New York, January 26, 2026, 13:16 EST — Regular session
- Costco shares slipped roughly 0.6% during midday trading
- U.S. stocks inch up as investors await the Fed decision and major tech earnings reports
- Retail stocks were mixed; Target took the biggest hit among decliners
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST.O) shares dipped 0.6% to $977.43 by midday Monday, having started the session at $986.43 before dropping to the day’s low of $977.43. Roughly 0.8 million shares traded hands, a relatively light volume for this time of day.
The drop happened while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged up, as investors prepared for a busy week packed with mega-cap earnings and the Federal Reserve’s policy call. “Wednesday’s Fed announcement will likely keep politics in the headlines,” said Chris Larkin of E*Trade at Morgan Stanley. Reuters
The Fed is set to hold its benchmark rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75% when it wraps up its two-day meeting Wednesday (Jan. 28). Tony Rodriguez, Nuveen’s head of fixed income strategy, called the pause “a lot of sense,” noting that recent policy moves will continue to impact the economy over the coming quarters. Reuters
Retail shares showed a mixed picture. Walmart edged down 0.3%, Target dropped nearly 4%, and BJ’s Wholesale Club dipped 0.6%. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF held steady, showing little movement.
Costco’s move Monday didn’t link to any clear company news. Instead, investors focused on the near-term shareholder calendar after the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share. The payment is set for Feb. 13, with Jan. 30 as the record date — the deadline to qualify for the dividend.
Costco’s next key datapoint is just around the corner. According to its investor calendar, the company plans to release January sales figures on Feb. 4.
Costco plans to hold its fiscal second-quarter earnings call on March 5, offering a fresh update on margins and membership revenue.
Costco topped Wall Street’s expectations for first-quarter revenue and profit in its latest quarterly report, fueled by shoppers stocking up in bulk ahead of the holidays, Reuters reported in December.
But the downside is clear-cut: if the Fed turns out less dovish than anticipated or trade and geopolitical news takes a sudden turn, rates and risk sentiment could shift fast — consumer stocks often get caught in the fallout.
Traders eyeing Costco will focus on Wednesday’s Fed statement and remarks from Chair Jerome Powell, followed by the dividend record date on Jan. 30 and the January sales report due Feb. 4. These events could shed light on traffic and pricing trends as 2026 unfolds.
