Costco (COST) stock has risen 2.5% over the past week and 6.2% in the last month, though it is still down 3.1% over the past year. Wall Street’s analysts are firmly bullish, with a StrongBuy consensus and forecasting a move toward an average 12‑month price target of $1,081.57 from a last close of $1,010.79.
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Among the most recent voices, Christopher Nardone has reinstated coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $1,185, implying solid upside from current levels. He argues that Costco is well positioned in a “K‑shaped” economy, drawing both higher‑income shoppers and value‑conscious consumers through its sharp pricing and disciplined reinvestment in price and wages.
Nardone highlights Costco’s status as a market leader in price, which becomes especially powerful when food inflation slows and the company can cut prices faster than rivals to drive extra traffic. Its low‑SKU model and the strength of the Kirkland private label, representing roughly a third of sales, help maintain best‑in‑class product quality and stable merchandise margins.
Executive memberships are another key pillar in the bullish view, with 9–10% recent growth in this higher‑priced tier signaling that customers are trading up for better perks such as extended hours and Instacart credits. These executive members now make up about half of the customer base but generate around three‑quarters of revenue, and an increasingly younger, more digital member mix could support Costco’s long‑term growth.
The main risk Nardone sees is whether Costco can keep pace with competitors in ecommerce and AI, especially as digital member acquisition accelerates and expectations around assortment and convenience rise. This N‑star analyst ranks 1,666 out of 12,078 on TipRanks, with a 59% success rate and a 13.8% average return per rating, underscoring why investors are paying attention to his bullish stance on Costco; never miss a stock rating and find all the latest ratings on TipRanks’ Top Wall Street Analysts page.