New York, January 12, 2026, 11:10 EST — Regular session
- Costco shares climbed roughly 1.4% in late morning trading, defying the broader weakness in the U.S. market
- Investors shift to defensive consumer staples amid growing concerns over Fed independence, weighing on risk appetite
- Costco’s shareholder meeting on Jan. 15 and the CPI data release on Jan. 13 stand out as the next key events to watch
Costco Wholesale Corporation shares climbed roughly 1.4% to $937.80 by late morning on Monday, hitting that price as a session high. The stock had started the day at $920.00.
The warehouse club operator held up better than most consumer stocks as U.S. equities dropped following renewed political pressure on the Federal Reserve, stirring concerns about its independence. Consumer staples climbed, even as financials tumbled after President Donald Trump suggested capping credit-card interest rates for one year.
Traders are gearing up for Tuesday’s U.S. consumer price index, or CPI, a key inflation measure that often shifts interest rate and bond yield expectations with a single update. The Labor Department will roll out December 2025 CPI figures on Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Costco has marked a few key dates. Its investor site shows a shareholder meeting set for Jan. 15, a sales update coming Feb. 4, and the fiscal second-quarter earnings call slated for March 5.
The stock gained traction recently after Costco released its latest monthly update, revealing December net sales climbed 8.5% year-over-year to $29.86 billion. Comparable sales, which track growth at stores open at least a year, increased 7.0% over the five-week period. Digitally-enabled comparable sales saw an even sharper rise, jumping 18.9%, the company reported.
Right now, investors aren’t as focused on Costco-specific news as they are on whether volatile markets drive funds into defensive sectors like staples. This can support the stock during pullbacks but could quickly unwind if yields spike.
The clear risk here is valuation sensitivity. Should inflation prove stickier than forecast or policy news rattle markets, even top-tier retailers could see their prices fall as investors push for greater returns.
Coming up: Tuesday brings the CPI report, followed by Costco’s shareholder meeting Thursday. January sales figures drop Feb. 4—an early look at post-holiday demand.
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