Will Costco Wholesale’s First Quarter EPS Be Just What These Top Institutional Shareholders Desire?

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) reported a first quarter earnings per share of $0.95, which surpasses estimates by $0.02, and revenue of $23.2 billion, which is short of forecasts by $500 million. Comparable sales are up 7% in the US and 9% internationally. Net profit surges 30% to $416 million while membership fees are higher by 14.3% to $511 million.

Will Costco Wholesale Corporation’s shareholders increase their holdings? They reported owning a total of 338.357 million shares on 09/30/2012. The shares closed at $93.27 on 09/30/2012.

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Here are the ten largest positions in Costco Wholesale Corporation at the end of September 30th, 2012.

Capital World Investors held 28,030,229 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $2,807,507,839. This brought the portfolio total to 1.05%.

Vanguard Group Inc. held 18,857,313 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $1,888,748,539. This brought the portfolio total to 0.24%.

Davis Selected Advisers held 18,089,388 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $1,811,833,168. This brought the portfolio total to 4.3%.

State Street Corp. held 17,331,802 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $1,735,953,352. This brought the portfolio total to 0.25%.

FMR LLC. held 12,630,310 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $1,265,051,896. This brought the portfolio total to 0.23%.

Blackrock Institutional Trust Company N.A. held 12,456,073 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $1,247,600,317. This brought the portfolio total to 0.28%.

Jennison Associates LLC. held 8,785,632 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $879,968,933. This brought the portfolio total to 1.04%.

Northern Trust Corp. held 7,886,986 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $789,960,547. This brought the portfolio total to 0.33%.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. held 6,608,966 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $661,954,059. This brought the portfolio total to 0.26%.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust  held 6,128,000 shares on 09/30/2012 worth $613,780,502. This brought the portfolio total to 3.54%.

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