New York, Jan 10, 2026, 11:20 EST — Market closed
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST.O) shares ended Friday up 1.05%, closing at $924.88, building on gains from the retailer’s December sales update. The stock reached $931.67 on Thursday and held steady after hours at $925.33.
U.S. markets remained closed over the weekend, leaving Costco in focus as investors gear up for a week crowded with inflation figures and the start of earnings season. On Friday, the S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to close at a fresh high, following a mixed U.S. jobs report. The Nasdaq outperformed, rising 0.8%. (AP News)
Costco’s monthly sales report provides investors with a quick snapshot of consumer demand. The stock often moves on slight shifts in traffic, pricing, or online sales since membership fees carry much of the revenue weight.
Costco, with 923 warehouses, reported net sales for its five-week December retail period ending Jan. 4 rose 8.5% to $29.86 billion. For the first 18 weeks of fiscal 2026, sales increased 8.3% to $101.83 billion. Comparable store sales — at locations open at least a year — grew 7.0% in December. Meanwhile, “digitally-enabled” sales, including online and other digital orders, surged 18.9%. When excluding gasoline prices and currency effects, total comparable sales rose 6.2%, the company said. Costco also posted a pre-recorded message to discuss results, available through Jan. 14. (Costco)
Evercore ISI analyst Greg Melich said December sales offer some relief, showing a pickup in sales growth that’s clearly outpacing the competition.
Membership renewal rates are becoming a growing concern. On Costco’s fiscal first-quarter call, CFO Gary Millerchip noted that “we may still see a slight decline in the overall renewal rate over the next few quarters,” attributing this to more members signing up online, which affects the company’s renewal calculations differently. (Nasdaq)
Still, the bar remains steep. A weaker report on store traffic, a steeper fall in renewal rates, or volatility in gasoline prices and currency exchange could cloud upcoming sales figures and stall the rally.
Costco plans to host its annual shareholder meeting via webcast on Jan. 15. According to a proxy filing, votes will cover director elections, auditor ratification, an advisory say-on-pay proposal, and a shareholder suggestion for a “greenwashing risk audit.” (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Costco’s fiscal second-quarter earnings call is set for March 5, according to its investor calendar. (Costco)
Investors are eyeing Tuesday’s U.S. consumer price index report (Jan. 13) and Wednesday’s retail sales figures (Jan. 14) ahead of Monday’s market open. These numbers could shed light on interest rate moves and consumer trends. The Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting is set for Jan. 27-28. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
