TLDR
- Costco delivered $21.33 billion in January sales, up 9.3% from last year
- E-commerce sales skyrocketed 34.4% while comparable-store sales rose 7.1%
- COST shares have climbed 13.6% in 2026 after a 5% drop in 2025
- Roth analyst keeps Sell rating at $769, citing weather-driven stockpiling concerns
- Wall Street consensus shows Strong Buy with 19 Buy ratings versus one Sell
Costco Wholesale shares jumped 1.2% in after-hours trading Wednesday after reporting January sales results. The warehouse club posted $21.33 billion in revenue for the four weeks ending February 1, 2026.
Sales grew 9.3% year-over-year, picking up speed from December’s 8.5% gain. The acceleration marks the second consecutive month of improving growth rates.
Comparable-store sales increased 7.1% during the period. This metric outpaced December’s 7% growth, signaling strengthening demand at existing locations.
Costco Wholesale Corporation, COST
Traffic patterns showed steady improvement across the company’s footprint. Global foot traffic rose 2.4%, while U.S. stores recorded a 2.2% increase in customer visits.
Geographic performance varied across Costco’s segments. U.S. comparable sales climbed 5.8%, while Canada delivered the strongest results at 11.4% growth.
International markets outside North America grew 9.5%. However, the timing of Lunar New Year celebrations moving to February reduced these results by roughly 4%.
E-Commerce Performance Stands Out
Digital channels posted exceptional growth in January. Digitally-enabled comparable sales surged 34.4%, nearly doubling December’s 18.9% growth rate.
The e-commerce acceleration raised questions about sustainability. Some analysts suggest winter storms drove customers to shop online rather than visit stores.
Stripping out fuel prices and currency impacts, comparable sales still grew 6.4%. This underlying growth rate demonstrates solid business fundamentals beyond external factors.
Stock Recovery Gains Momentum
COST shares have rebounded sharply in early 2026. The stock has gained 13.6% year-to-date, erasing concerns from a difficult 2025.
Last year, shares fell 5% while the S&P 500 rose 17%. Higher tariffs, premium valuations, and slipping membership renewal rates pressured the stock.
Two months of accelerating sales growth have changed the narrative. Investors now see evidence that Costco can maintain momentum despite macroeconomic challenges.
Wall Street Split on Outlook
Roth MKM analyst Bill Kirk stuck with his Sell rating and $769 price target. Kirk noted that higher transaction sizes compensated for continued traffic deceleration.
He believes winter storm conditions artificially boosted e-commerce sales. Kirk expects this effect to reverse in February, leading to weaker results.
Most Wall Street analysts take a different view. The consensus rating stands at Strong Buy, with 19 analysts recommending purchases.
Four analysts rate shares as Hold, while only Kirk recommends selling. The average price target of $1,069.11 suggests potential gains of 9.3% from current levels.
Shares extended gains to 1.5% in late trading Wednesday following the sales announcement.
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