Costco stock price dips after ex-dividend day; COST investors brace for Feb. 4 sales update

Costco stock price dips after ex-dividend day; COST investors brace for Feb. 4 sales update

New York, Feb 1, 2026, 10:48 (EST) — Market closed

  • Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation ended Friday at $940.25, slipping 1.19%.
  • The stock went ex-dividend, making shareholders eligible for the $1.30 quarterly payout due on Feb. 13.
  • January sales figures, the next key catalyst, are set for release on Feb. 4.

Costco Wholesale Corporation shares dropped 1.19% Friday, ending the day at $940.25. After-hours trading showed little movement. (Yahoo Finance)

U.S. markets were closed Sunday, leaving investors focused on Costco’s January sales report to kick off the week. This monthly snapshot often sways the stock, coming between earnings updates and giving a quick gauge of consumer demand.

The late-week selloff came on the heels of a wider retreat after Donald Trump named Kevin Warsh as his pick to head the Federal Reserve when Jerome Powell’s term expires in May. “It’s kind of difficult to assess how the market is going to accept this nomination,” said Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital Securities. Brian Jacobsen from Annex Wealth Management described Warsh as an “independent thinker.” (Reuters)

On Friday, Costco’s stock fluctuated from $930.30 to $951.12, marking its fifth straight session of declines, per Nasdaq-delayed data. (Investing)

Nasdaq data indicates the stock went ex-dividend on Jan. 30, with a quarterly payout of $1.30 per share. Buyers on or after that date aren’t eligible for the upcoming dividend. (Nasdaq)

The regulatory filing confirmed the dividend will be paid on Feb. 13 to shareholders recorded by Jan. 30. (SEC)

Costco’s next key event is the January sales report, slated for Feb. 4 at 1:15 p.m. PT, per the company’s investor calendar. (Costco Investor Relations)

Traders are zeroing in on comparable sales — revenue from warehouses open at least a year — plus e-commerce results and shifts in gasoline prices and currency. These details usually carry more weight than the overall sales number.

Monthly sales figures often swing unpredictably. A dip in foot traffic or weaker spending in discretionary sectors can shake confidence fast—especially as markets juggle rate outlooks and brace for Washington’s upcoming decisions.

Costco shares face their next hurdle Wednesday, Feb. 4, when the company releases January sales data at 1:15 p.m. PT.

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