New York, Jan 23, 2026, 20:13 EST — The market is now closed.
Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O) shares gained 0.7%, closing at $983.25 on Friday. The stock finished the week just below the $1,000 threshold, following news of an insider sale. Over the last five sessions, the stock has climbed roughly 2%.
U.S. markets will remain closed until Monday, putting the spotlight on Costco’s upcoming reports: January sales set for Feb. 4 and fiscal Q2 earnings due March 5, per the company’s investor calendar.
The macro backdrop is helping, too. A “flash” U.S. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) — based on a survey of business activity — indicated steady growth in January, though firms pointed to tariff-driven cost pressures. “Increased costs, widely blamed on tariffs, are again cited as a key driver of higher prices,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Reuters
Costco’s stock followed a mostly flat day on Wall Street. The Dow slid 0.58%, while the S&P 500 barely moved, dragged down by a steep fall in Intel that counterbalanced gains in select mega-caps. Consumer staples showed resilience, with the XLP fund climbing roughly 0.8% during the session.
A U.S. securities filing revealed that Executive Vice President Teresa A. Jones sold 850 Costco shares on Jan. 21, with a weighted average price of $986.2567 per share. The trades were priced between $986.22 and $986.48. The Form 4, which discloses insider transactions, was signed on Jan. 23 and indicated she retained roughly 4,228 shares after the sale.
Costco announced its board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share, set for payment on Feb. 13 to shareholders recorded by Jan. 30. The company also reported it currently runs 923 warehouses worldwide.
Costco’s monthly sales updates now regularly move the stock, thanks to their timing between earnings reports. The latest showed December net sales climbed 8.5% to $29.86 billion for the five weeks ending Jan. 4. Comparable sales across the company rose 7%.
The latest government data shows U.S. consumer spending rose 0.5% in November, matching the increase seen in October, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Next week, all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting scheduled for Jan. 27-28. Retailers remain sensitive to any change in rate expectations, as it directly affects sentiment tied to credit availability and demand for big-ticket items.
Costco now hovers around a key round-number mark following a steady climb. Any weak January sales figures—or margin pressure from rising costs—could invite more intense scrutiny than normal.
Costco is set to report its January sales on Feb. 4 at 1:15 p.m. PT (4:15 p.m. ET).
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