New York, February 9, 2026, 19:26 EST — Trading after the bell.
- Costco shares slipped in after-hours action, following a tepid finish in the main session
- Bernstein raised its price target on Costco but stuck with the Outperform rating.
- Costco’s quarterly numbers for March 5 and a fresh look at February sales are now in focus.
Costco Wholesale Corp slipped in after-hours action Monday, trading around $996.51, down about 0.1%. The stock had already notched a slight decline in the regular session, ending at $997.59. 1
Bernstein’s Zhihan Ma bumped up the price target on Costco to $1,155 from $1,146, sticking with an Outperform call. Ma pointed out that U.S. retail is “at an interesting juncture,” highlighting shaky consumer sentiment and a more complicated macro setup heading into fiscal 2026. 2
Right now, calls like this carry real weight: Costco’s shares are tied directly to the narrative around consistent consumer spending—and the price tag investors are willing to put on dependable growth. High-multiple retailers like this can swing sharply when rates or inflation expectations shift, regardless of whether there’s any new company news.
Costco’s next key event lands March 5, when it reports fiscal second-quarter earnings alongside February sales figures. Wall Street will be watching comps—sales growth at stores open at least a year—and any clues about membership renewals, the profit engine here. 3
Outside of company news, traders are staring down a loaded week: big corporate earnings are coming up, along with crucial U.S. data on inflation and jobs—numbers that could quickly shift Fed policy forecasts. Those shifting rate forecasts? They tend to ripple right into defensive names such as Costco. 4
Bernstein flagged a tangled web of cross-currents—food inflation, policy risks, the works—that muddle any forecasts. At Costco, these factors surface in everything from foot traffic to demand for big-ticket items, and in just how hard the retailer pushes on pricing to keep members coming back.
After-hours action tends to be volatile. The stock edged lower late Monday, but stayed within its earlier band—no decisive shift there. Even so, it showed just how abruptly the market can shrug off a bullish call when traders are sitting tight for fresh numbers.
Bulls face one clear hazard: premium valuations don’t leave much room for slip-ups. Should shoppers ease spending, or if expenses eat in more than forecast, a “steady” retailer might still come up short.
Costco’s upcoming report has investors tuning in for management’s read on renewal rates, plus any signals on wage and freight costs. There’s also curiosity—will the company suggest anything more for shareholders on top of its standard dividend?
Next up: March 5. That’s when Costco is set to release its quarterly results, plus a look at February sales.
