New York, January 21, 2026, 17:57 EST — After-hours
- Costco shares climbed close to 2% amid a broader rebound in U.S. stocks and after investors reviewed a new SEC filing.
- The filing revealed shareholders dismissed a proposal for a “greenwashing” risk audit but supported the board and executive compensation.
- Traders have set their sights on the January 30 record date for Costco’s quarterly dividend, along with the earnings call scheduled for March 5.
Costco Wholesale shares climbed 1.9% to $982.86 in after-hours trading Wednesday, beating Walmart’s 0.6% increase. The move mirrored a 2.7% jump in fellow warehouse club BJ’s Wholesale, while Target dipped roughly 3%.
The move followed a new regulatory filing that laid out the warehouse retailer’s annual meeting vote results, including the rejection of a shareholder proposal demanding a “greenwashing” risk audit — essentially a check on whether the company exaggerates its environmental claims. (SEC)
Why it matters now: shareholder votes offer one of the rare clear signals investors send on board support, executive compensation, and the mood on environmental and social issues. Firms attracting these votes often face follow-up campaigns, even if a proposal doesn’t pass.
Costco’s near-term calendar gains attention for income-focused investors. According to the filing, the board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share, payable Feb. 13 to shareholders of record on Jan. 30.
Costco reported that every ballot item cleared except the greenwashing proposal. That one received roughly 4.1 million votes in favor, compared to nearly 280 million against, based on the vote count.
Shareholders also supported director nominees and gave a thumbs-up to executive compensation in a non-binding vote. They approved KPMG as the company’s independent auditor for fiscal 2026, according to the filing.
Wall Street closed higher as U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would hold off on the tariffs set to hit European allies on Feb. 1, sparking a relief rally after the previous day’s selloff. “What is the economic impact is whether we all start imposing tariffs on each other,” said Jason Pride, chief of investment strategy & research at Glenmede. (Reuters)
Costco reported it runs 923 warehouses globally in the dividend release tied to its filing. That includes 633 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, plus 114 in Canada. The rest span Europe, Asia, and various e-commerce platforms. (SEC)
Investors remain wary of one constant: trade policy shifts can come suddenly. Any fresh tariffs would put the spotlight back on retailers’ cost structures and pricing strategies. Costco, relying on high volume and slim margins, often finds sudden cost hikes under intense scrutiny.
Traders are now turning their attention to the Jan. 30 shareholder-of-record date for the dividend. Costco’s fiscal second-quarter earnings call is set for March 5 at 2 p.m. PT, according to the company’s investor site. (Costco)
