New York, January 20, 2026, 18:23 EST — After-hours
- Costco shares saw little movement in after-hours trading following a volatile session.
- A fresh tariff shock sparked a broad selloff, sending volatility up.
- Two directors at Costco reported minor insider trades in their SEC filings.
Costco Wholesale Corporation shares ticked up 0.1% to $964.26 in after-hours trading Tuesday. The stock swung between $954.23 and $969.86 during the session, with roughly 3.2 million shares changing hands.
Costco remained steady as Wall Street suffered its largest one-day drop in three months. The S&P 500 slipped 2.06%, while the Nasdaq fell 2.39%. The sell-off followed President Donald Trump’s threat of new tariffs on eight European countries, starting at 10% on Feb. 1 and potentially rising to 25% on June 1 if the U.S. doesn’t secure control of Greenland. The CBOE Volatility Index closed at 20.09, its highest since Nov. 24. Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group, said he’d “be surprised” if this tariff spat triggers a 3% to 5% drop this week. Reuters
Costco held firm amid retail dips. Walmart dropped 0.8%, Target fell 1.7%, and BJ’s Wholesale slid 1.3% in late trading. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF declined 1.8% over the same period.
Costco often acts as a defensive play when markets get shaky, buoyed by steady membership fees and a value-driven model that attracts shoppers even in downturns. The retailer topped earnings and sales forecasts in its December quarter, citing robust holiday season demand.
A filing posted Tuesday revealed director Susan L. Decker sold 458 shares at $955 each on Jan. 16, trimming her stake to 8,531.936 shares. Form 4 is the SEC disclosure insiders must file after stock transactions.
A separate Form 4 revealed director Gina Marie Raimondo was granted 215 restricted stock units, set to vest in thirds beginning October 2026, according to the filing.
Costco announced last week a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share, payable on Feb. 13 to shareholders recorded by Jan. 30. The retailer currently runs 923 warehouses worldwide.
On Jan. 7, the retailer reported December net sales of $29.86 billion for the five weeks ending Jan. 4, marking an 8.5% increase from the previous year. Comparable sales, which track stores open at least a year, climbed 7.0% over the period. Its “digitally enabled” comparable sales surged 18.9%, the company said. Costco Investor Relations
Costco isn’t off the hook if the tariff dispute escalates. Rising import expenses could tighten margins throughout retail supply chains, and a widespread drop in consumer spending would challenge the club’s business model.
Mark your calendars for March 5. That’s when Costco will release its fiscal second-quarter results and hold its earnings call at 2 p.m. PT.
