New York, February 2, 2026, 12:38 (EST) — Regular session ongoing.
- Costco shares climbed in midday trading, outpacing a number of big-name retail rivals.
- New analyst moves kept the spotlight on the retailer’s consistent sales and its membership model.
- Investors are gearing up for Costco’s monthly sales report, set to drop later this week.
Costco Wholesale shares climbed 2.6% to hit $965.04 in midday trading Monday, pushing the warehouse giant near the top of the retail sector. The stock fluctuated between $931.00 and $965.17 during the session, rebounding from a weak close last week.
Timing is crucial. Costco’s monthly sales reports often sway the stock since they drop between earnings calls, offering investors a straightforward look at traffic and pricing—no fluff included.
Analyst commentary gave the stock a push. Joseph Feldman of Telsey Advisory Group kept his Outperform rating and set a 12-month price target at $1,100 on Monday, per Benzinga data. (Benzinga)
The broader market has been volatile, as investors absorb a steep drop in metals last week and pivot to safer sectors. Consumer staples have stood out as a go-to when risk appetite wanes. (Reuters)
Big-box retailers all edged higher. Walmart climbed roughly 3.4%, Target rose near 3.2%, and BJ’s Wholesale Club ticked up about 0.8%.
Costco plans to report its January sales figures on Feb. 4 at 1:15 p.m. Pacific time (4:15 p.m. Eastern), per the company’s events calendar. (Costco Investor Relations)
Investors are zeroing in on comparable sales — those from stores open at least a year — to spot any slowdown following the holiday rush. Attention will also fall on numbers stripped of gasoline prices and foreign exchange effects, which often cause headline growth to jump around unpredictably month to month.
The latest numbers looked strong. Costco reported that net sales climbed 8.3% to $101.83 billion over the first 18 weeks of its fiscal year. For the five weeks ending Jan. 4, companywide comparable sales gained 7.0%, with digitally enabled comparable sales surging 18.9%. (Costco Investor Relations)
Costco reported first-quarter net sales of $65.98 billion, up 8.2%, with net income hitting $2.00 billion, or $4.50 per diluted share, for the period ending Nov. 23. Membership fee revenue climbed to $1.33 billion from $1.17 billion the previous year, the company said. (Costco Investor Relations)
Costco’s value proposition remains central to its bullish outlook, despite its shares trading above many retail peers. In a September note, Arun Sundaram of CFRA Research pointed out that “Costco appears to be reinvesting part of last year’s membership fee increase into sharper pricing for members.” (Reuters)
But the setup works both ways. Should January sales reveal a drop in traffic or a softer trend after adjusting for fuel and currency impacts, Costco’s lofty valuation could amplify any downside pressure.
Following the February 4 sales report, the spotlight shifts to Costco’s fiscal second-quarter earnings and February sales update, set for release on March 5. (Costco Investor Relations)
