Costco Wholesale Corp Stock Moved Up by 3.11% on Feb 12: What Signal Does It Send?

Costco Wholesale Corporation's stock experienced an upward movement on February 12, 2026, primarily driven by robust sales figures and a wave of positive analyst sentiment. The company recently reported strong January net sales, reaching $21.33 billion for the four weeks ending February 1, 2026, marking a 9.3% increase year-over-year. This positive sales momentum was further underscored by a 7.1% rise in total company comparable sales and a significant 34.4% surge in digitally-enabled sales, reinforcing investor confidence in Costco's operational strength and continued demand.

Adding to the positive market reaction, several analyst firms either reiterated "outperform" ratings or raised their price targets for Costco. Telsey Advisory Group maintained an "outperform" rating with an $1,100 price target, while Mizuho increased its target to $1,000 from $950. Oppenheimer also raised its price target to $1,100 from $1,050, and Wells Fargo increased its target to $950 from $900. The consensus analyst rating for Costco stands at "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $1,009, reflecting a generally optimistic outlook on the company's future performance and growth prospects.

Further bolstering investor enthusiasm is Costco's strategic expansion of its Instacart-powered same-day delivery service to France and Spain, announced recently. This move demonstrates the company's commitment to enhancing its digital presence and international reach, signaling potential for continued growth in its e-commerce capabilities and membership value proposition.

The company's upcoming quarterly cash dividend payment of $1.30 per share, payable on February 13, 2026, to shareholders of record as of January 30, 2026, also contributed to the positive sentiment. This consistent return to shareholders, coupled with continued institutional interest demonstrated by entities like Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co and ABN AMRO Bank increasing their holdings, further solidified the positive market perception of Costco.

Technically, Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) shows a MACD (12,26,9) value of [19.60], indicating a neutral signal. The RSI at 58.15 suggests neutral condition and the Williams %R at -39.69 suggests oversold condition. Please monitor closely.

Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) is in the Retailers industry. Its latest annual revenue is 275.24B, ranking 2 in the industry. The net profit is 8.10B, ranking 2 in the industry. Company Profile

Over the past month, multiple analysts have rated the company as BUY, with an average price target of 1042.92, a high of 1205.00, and a low of 643.33.

Company Specific Risks:

• Analyst downgrades and cautious outlooks, such as DA Davidson restating a "neutral" rating on February 7, 2026, and Roth Capital maintaining a "Sell" rating with a significantly lower price target, contribute to negative investor sentiment and potential selling pressure.
• Ongoing pressure on profit margins from elevated operating expenses, tariffs, supply-chain disruptions, and inflationary pressures could compress gross margins and impact overall profitability.
• Concerns about decelerating same-store sales growth and a decrease in membership renewal rates, highlighted by recent analyst commentary, suggest a potential weakening in core business momentum.
• Costco's stock valuation remains significantly higher than its 10-year average, increasing its vulnerability to any perceived fundamental weaknesses or negative market catalysts, making it challenging to sustain its premium valuation.