New York, Feb 15, 2026, 12:30 EST — The market is closed.
- Costco shares finished Friday with an almost 2% gain, pulling ahead of other big-box retailers.
- With the U.S. market running on a shortened schedule due to the holiday, retail earnings and new economic data move to the forefront.
- Costco is set to report its earnings and sales on March 5, the company’s next big catalyst.
Costco Wholesale shares finished Friday up 2%, settling at $1,018.48 and holding close to the $1,000 level as the long weekend approached.
This latest climb stretched a streak of gains, outpacing big retail and e-commerce peers during a session where U.S. stocks mostly held level, MarketWatch data showed.
The closure of U.S. cash equity markets on Monday for Washington’s Birthday trims the week, squeezing the usual flow of catalysts that investors watch to gauge consumer demand. Trading picks back up Tuesday.
This week, retail giants step into focus, with Walmart’s earnings in the mix and some high-impact macro data on deck—think GDP numbers and the PCE inflation report, a favorite gauge for the Federal Reserve. Markets will watch these indicators for any shifts in the rates narrative.
Costco investors are watching March 5, the date set for both the company’s fiscal second-quarter earnings call and a separate event focused on earnings and February sales.
Costco’s latest sales figures point to a strong start this year. Net sales hit $123.16 billion over the first 22 weeks of its fiscal calendar, an 8.5% increase from the prior year. For the four weeks ending Feb. 1, total comparable sales rose 7.1%.
Bernstein’s Zhihan Ma raised the price target to $1,155 in a note this month, sticking with an Outperform rating and highlighting a bigger international opportunity.
DA Davidson’s Michael Baker isn’t joining the bulls. The analyst stuck with a Neutral rating on Feb. 5, keeping his $1,000 target unchanged.
Here’s the risk for bulls: Costco runs on thin margins. Even minor bumps in costs, shifts in foot traffic, or changes in discretionary spending can hit profits fast—especially if consumers start to pull back and investors look to move out of pricey defensive names.
The monthly sales mix brings its own set of questions. Gasoline price swings and shifts in currency can throw off comparable-sales figures, while February’s odd calendar sometimes distorts headline results, making demand look healthier—or weaker—than it really is.
Wall Street traders return Tuesday, zeroing in on whether Costco can keep its recent run intact. Retail earnings and inflation figures are in play, with Costco’s March 5 update standing out as the next clear, company-specific catalyst.
