Auto-Owners Insurance 13F: Exits Costco Wholesale (COST) Stake
Auto-Owners Insurance cut its entire position in Costco, reflecting a significant change in its portfolio.
Reviewed by automated data checks against the source filing. How we make and check alerts
Auto-Owners Insurance sold its entire stake of 405 shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation ($COST), according to a 13F filing with the SEC dated October 15, 2026.
Since the filing, $COST is up 1.1% to date (from the $978.01 close on Oct 15, 2026).
Find the original: Auto-Owners Insurance 13F filings on SEC EDGAR
Key Points
- Auto-Owners Insurance sold out of its entire stake of 405 shares in Costco Wholesale, valued at about $400,000, in a filing on October 15, 2026.
- The recent price of Costco shares was around $990.81, trading above its 50-day moving average by 6.2%.
- Costco has a market cap of approximately $433.4 billion, with a P/E ratio of 47.1 and a buy recommendation from analysts.
Get $COST trade alerts by text
We text you when insiders, Congress or big funds trade $COST. Free.
Not investment advice. EarningsIQ is not a registered investment adviser, and this automated Costco Wholesale Corporation alert may contain errors. Disclosures
Auto-Owners Insurance sold its entire stake of 405 shares in Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) in a filing on October 15, 2026. This sale indicates a complete exit from the holding, with the shares valued at approximately $400,000 based on their recent trading price.
What Changed in Auto-Owners Insurance's Costco Position
Auto-Owners Insurance cut its position in Costco by selling all 405 shares, a 100% decrease, leaving it with no shares after the transaction. This move reflects a strategic shift within the fund's investment portfolio.
Other Institutional Activity in Costco
Several other large investors have adjusted their stakes in Costco as well. Blackrock Inc. reduced its holdings by 744,376 shares, bringing its total to about 34.2 million shares worth approximately $33.8 billion. Meanwhile, Vanguard Capital Management LLC added 129,811 shares, increasing its position to about 28.9 million shares valued at around $28.7 billion. State Street Corporation also grew its stake by 232,353 shares, resulting in a total of around 18.4 million shares worth about $18.2 billion. Invesco Ltd. expanded its holdings by 359,814 shares, now holding about 13.9 million shares valued at about $13.8 billion. Finally, Geode Capital Management, LLC decreased its holdings slightly, cutting 31,978 shares for a total of approximately 10.6 million shares worth about $10.5 billion.
Costco Wholesale Corporation Stock Up 0.9%
Costco shares recently traded around $990.81, which is above its 50-day moving average by 6.2% and its 200-day moving average by 2.6%. However, this price is about 9.6% below its 52-week high of $1,096.50, indicating that while the stock is holding well, it has room to recover towards its peak.
Recent Earnings
In its most recent earnings report, Costco posted revenue of about $303.2 billion with a trailing twelve-month EPS of $20.76. The company showcased strong performance with an 11.1% year-over-year revenue growth. The next earnings release is scheduled for December 10, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
-
Forward outlook
3 analysts raised price targets.
-
EPS & revenue
EPS missed estimates by 1.9%. Revenue missed estimates by 2.3%.
-
Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 5 percent. Operating income missed by 5 percent.
-
Pre-earnings setup
Expectations were about average.
-
Analyst signal
3 target raises.
-
Earnings quality
Positive free cash flow.
Earnings Call Summary
Costco delivered 9.1 percent revenue growth to 69.6 billion dollars in the second quarter, beating earnings per share at 4.93 dollars versus 4.92 dollars expected, but missing revenue versus consensus of 71.2 billion dollars. Same-store sales grew 7.4 percent excluding gas and currency effects. Comparable sales strength came from all categories, with meat and bakery leading fresh food at low double digits. Digital sales grew 22.6 percent, with personalized recommendations driving 470 million dollars in e-commerce sales. However, paid membership growth decelerated to 4.8 percent year over year, down from typical 5 percent levels, partly due to slower new warehouse openings in new markets and higher penetration of online signup members who renew at lower rates. Management emphasized continued price reductions on items like butter, coffee, and eggs despite tariff uncertainty, and highlighted technology investments in checkout efficiency and personalized experiences.
Guidance Management did not provide specific forward guidance for future quarters. They indicated expecting about 28 net new warehouse openings in fiscal 2026 and are targeting 30 plus openings per year going forward. Capital expenditures are estimated at approximately 6.5 billion dollars for the full year.
Fine but not compelling. Acceptable results that likely do not create a meaningful forward reset.
Insider Buying and Selling at Costco Wholesale Corporation
Insider trading shows activity with several executives selling shares recently. Claudine Adamo, an officer, sold 2,200 shares at $915.93 each on September 29, 2026, totaling around $2.0 million. Caton Frates, another officer, sold 800 shares at the same price, amounting to approximately $733,328. Additionally, Wilcox William Richard sold 1,100 shares at $958.20 each on October 13, 2026, totaling about $1.1 million.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Analysts continue to show confidence in Costco's stock. On October 15, 2026, Tigress Financial maintained a Buy rating with a new price target of $1,250, a significant increase from $1,065. Other analysts, such as Freedom Broker, Deutsche Bank, and Argus Research, have also maintained their Buy ratings with targets ranging from $1,010 to $1,230. Currently, there are 36 analysts with a consensus recommendation to buy the stock, with a mean price target of around $1,066.
About Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership warehouses across various countries, providing a wide range of products, including groceries, electronics, and household goods. It is known for offering quality merchandise at lower prices, driven by its business model that emphasizes bulk sales and membership fees.
Bottom Line
The full exit by Auto-Owners Insurance from its Costco position marks a noteworthy shift in its investment strategy. As Costco approaches its next earnings date on December 10, 2026, investors will be watching for further developments in analyst ratings and other institutional activities that could influence the stock's performance moving forward. Keep in mind that 13F filings are backward-looking: they show holdings as of the end of the reporting quarter and may not represent the fund's current position.
Source: Auto-Owners Insurance's 13F filing on $COST (Oct 15, 2026). 13F filings show holdings as of the end of the reporting quarter and may not reflect the fund's current position. Find the original filing: Auto-Owners Insurance 13F filings on SEC EDGAR. Written by software, not financial advice. How we make alerts
