New York, Feb 4, 2026, 19:23 ET — Trading after hours.
- COST inched up roughly 0.04% during after-hours, trading close to $978
- Costco’s January net sales rose 9.3%, with digitally-enabled comparable sales jumping 34.4%
- Up next: fiscal Q2 earnings for March 5 and February sales report
Costco Wholesale Corporation shares nudged higher in after-hours trading Wednesday, lingering around $978 following a late-day update from the warehouse club. COST gained roughly 0.04%, settling at $978.35. During the session, shares fluctuated between $975.32 and $994.52, with around 2.6 million shares changing hands, according to market data.
The Costco stock move is significant since the company’s monthly sales report offers a quick snapshot of traffic and spending before its quarterly earnings. Traders focus on comparable sales—those from stores open at least a year—to filter out growth driven by new warehouse openings.
The news lands amid a search for more reliable earnings after a tough session for AI-linked stocks. Though Costco is usually grouped with “defensive” consumer staples, its valuation means the market reacts sharply to any sign of weakness.
Costco (Nasdaq: COST) reported a 9.3% jump in net sales to $21.33 billion for the four-week retail period ending Feb. 1, up from $19.51 billion a year prior, releasing the figures at 4:15 p.m. ET. Companywide comparable sales climbed 7.1%, with the U.S. up 5.8%, Canada soaring 11.4%, and other international markets rising 9.5%. Online sales, tracked through digitally-enabled comparable sales, surged 34.4%. Stripping out gasoline prices and currency shifts, total comparable sales grew 6.4%. For the first 22 weeks, net sales rose 8.5% to $123.16 billion. Costco noted that the later Lunar and Chinese New Year timing held back January sales.
A key question heading into Thursday: Will the market view Costco’s sales figures as a cue to dive deeper into retail, or dismiss them as just another data point? The pace of online growth will draw eyes, but the core store performance and sales mix are also in focus.
Wall Street slid on Wednesday, dragged down by sharp selling in semiconductor and other AI-related shares, Reuters reported. The selloff added fuel to a growing debate over whether this rally has gone too far. “The market is suddenly skeptical and concerned about it,” said Jed Ellerbroek, a portfolio manager at Argent Capital in St. Louis. Reuters
On the economic front, the ISM reported its services PMI steady at 53.8 for January, with businesses citing tariffs and uncertainty in survey feedback. “We expect service sector growth to accelerate over 2026,” said Ben Ayers, a senior economist at Nationwide, highlighting potential gains from fiscal policy. Reuters
Some consumer-facing firms continue to report a value-focused shopper, though the picture is far from uniform. “Consumers’ quest for value is likely to persist in 2026,” Morningstar analyst Ari Felhandler noted in a Reuters report. Reuters
Costco’s gains might not be straightforward. Staples stocks surged sharply in early 2026, drawing a lot of investor attention, Barron’s noted. That crowded trade could leave pricey stocks exposed if upcoming data fails to impress.
Costco’s monthly numbers are also vulnerable to shifts in gas prices, currency fluctuations, and the timing of holidays, making quick market calls riskier than they seem. A dip in consumer confidence would probably hit discretionary spending first, even at a retailer known for its “value” focus.
Costco is set to release its fiscal second-quarter report and February sales figures on March 5 at 1:15 p.m. PT, per the company’s investor calendar. Investors will be focused on membership revenue, profit margins, and if the strong online sales momentum continues into spring.
