New York, Feb 3, 2026, 12:28 (ET) — Regular session
- Costco shares climbed roughly 1.5% by midday trading.
- Both Gordon Haskett and Mizuho raised their price targets for the stock.
- All eyes are on Costco’s January sales update, due Wednesday, for insights into consumer demand.
Shares of Costco Wholesale Corporation rose 1.5% to $983.23 on Tuesday, bucking a mixed trend among large-cap consumer stocks.
The announcement arrives just a day ahead of the warehouse retailer’s January sales report, a rare near-real-time indicator of shopper demand as February approaches. According to Costco’s investor relations calendar, the update is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. (Costco)
This comes just weeks before Costco reports its second-quarter results, a period when investors usually focus on margins, membership revenue, and renewal rate trends. The company has set its fiscal Q2 earnings and February sales report for March 5. (Costco)
Analyst moves gave the stock a boost. Gordon Haskett bumped its price target up to $1,100 from $1,000. Mizuho also raised its target to $1,065 from $1,000, according to reports on MarketScreener by MT Newswires. (MarketScreener)
The stock ended a five-day slide on Monday, gaining 2.99% to close at $968.36, according to MarketWatch. Despite the bounce, it remains about 10% shy of its 52-week peak, the report noted. (MarketWatch)
Most retail giants edged higher Tuesday. Walmart climbed 2.9%, Target added 1.5%, but Amazon slipped 2.5%. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF ticked up 0.4%.
Wednesday’s sales report will probably shift attention to comparable sales, which exclude the effects of new store openings by focusing on locations open for at least a year. Analysts will also be watching closely to see how much growth stems from online orders compared to warehouse sales.
Costco’s March earnings report will be the next major checkpoint. Investors are focused on whether membership revenue continues its rapid growth to balance out the retailer’s slim merchandise margins. They’re also keeping an eye on customer traffic, especially if shoppers start to tighten their belts.
But the setup isn’t without risk. Monthly sales often fluctuate due to calendar changes, gas prices, and currency shifts. A weak report could weigh on a stock that still commands a premium over many big-box rivals.
Traders are zeroing in on Wednesday’s January sales figures for now. After that, the focus shifts rapidly to March’s results and any clues about how quickly members are signing up or renewing as spring approaches.
