan</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$1035.00</td>
<td>$1075.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Melich</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1070.00</td>
<td>$1050.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Karen Short</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$980.00</td>
<td>$940.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Laura Champine</td>
<td>Loop Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$1135.00</td>
<td>$1150.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scot Ciccarelli</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$995.00</td>
<td>$935.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Horvers</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$1070.00</td>
<td>$1065.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Benedict</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1125.00</td>
<td>$1075.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Baker</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$1000.00</td>
<td>$900.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Astrachan</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$1075.00</td>
<td>$1000.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Melich</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1070.00</td>
<td>$1040.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Costco Wholesale. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Costco Wholesale compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Costco Wholesale's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Costco Wholesale's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COST/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Costco Wholesale analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Costco Wholesale</h2>
Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given its frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below that of competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and generating strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and has over 60% share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.
<h3>Financial Insights: Costco Wholesale</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Revenue Growth: Costco Wholesale's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 28 February, 2025, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 9.04%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Consumer Staples sector.
Net Margin: Costco Wholesale's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 2.81% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Costco Wholesale's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 7.15%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Costco Wholesale's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 2.44%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Costco Wholesale's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.31, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

Demystifying Costco Wholesale: Insights From 16 Analyst Reviews

Stifel analyst Mark Astrachan maintains Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $1075 to $1035.

Price Target

Stifel Maintains Buy on Costco Wholesale, Lowers Price Target to $1035

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in COST usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 13 extraordinary options activities for Costco Wholesale. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 23% leaning bullish and 53% bearish. Among these notable options, 7 are puts, totaling $461,953, and 6 are calls, amounting to $282,495.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $500.0 to $1460.0 for Costco Wholesale during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Costco Wholesale stands at 174.5, with a total volume reaching 230.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Costco Wholesale, situated within the strike price corridor from $500.0 to $1460.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Costco Wholesale Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742306462_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$24.5</td>
<td>$23.35</td>
<td>$24.5</td>
<td>$820.00</td>
<td>$98.0K</td>
<td align="right">341</td>
<td align="right">80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$25.0</td>
<td>$24.0</td>
<td>$24.0</td>
<td>$820.00</td>
<td>$96.0K</td>
<td align="right">341</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$15.3</td>
<td>$15.3</td>
<td>$15.3</td>
<td>$890.00</td>
<td>$76.5K</td>
<td align="right">658</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$251.0</td>
<td>$249.0</td>
<td>$251.0</td>
<td>$660.00</td>
<td>$75.3K</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$257.8</td>
<td>$250.95</td>
<td>$250.95</td>
<td>$740.00</td>
<td>$75.2K</td>
<td align="right">19</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Costco Wholesale</h3>
Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given its frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below that of competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and generating strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and has over 60% share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Costco Wholesale, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Costco Wholesale's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 139,383, the COST's price is down by -1.21%, now at $905.51. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 72 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Costco Wholesale</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $1085.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Truist Securities continues to hold a Hold rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $995. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Loop Capital continues to hold a Buy rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1135. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $1070. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Baird continues to hold a Outperform rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1125. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group persists with their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, maintaining a target price of $1100. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Costco Wholesale options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Costco Wholesale's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

COST CLIMBS OVER 17 POINTS AFTER TRADEPULSE ALERT
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="546" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17225807/Screen-Shot-2025-03-17-at-6.53.12-PM-1024x546.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8145" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17225807/Screen-Shot-2025-03-17-at-6.53.12-PM-1024x546.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17225807/Screen-Shot-2025-03-17-at-6.53.12-PM-300x160.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17225807/Screen-Shot-2025-03-17-at-6.53.12-PM-768x410.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17225807/Screen-Shot-2025-03-17-at-6.53.12-PM.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Costco, Inc. (COST) today experienced a Power Inflow, a significant event for those who follow where smart money goes and value order flow analytics in their trading decisions.&nbsp;
Today, at 10:05 AM on March 17th, a significant trading signal occurred for Costco, Inc. (COST) as it demonstrated a Power Inflow at a price of $905.74. This indicator is crucial for traders who want to know directionally where institutions and so-called "smart money" moves in the market. They see the value of utilizing order flow analytics to guide their trading decisions. The Power Inflow points to a possible uptrend in Costco&#8217;s stock, marking a potential entry point for traders looking to capitalize on the expected upward movement. Traders with this signal closely watch for sustained momentum in Costco&#8217;s stock price, interpreting this event as a bullish sign.
Signal description
Order flow analytics, aka transaction or market flow analysis, separate and study both the retail and institutional volume rate of orders (flow). It involves analyzing the flow of buy and sell orders, along with size, timing, and other associated characteristics and patterns, to gain insights and make more informed trading decisions. This particular indicator is interpreted as a bullish signal by active traders.&nbsp;
The Power Inflow occurs within the first two hours of the market open and generally signals the trend that helps gauge the stock&#8217;s overall direction, powered by institutional activity in the stock, for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;
By incorporating order flow analytics into their trading strategies, market participants can better interpret market conditions, identify trading opportunities, and improve their trading performance. But let's not forget that while watching smart money flow can provide valuable insights, it is crucial to incorporate effective risk management strategies to protect capital and mitigate potential losses. Employing a consistent and effective risk management plan helps traders navigate the uncertainties of the market in a more controlled and calculated manner, increasing the likelihood of long-term success
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for COST, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trade alerts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://benzinga.com/apis?_gl=1&#x2A;1hlgn5i&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTY1NjE2NTYxMi4xNzE0NzQ4MTAy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDc0ODEwMi4xLjEuMTcxNDc0ODQyOC4wLjAuMA..">Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs</a> and include firms, like&nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.tradepulse.net">https://www.tradepulse.net</a>&nbsp; which are responsible for parts of the data within this article. 
&#xA9; 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The price at the time of the Power Inflow was $905.74. The returns on the High price ($923.39) and Close price ($916.61) after the Power Inflow were respectively 1.9% and 1.2%. That is why it is important to have a trading plan that includes Profit Targets and Stop Losses that reflect your risk appetite.
Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results

Technicals

Opinion

Signals

Costco Shares Rise 1.9% After Key Signal

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Costco Wholesale.
Looking at options history for Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) we detected 13 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 38% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 30% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 10 are puts, for a total amount of $952,029 and 3, calls, for a total amount of $143,070.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $780.0 to $1140.0 for Costco Wholesale over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Costco Wholesale's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Costco Wholesale's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $780.0 to $1140.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Costco Wholesale 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742219163_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$240.45</td>
<td>$234.15</td>
<td>$237.3</td>
<td>$1140.00</td>
<td>$593.2K</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$31.0</td>
<td>$29.0</td>
<td>$30.05</td>
<td>$780.00</td>
<td>$72.1K</td>
<td align="right">157</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$27.65</td>
<td>$24.65</td>
<td>$24.7</td>
<td>$880.00</td>
<td>$66.6K</td>
<td align="right">141</td>
<td align="right">27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$83.0</td>
<td>$79.25</td>
<td>$83.0</td>
<td>$985.00</td>
<td>$66.4K</td>
<td align="right">21</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$228.0</td>
<td>$219.0</td>
<td>$224.4</td>
<td>$780.00</td>
<td>$44.8K</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Costco Wholesale</h3>
Costco operates a membership-based, no-frills retail model, predicated on offering a select product assortment in bulk quantities at bargain prices. The firm avoids maintaining costly product displays by keeping inventory on pallets and limits distribution expenses by storing its inventory at point of sale in the warehouse. Given Costco's frugal cost structure, the firm is able to price its merchandise below competing retailers, driving high sales volume per warehouse and allowing the retailer to generate strong profits on thin margins. Costco operates over 600 warehouses in the United States and boasts over 60% market share in the domestic warehouse club industry. Internationally, Costco operates another 280 warehouses, primarily in markets such as Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the UK.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Costco Wholesale, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Costco Wholesale</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 77,768, the COST's price is down by -0.1%, now at $903.05. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 73 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Costco Wholesale</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $1075.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $980. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale, which currently sits at a price target of $1100. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group continues to hold a Outperform rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1100. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Baird continues to hold a Outperform rating for Costco Wholesale, targeting a price of $1125. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from JP Morgan keeps a Overweight rating on Costco Wholesale with a target price of $1070. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Costco Wholesale with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) has built its reputation on low prices, loyal customers, and a business model that rarely wavers. In a recent interview with <a href="https://chiefexecutive.net/the-costco-way-a-conversation-with-tony-james/">Chief Executive</a> magazine, Chair Hamilton "Tony" James reflected on the late Charlie Munger's deep influence on the company.&nbsp;
Munger, best known as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43451833/warren-buffetts-1m-bet-why-simple-index-funds-crushed-hedge-funds-by-7-1-to-2-2-over-a-decade">Warren Buffett'</a>s longtime partner at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>, BRK.B)), spent over 25 years on Costco's board, pushing a simple but effective message: "Stick to our knitting, our values, and our principles." That philosophy has shaped how the retailer operates to this day.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Munger's Influence on Costco's Growth</h2>
Munger wasn't just a board member—he was a true believer. He once called himself a "total addict" of the store, adding, "I love everything about Costco. I'm never going to sell a share." And he meant it. <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/11/01/billionaire-investor-charlie-munger-costco-stock/">The Motley Fool</a> reported his stake in the company was worth over $100 million in 2023.
One of Costco's most famous traditions—the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo—stands as proof of its commitment to keeping prices low. It hasn't changed since 1985, even as costs rise everywhere else.
When former CEO Craig Jelinek suggested raising the price, co-founder Jim Sinegal reportedly shut him down: "If you raise the [price of the] effing hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out." To save on costs, Costco switched from Coca-Cola to Pepsi in 2013.
Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
Now, the company plans to bring back Coca-Cola products in its food courts. The company's ability to attract all kinds of shoppers, including wealthy ones, is another reason for its success.&nbsp;
James pointed out that "affluent people love a good deal." That's why Costco stocks luxury items like Rolex watches, Dom Perignon champagne, and 10-carat diamonds. A Porsche dealership in Seattle even displayed cars at a Costco warehouse once, and they sold out in a week.
But not everyone sees Costco's model as foolproof. Some suppliers have complained about its aggressive cost-cutting. A former vendor, in a post on<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/istmpc/costco_ruined_my-business_warning-and-rant/"> Reddit</a>, claimed that Costco's pricing demands forced them to slash wages and adopt unsustainable practices.&nbsp;
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Others question how long the company can rely on low-margin goods and membership fees.<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/011216/4-problems-costcos-business-model-cost.asp"> Investopedia</a> notes that this approach could put long-term pressure on earnings.
Recent financial results have also raised concerns. Rising merchandise <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44147801/egg-prices-hit-record-4-95-per-dozen-agriculture-secretary-blames-overregulation-for-skyrocketing-cost">costs</a> led Costco to miss profit estimates, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/costco-beats-quarterly-sales-estimates-bulk-buying-surge-2025-03-06/">Reuters</a> reported. Still, the retailer's bulk-selling strategy and loyal customer base keep it strong.
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</ul>

Personal Finance

Why Charlie Munger Never Sold A Single Costco Share—The Billionaire Investor Called Himself A 'Total Addict' Of The Store

J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Horvers said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in February rose by 2.8% year-over-year, with core CPI increasing by 3.1%.
This marked a slight moderation compared to January's inflation figures of 3% and 3.3%, respectively. Both headline and core indices saw a 0.2% month-over-month increase, underperforming the expected 0.3% rise, noted the analyst.
In February, significant pricing changes were observed across several categories. TV prices experienced deflation, dropping 8.7% year-over-year, a sharp contrast from the 6.6% drop the previous month.
Other categories such as Sporting Goods and Cosmetics also saw deterioration in prices, while some areas, including Appliances and Pet Food, experienced price increases.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/03/44271371/spotify-distributed-10-billion-in-music-royalties-in-2024-details" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify Distributed $10 Billion In Music Royalties In 2024: Details</a>
Notably, prices for Building Products flipped to inflation, rising 0.2% year-over-year vs. -0.7% last month.
On a sequential basis, some categories such as TVs and Sporting Goods showed declines in prices compared to the previous quarter, while others, including Pet Food and Toys/Games/Hobbies/Playground Equipment, saw pricing improvements.
Interestingly, Grocery prices remained relatively stable, with Food at Home inflation holding steady at 1.8% year-over-year, although Pet Food prices saw a slight uptick of 0.4%.
As the year progresses, comparisons in certain categories like Building Products and Pet Food are expected to ease, leading to potentially less inflationary pressure. 
Meanwhile, more challenging comparisons are anticipated in categories such as Appliances, TVs, and Computers. The analyst notes that durable goods prices are stabilizing, with signs of improvement in categories such as food, electronics, and home furnishings.
This trend suggests that the strain on consumers&#8217; wallets may be lessening, concluded the analyst.
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

TSCO

JP Morgan Analyst Sees Inflation Easing, But Tougher Price Comparisons Loom For Key Categories

Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintains Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $1050 to $1070.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Costco Wholesale, Raises Price Target to $1070

Costco Wholesale's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NYSE">COST</a>) short percent of float has risen 18.05% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 6.94 million shares sold short, which is 1.57% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.66 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Costco Wholesale Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741698922_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Costco Wholesale has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Costco Wholesale's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Costco Wholesale's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.47%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

What's Driving the Market Sentiment Around Costco Wholesale?

The bond market is flashing warning signs, and investors are taking notice. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44211421/us-economy-teetering-recession-may-be-looming-as-bond-market-reacts-to-trump-policies">Short-term Treasury yields have dipped sharply</a> as concerns about an economic slowdown grow, and analysts warn that a Federal Reserve rate cut may be on the horizon. Historically, signals like these have preceded recessions, prompting investors to shift toward defensive assets.
For those looking to safeguard their portfolios,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs"> ETFs that focus on stability</a> and essential industries can be a smart choice. Whether it&#8217;s low-volatility stocks, utilities, consumer staples, or government bonds, these ETFs help minimize risk while keeping your money at work. Let's explore the top options for weathering a potential downturn.
1. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USMV#BATS">USMV</a>)
For investors looking to stay in the stock market but reduce risk, the iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF is a strong pick. This ETF focuses on large- and mid-cap stocks that have historically exhibited lower volatility. It's designed to limit downside risk, making it a great choice for risk-averse investors.
USMV's portfolio includes firms from sectors like technology, financials, healthcare, and consumer staples. While this ETF helps shield investors from large losses during downturns, it also means less upside potential in booming markets. USMV has a year-to-date return of 5.5% and a 12-month return of 13.5%, proving its ability to hold up well in uncertain times. During the downturn of 2020, this ETF was able to pare the losses within a year of its 2020 peak (February 21, 2020).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/03/44165367/how-to-ride-out-market-turbulence-with-these-5-low-beta-etfs">How To Ride Out Market Turbulence With These 5 Low-Beta ETFs</a>
2. Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>)
The utilities sector is often a safe haven during economic downturns. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund offers diversified exposure to this sector, holding 31 companies. Its top five positions make up about 39% of its portfolio.
XLU has a low expense ratio of 0.09% and provides a dividend yield of 2.8% as of 2025. Since utility services like electricity and water remain in demand regardless of economic conditions, this ETF is a solid defensive choice. Over the past year, the ETF has delivered a 21.71% return.
3. Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VDC#NYSE">VDC</a>)
Consumer staples companies produce essential goods like food, beverages, and household products, which people buy regardless of the economic climate. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF offers exposure to this sector, holding 103 stocks while balancing exposure to industry giants like Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>).
With an expense ratio of just 0.09%, VDC is an affordable way to invest in recession-resistant stocks. While consumer staples ETFs tend to be top-heavy, VDC provides a well-rounded mix of large and mid-sized companies.
The Market Signals You Should Watch
While defensive ETFs can help protect your portfolio, it's also important to understand why recession concerns are growing.
Investors have been moving into short-dated Treasuries, signaling concerns about an economic slowdown. Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-09/the-bond-market-s-trump-trade-is-looking-like-a-recession-trade?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">reports </a>that the Federal Reserve may start cutting interest rates as early as May to counteract slowing growth.
The inverted yield curve, where short-term bond yields exceed long-term yields, flashed warning signs in February, as the spread between three-month treasury yields and those of 10-year notes inverted last week. Historically, this has been a strong predictor of a recession knocking at the door. The curve had inverted in 2019, right before the economic downturn in 2020, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, indicators such as the CNN Fear &amp; Greed Index <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/10/investing/us-stocks-drop-after-trump-says-he-wont-rule-out-a-recession/index.html">dropping </a>into &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; territory and the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/vix-surge-above-25-implies-above-average-but-far-from-perilous-recession-risk/ar-AA1ACR21?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds">spiking </a>to more than 25 reflect heightened investor anxiety.
Even Warren Buffett seems cautious, as Berkshire Hathaway is<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44212672/jamie-dimon-cashed-out-234-million-in-jpmorgan-stock-warren-buffett-stockpiled-334-billion-in-cash-weeks-later-markets-crashed-coincidence"> sitting on record cash reserves</a> while trimming long-held positions.
Final Thoughts: Stay Prepared
Preparing your portfolio in advance rather than reacting at the last minute can help mitigate potential losses during economic downturns. Incorporating low-volatility equity ETFs, utility, and consumer staples funds can provide a more resilient foundation.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44224174/wall-streets-worst-week-since-september-5-etfs-that-defied-the-market-slump">Wall Street&#8217;s Worst Week Since September: 5 ETFs That Defied The Market Slump</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

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USMV

3 ETFs To Help You Navigate Market Volatility, Recession Risks

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OTLY

USFD

WEST

Shares of food and beverage related stocks are trading lower as investors assess tariff impact on the sector.

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Barclays raised Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAX#NYSE">BAX</a>) price target from $39 to $41. Barclays analyst Matt Miksic maintained an Overweight rating. Baxter International shares closed at $36.57 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BAX/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Barclays boosted the price target for Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) from $940 to $980. Barclays analyst Karen Short maintained an Equal-Weight rating. Costco shares closed at $964.31 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COST/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised SLM Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NASDAQ">SLM</a>) price target from $32 to $38. Morgan Stanley analyst Jeffery Harte maintained an Overweight rating. SLM shares closed at $29.46 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLM/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities slashed the price target for The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) from $333 to $318. B of A Securities analyst Joshua Shanker maintained a Buy rating. Progressive shares closed at $279.82 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PGR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Baird cut the price target for WillScot Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSC#NASDAQ">WSC</a>) from $38 to $32. Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann maintained a Neutral rating. WillScot Holdings shares closed at $28.07 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WSC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. increased Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JAZZ#NASDAQ">JAZZ</a>) price target from $200 to $217. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Oren Livnat maintained a Buy rating. Jazz Pharmaceuticals shares settled at $138.81 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JAZZ/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Citigroup raised XPeng Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>) price target from $13.7 to $29. Citigroup analyst Jeff Chung upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. XPeng shares closed at $23.60 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XPEV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Jefferies cut The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHW#NYSE">SHW</a>) price target from $423 to $380. Jefferies analyst Laurence Alexander downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Sherwin-Williams shares closed at $363.62 on Friday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SHW/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Benchmark raised the price target for DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>) from $44 to $51. Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey maintained a Buy rating. DraftKings shares settled at $39.41 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/dkng/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies raised Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>) price target from $165 to $185. Jefferies analyst John Colantuoni upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Airbnb shares closed at $134.39 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/abnb/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/03/44187903/top-2-consumer-stocks-that-could-blast-off-this-quarter">Top 2 Consumer Stocks That Could Blast Off This Quarter</a></li>
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DraftKings To Rally Over 29%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Monday

U.S. stocks faced their steepest weekly drop in months as uncertainty over trade policy and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's cautious stance on rate cuts rattled investor sentiment. The S&amp;P 500 marked its worst week since September, while the Nasdaq and Dow also ended the week in the red. Rising unemployment concerns and weak earnings from major companies added to the pressure. Despite the broader market slump, a few <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETFs emerged as top performers</a>, benefiting from volatility, leveraged strategies and sector-specific trends.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44211421/us-economy-teetering-recession-may-be-looming-as-bond-market-reacts-to-trump-policies">US Economy Teetering? Recession May Be Looming As Bond Market Reacts To Trump Policies</a>
1. Defiance Daily Target 2x Long MSTR ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTX#NASDAQ">MSTX</a>) – This ETF offers leveraged exposure to MicroStrategy.
<ol></ol>
<ul>
<li>Weekly Gains: 55.75%</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Expense Ratio: 1.29%</li>
</ul>
2. iPath Series B S&amp;P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VXX#BATS">VXX</a>) – With market volatility spiking, this exchange-traded note, which tracks short-term VIX futures, gained as investors sought hedges against uncertainty.
<ul>
<li>Weekly Gains: 15.37%</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Expense Ratio: 0.89%&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
3. ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIXY#BATS">VIXY</a>) – Another volatility-linked ETF, VIXY benefited from the market downturn, rising alongside the VIX index as risk-off sentiment took hold.
<ul>
<li>Weekly Gains: 15.35%</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Expense Ratio: 0.85%</li>
</ul>
4. T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTCL#BATS">BTCL</a>) – Bitcoin's rally lifted BTCL, which amplifies daily price movements in the cryptocurrency, attracting traders seeking leveraged exposure.
<ul>
<li>Weekly Gains: 12.41%</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Expense Ratio: 0.95%</li>
</ul>
5. Tuttle Capital Daily 2X Inverse Regional Banks ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKRE#NASDAQ">SKRE</a>) – As concerns over economic resilience and interest rate policy pressured regional banks, this inverse ETF gained by betting against the sector.
<ul>
<li>Weekly Gains: 11.91%</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Expense Ratio: 0.75%</li>
</ul>
Amid market instability, these ETFs provided traders opportunities to capitalize on volatility, crypto momentum and sector-specific downturns.
<ol></ol>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44209030/benzinga-bulls-and-bears-broadcom-chargepoint-bigbear-ai-and-tariff-whiplash-confounds-markets">Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Broadcom, ChargePoint, BigBear.ai — And Tariff Whiplash Confounds Markets</a>
A Glimpse Into The Past Week
U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday, recovering from early losses after Powell said the economy was &#8220;in a good place.&#8221;
However, concerns over U.S. trade policy led to Wall Street's biggest weekly decline in months, with the S&amp;P 500 down 3.1%, its worst since September, according to Reuters. Meanwhile the Nasdaq and Dow fell 3.45% and 2.37%, respectively. The Russell 2000 Small Cap Index dropped 3.86%, as the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq posted their third consecutive weekly decline, the longest since mid-2023. 
Powell reiterated a cautious stance on monetary policy easing, while job growth rebounded in February, though unemployment ticked up to 4.1%, raising concerns over economic resilience. 
Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs lowered growth forecasts, citing weaker consumer spending. 
Trade tensions remained high as Trump granted a four-week tariff reprieve for Canada and Mexico but maintained barriers with China. 
Earnings disappointments also pressured markets last week. For instance, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NASDAQ">HPE</a>) fell 12% on tariff-related profit warnings, Costco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) lost 6% on higher merchandise costs, while Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) surged 8.6% after a strong AI-driven forecast. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/03/44203960/aviation-etfs-face-turbulence-as-oil-prices-fluctuate-airline-stocks-slide">Aviation ETFs Face Turbulence As Oil Prices Fluctuate, Airline Stocks Slide</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Wall Street's Worst Week Since September: 5 ETFs That Defied The Market Slump

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