Is Costco (COST) a Buy Right Now?
A plain-English read on Costco stock — what the chart and the numbers are saying today, with no jargon and no hype.
What this means, in plain English
Costco is currently priced at $953.50. It is trading below its 200-day moving average, which is the average price over the last 200 days, of $959.11. When a stock sits below this level, it often suggests a downward trend in momentum.
The RSI, or Relative Strength Index, sits at 50.5, which is a neutral gauge showing the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. With a high P/E ratio of 52.3, which measures the price paid for each dollar of earnings, investors are currently paying a premium for the company's growth.
Should you buy Costco stock?
Deciding to buy Costco requires patience given the current downward trend. With the price sitting below the 200-day average, it is wise to be careful and observe if the stock finds a stable floor near $921.28 before making any moves.
Is COST a good stock for beginners?
Costco is a massive company, but its high P/E ratio of 52.3 means it carries significant expectations. Beginners should be aware that even large, stable companies experience volatility, or price swings, that can impact the value of your investment.
What's driving COST right now
The stock is currently trading below its 200-day moving average of $959.11.
The P/E ratio of 52.3 suggests the stock is priced at a high multiple relative to its earnings.
The recent support level, or the price where buyers typically step in, is $921.28.
The RSI of 50.5 indicates that the stock is currently in a neutral position.
What Costco actually does
Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, lawn and garden, sporting goods, tires, toys and seasonal, automotive, stamps, tickets, apparel, furniture, domestics, housewares, special order kiosks, and jewelry; and fresh food, such as meat, produce, service deli, and bakery products. The company is also involved in warehouse ancillary operations, which include gasoline, pharmacies, optical, food courts, hearing-aid centers, and tire installation centers. In addition, it engages in e-commerce, business centers, travel, and other businesses. The company was formerly known as Costco Companies, Inc. and changed its name to Costco Wholesale Corporation in August 1999. Costco Wholesale Corporation was founded in 1976 and is based in Issaquah, Washington.
Costco by the numbers
Wall Street consensus on COST is Buy. That is the analyst community's view, shown for context — it is not our read and not a recommendation.
Costco's earnings history
Earnings per share for Costco's last 4 reported financial years, as filed — EPS has risen over that span. We don't hold analyst consensus estimates for these periods, so no beat-or-miss judgement is shown.
| Period end | EPS reported |
|---|---|
| 2025-08-31 | 18.24 |
| 2024-09-01 | 16.60 |
| 2023-09-03 | 14.18 |
| 2022-08-28 | 13.17 |
Who owns Costco?
Institutions — pension funds, asset managers, index providers — hold 74.5% of COST, and the concentration matters: the largest single holder alone controls 7.71% of the company.
| Holder | Shares | % held |
|---|---|---|
| 34.20M | 7.71% | |
| 28.98M | 6.53% | |
| 18.38M | 4.15% |
Names withheld — plus 3 more records not shown.
See who owns itWhat Costco insiders have been doing
Executives and directors must disclose their own trades in company stock. Of the last 6 disclosed transactions we hold for Costco, 3 were sales and 0 were open-market purchases; the other 3 were awards, vesting or option exercises rather than a decision to buy or sell. Insiders sell for many ordinary reasons — scheduled plans, tax, diversification — so a sale is not by itself a signal.
| Insider | Date | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-10 | AWARD / VEST | 5.2K | — | |
| 2026-06-23 | SELL | 885 | $847.3K | |
| 2026-04-01 | SELL | 700 | $695.1K |
Names withheld — plus 3 more records not shown.
See which insidersThe numbers behind the read
Who in Washington has been trading COST?
Members of Congress must disclose trades over $1,000 within 45 days under the STOCK Act. At least 25 disclosures name COST — filed by 15 separate members or more and worth $137K–$580K combined (filings report bands, never exact amounts). 18 purchase-side, 7 sale-side, most recently on 2026-07-10.
| Member | Date | Action | Amount filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-10 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2025-11-05 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2025-03-17 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 |
Names withheld — plus 22 more records not shown.
See which membersCostco is currently in a cautious position as it trades below its long-term average with a high valuation. Watch the $921.28 support level closely.
Don't guess. Practice this trade first.
Buy it with virtual cash and watch how it plays out — before a dollar of your own is on the line.
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Beginner questions about COST
Should I buy COST stock?+
With the price at $953.50 and trending below the 200-day average, it is best to be careful and watch for stability.
Is COST a good long-term investment?+
Costco is a large company, but its high P/E ratio of 52.3 means you are paying a premium for its current earnings.
Is COST a buy or a sell?+
The current data shows a downward trend with the price below the 200-day average, suggesting a cautious approach rather than an immediate buy.
Is COST overvalued?+
With a P/E ratio of 52.3, the market is placing a high value on the company's future earnings compared to its current performance.
Is COST a good stock for beginners?+
Beginners should note the stock's 52-week range of $844.06 to $1096.5, which shows that even large companies can see significant price movement.
Important disclaimer
This page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold Costco (COST) or any other security. The Money GPS is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or financial planner, and no content here should be relied upon to make an investment decision.
The verdict, indicators, and commentary are generated automatically — in part using AI — from third-party market data (via Yahoo Finance) that may be delayed, incomplete, or inaccurate, and is provided “as is” without any warranty. Figures reflect the market as of 2026-08-17 and change constantly; the read above may already be out of date. A “Buy,” “Hold,” or “Be Careful” label is a simplified, rules-based signal for beginners — not a price target or a guarantee of any outcome.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of your entire principal. Past performance and historical patterns do not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial professional who knows your personal circumstances before investing. You are solely responsible for your own investment decisions. The Money GPS and its authors may hold positions in the securities discussed and accept no liability for any loss arising from the use of this information.