America is jam-packed with large retail chains that provide an immense amount of products to the average American consumer. Some of the most popular chains are companies like Target and Costco.
At Target, you can find a wide variety of items, from groceries to household decor and more. Costco on the other hand sells a wide variety of products ranging from iPads and coffins to vehicle brake pad changing services.
With these two companies being huge hits among American consumers, you may be wondering if Target owns Costco. Or perhaps if the two stores have any affiliation with each other that the general public doesn’t know about.
After doing some research on the topic, we’ve found all the answers that you’ve been looking for, and in this article, we will share them all with you.
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Is Costco Owned By Target In 2023?
The simple answer to this is no. Target does not own Costco, and they have no affiliation with each other, beyond common shareholders and mutual fund holders.
There are a handful of shareholders that are similar between Target and Costco, such as The Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock Fund Advisors. Furthermore, Target is owned by the Target Corporation, and Costco Companies Inc. owns Costco. The Vanguard Group happens to be one out of the top 10 shareholders for both Target and Costco.
A full list of the shareholders that Target and Costco have in common is as follows: Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, Vanguard 500 Index Fund, Government Pension Fund, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, and Fidelity 500 Index Fund.
To find out more about what companies are owned by Target and Costco, as well as more information on the topic, continue reading below.
Do The Same Companies Own Both Target And Costco?
Again, the answer to this question is no. Target and Costco each have their own parent companies that are unrelated to each other.
Dayton’s, of the Dayton Department Store, is Target’s parent company. Later, Dayton became the Target Corporation, which to this day continues to own Target.
Costco, however, was co-founded by two men, Jeffrey Brotman and James Sinegal, in 1983. In 1993, the Price Company, with which James Sinegal was affiliated, ended up merging with Costco Wholesale, and, through this merger, Costco Companies Inc. was created.
While they do have shareholders, this does not mean that they are owned by the same people or companies.
Are Costco And Target Considered Private Companies?
Neither Target nor Costco is considered a privately owned company. They are both classified as publicly traded corporations, meaning that shareholders invest in them. As mentioned above, both companies do have shareholders in common.
They also both have mutual fund holders. These mutual fund holders provide a structure that assists with the investment process. However, neither Target nor Costco is a franchise.
Are Any Companies Owned By Target?
Target owns more than 45 of its own private label brands. If you’ve ever shopped at Target, you know that the store offers many Target-exclusive brands that loyal customers love. Some of these brands include Cloud Island, Smartly, Shade & Shore, Simply Balanced, and Cat & Jack.
Target also has 4 different subsidiaries. These are Target Brands Inc., Target Capital Corporation, Target Enterprise Inc., and Target General Merchandise Inc.
Does Costco Own Any Companies Of Its Own?
Costco has its own brand that members are very loyal to, which is the Kirkland Signature brand. There are several name brands that help to create the products put out by the Kirkland Signature brand, such as Diamond Naturals, Reynolds, and Ocean Spray.
Costco also owns many ancillary businesses, as well, which help bring customers into its stores. These businesses range from gas stations to pharmacies.
Is Costco An American Company?
Yes, Costco is an American company and has been since it was founded. Costco is not owned by China, or any other country, which many people believe.
From its founding date in the 1980s to the early 2010s, Costco was only available in America. In 2013, Costco expanded internationally with major success. As of right now, Costco has over 800 warehouses worldwide, making it a globally popular retail chain.
Conclusion
Target does not own Costco. Target is owned by the Target Corporation, and Costco is owned by Costco Companies Inc. They are also not affiliated with each other in any way besides mutual shareholders.
