New York, Jan 23, 2026, 12:14 EST — Regular session
- Costco shares edged up roughly 0.6% in midday trading, staying just under the $1,000 mark.
- A recent SEC filing outlined the votes from the annual meeting and confirmed a $1.30 quarterly dividend, with a record date set for Jan. 30.
- Traders are focused on next week’s Fed decision and Costco’s earnings call on March 5.
Costco Wholesale Corp shares climbed in midday trading Friday, following strength in select retail stocks after new U.S. consumer data came out. The stock was last up 0.6% at $982.29. Walmart edged up 0.1%, Target gained 1.3%, and Amazon jumped 2.4%.
The boost arrives as traders look for clues that shoppers aren’t tightening their purse strings. The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers reported its January sentiment index climbed to 56.4. Director Joanne Hsu described the increase as “small” but “broad based,” noting sentiment still sits over 20% lower than a year ago. (Reuters)
Wall Street was divided at midday, as gains in tech stocks were weighed down by a steep drop in Intel following a weak forecast and fresh worries over tariffs. By 11:35 a.m. ET, the Dow had fallen 0.48%, while the S&P 500 inched up 0.14% and the Nasdaq rose 0.48%. Joe Saluzzi, partner and co-founder at Themis Trading, noted, “You can’t just meet expectations,” highlighting the market’s sharp focus on earnings and guidance ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve decision. (Reuters)
Costco caught regulators’ eye again with fresh paperwork. In a Form 8-K — the U.S. SEC filing companies use to report current events — Costco revealed the results from its annual meeting. Shareholders re-elected the board members, gave KPMG the nod as auditor, and approved executive pay. However, they rejected a shareholder proposal demanding a “greenwashing risk audit.” The filing also confirmed the board declared a $1.30 quarterly dividend, set for payment on Feb. 13 to shareholders recorded by Jan. 30. (SEC)
A separate Form 144 filing — the SEC-required notice insiders file when planning to sell stock — revealed officer Teresa A. Jones intends to offload up to 850 shares via Fidelity Brokerage Services. While a Form 144 doesn’t ensure the shares will actually sell, it typically indicates an intent to sell within the allowed timeframe. (SEC)
Investors often see Costco as a barometer for household essentials—think food, fuel, and those everyday small-ticket items that fill carts when consumers tighten their belts. Its membership model cushions some volatility, yet the stock still reacts to the same driver everyone’s tracking these days: confidence.
The risk is straightforward. If inflation remains stubborn or the labor market weakens, shoppers may downgrade purchases, delay major spending, or skip renewals altogether—hitting retailers hard and fast. Meanwhile, tariff news and geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on risk appetite.
Traders are watching two fronts: upcoming consumer data and the Fed, plus Costco’s calendar. The Jan. 30 record date for the quarterly dividend looms just ahead.
Costco will hold its Q2 2026 earnings call on March 5 at 2:00 p.m. PT, a key moment that might shift forecasts for demand and margins as spring approaches. (Costco)
