New York, Feb 5, 2026, 11:20 (EST) — Regular session
- Costco shares climbed roughly 2%, hovering just under $1,000 in early trading
- January net sales climbed 9.3%, driven by a 34.4% surge in digitally-enabled comparable sales
- Investors are now focused on March 5, when Costco will release its quarterly earnings along with an update on February sales
Costco Wholesale shares climbed Thursday, edging close to the $1,000 level following a January sales update that beat expectations. The stock gained 1.9% to reach $997.17, even as the SPDR S&P 500 ETF slipped 1.5% during the same period.
This monthly report is crucial since it offers one of Costco’s rare real-time snapshots of demand before quarterly earnings. Traders keep an eye on it, looking for clues that bargain hunting is expanding past groceries and staples amid the economic slowdown.
Costco trades as a “steady grower,” which means expectations are high. Even a slight slip in comparable sales can hit the stock hard, while a solid beat tends to send shares sharply higher, particularly in a volatile market.
Costco reported net sales of $21.33 billion for the four weeks ending Feb. 1, up 9.3%. Sales for the first 22 weeks of the fiscal year increased 8.5% to $123.16 billion. Comparable sales, reflecting activity at established locations, rose 7.1% over the four-week span. Notably, “digitally-enabled” comparable sales surged 34.4%. When stripping out gasoline and currency effects, total comparable sales gained 6.4%. The company noted that a later Lunar and Chinese New Year this year put a damper on January sales. Costco currently operates 924 warehouses worldwide. (Costco)
The online angle is gaining momentum. Costco and Instacart expanded their same-day delivery partnership into Europe, launching sites in France and Spain. Pierre Riel, Costco’s executive vice president, said this gives members “greater flexibility” in shopping. Instacart CEO Chris Rogers described the move as a “new chapter” as the company takes its delivery strategy overseas. (Digital Commerce 360)
Costco’s term “digitally-enabled” covers sales made via online orders and other digital channels. Investors want to see if this growth holds steady, rather than just reflecting a temporary boost from weather or heavy promotions.
Some analysts remain wary. Roth MKM’s Bill Kirk maintained his sell rating, pointing to weak traffic trends. He also suggested that the January surge in e-commerce might just be storm-driven stockpiling, likely to reverse in February. (TipRanks)
Warehouse clubs and big-box retailers are doubling down on “value” messaging as consumers keep a close eye on prices. When discretionary spending falters, it usually drags down the entire sector—not just Costco.
Thursday’s sales figure has its limits. It only covers sales, leaving the margin question unanswered — how much Costco spent on labor, freight, and shrink to sustain that growth.
Costco’s fiscal second-quarter earnings and February sales are set for release on March 5. The focus will be on margin trends, membership revenue, and if online sales maintain the momentum seen in January. (Costco)
