Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Costco Wholesale COST.
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, Benzinga'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 44% bullish and 44%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $148,159, and 26 are calls, for a total amount of $1,862,221.
What's The Price Target?
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $470.0 to $1100.0 for Costco Wholesale during the past quarter.
Volume & Open Interest Development
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 $470.0 to $1100.0 over the preceding 30 days.
Costco Wholesale Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days
Largest Options Trades Observed:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 01/31/25 | $360.25 | $351.0 | $356.18 | $600.00 | $249.3K | 7 | 7 |
| COST | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 02/21/25 | $11.5 | $11.2 | $11.27 | $975.00 | $231.8K | 497 | 576 |
| COST | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 12/18/26 | $156.8 | $156.75 | $156.8 | $960.00 | $172.4K | 26 | 0 |
| COST | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/21/25 | $38.8 | $38.75 | $38.75 | $950.00 | $155.0K | 642 | 0 |
| COST | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $139.55 | $136.25 | $139.55 | $895.00 | $139.5K | 39 | 10 |
About 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 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.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Costco Wholesale, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
Present Market Standing of Costco Wholesale
- Trading volume stands at 915,727, with COST's price down by -0.6%, positioned at $959.49.
- RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.
- Earnings announcement expected in 37 days.
Professional Analyst Ratings for Costco Wholesale
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $1100.0.
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. Click here for access. * 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. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group keeps a Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale with a target price of $1100.
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 Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.
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