New York, January 29, 2026, 12:00 EST — Regular session
- Costco shares dipped roughly 0.5% in late-morning trading
- U.S. stocks slip as doubts rise over returns from major tech AI investments
- Costco will release its January sales report on Feb. 4, with the dividend record date set for Jan. 30
Costco Wholesale (COST.O) shares slipped 0.5% to $955.91 on Thursday, underperforming amid a broader tech-driven selloff that dragged U.S. stocks lower.
This shift is significant since Costco usually stands as a reliable retail pick when jitters hit the market, and its monthly sales figures often reset the bar for the sector. As debates over growth and valuations resume, even defensive stocks are seeing increased volatility.
Wall Street’s key indexes slid to their lowest point in over a week as investors weighed fresh, hefty AI-driven capital spending announcements against uncertain returns. “People have just been throwing money and now they’ve reached a certain level where they’re starting to look under the hood,” said Max Wasserman, co-founder and senior portfolio manager at Miramar Capital. Meanwhile, data revealed initial jobless claims fell to 209,000 last week. 1
Retail stocks showed a mixed bag. Walmart (WMT.N) ticked up 0.4%, Target (TGT.N) added roughly 1%, but BJ’s Wholesale (BJ.N) slipped 1.1%.
Costco’s upcoming trigger is its January sales report due Feb. 4. Investors will zero in on comparable-store sales—those at locations open for at least a year—plus traffic and online shopping patterns. 2
Costco will hold its fiscal second-quarter earnings call on March 5, offering investors fresh insight into margins and membership revenue following the holiday season. 3
Investors are keeping an eye on Costco’s upcoming dividend, with the company announcing a $1.30 per share payout on Feb. 13. Shareholders recorded as of Jan. 30 will be eligible. 4
The risk is simple: monthly sales can fluctuate due to timing, fuel costs, and currency rates. A weaker report could hurt more than expected since the stock is valued on consistent performance. Signs of slower traffic or weaker demand for high-ticket items might jolt the shares beyond Thursday’s modest move.
Retail investors are now fixated on the upcoming inflation figures and their impact on consumer spending. The U.S. Labor Department has the January CPI report set for release on Feb. 11. 5
Costco’s next key data release arrives Feb. 4, when January sales numbers come out. The following big date is the March 5 earnings call. 6
