Top 30 S&P 500 Stocks by Index Weight

20. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)

Index Weight: 0.69%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 106

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is one of the top S&P 500 stocks by index weight. On April 16, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $1.47 per share. It is a significant improvement from the $1.30 per share previously paid and translates to an annualized dividend of $5.88.

The quarterly dividend is to be paid to shareholders of record as of May 1, 2026, on May 15, 2026. The dividend offering underscores Costco Wholesale Corporation’s commitment to shareholder value. The company has paid dividends for 23 consecutive years, backed by 12% growth over the past 12 months.

The dividend offering coincides with the company’s strong March sales results. Comparable sales growth stood at 7.8%, an improvement from a 6.5% growth in February. Following strong sales growth, analysts at Mizuho and William Blair reiterated their Outperform ratings on the stock.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) operates a global chain of membership warehouse clubs that sell high-quality, brand-name, and private-label (Kirkland Signature) products in bulk at low prices. By limiting inventory to roughly 4,000 SKUs per location, they achieve high sales volume, rapid inventory turnover, and cost efficiencies passed to members.