New York, Feb 11, 2026, 10:32 EST — Regular session
Shares of Costco Wholesale Corp nudged up 0.4% to $975.29 in early Nasdaq trading on Wednesday. The move followed a price target boost from Evercore ISI analyst Greg Melich, who raised his target to $1,050 while maintaining an Outperform rating, signaling confidence the stock will outperform the market. For context, a price target reflects where an analyst estimates the stock might trade within the next year. 1
This call is crucial since Costco sits in a packed “quality retail” space, valued for steady growth even while markets argue over how long interest rates will remain tight. Tiny shifts in bond yields often hit high-priced stocks like Costco quicker than any daily buzz about shopping.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls, which track monthly job growth outside agriculture, climbed by 130,000 in January, while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.3%, according to Wednesday’s data. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields rose about 4.5 basis points, or 0.045 percentage point, reaching 4.19%. Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth, described the report as “unambiguously good news.” 2
Bernstein’s Zhihan Ma bumped up his price target on Costco to $1,155, keeping an Outperform rating in place. He noted that U.S. retail is at “an interesting juncture,” citing soft consumer sentiment and a changing landscape of macro risks—from tariff rollbacks to shifts in tax refunds. 3
The stock dropped 2.64% Tuesday, closing at $971.23, lagging behind Amazon.com, Walmart, and Target during a mixed market session, according to MarketWatch data. Trading volume hit 1.7 million shares, significantly lower than its 50-day average. 4
Evercore’s updated target remains roughly 8% above the current price, even after Wednesday’s rebound; Bernstein’s target is even loftier. This difference has kept the shares steady following last week’s surge toward $1,000, which has since cooled off.
Costco operates membership-only warehouses, selling groceries and general merchandise. Those membership fees create a steady income stream that investors appreciate during unpredictable consumer spending. Plus, its reputation for low prices tends to attract buyers when wallets are tight.
Friday’s spotlight is on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a crucial gauge of U.S. inflation, set to drop at 8:30 a.m. ET. Persistent inflation usually means rates stay elevated longer, squeezing valuations in consumer stocks. 5
Costco has set a cash dividend date: $1.30 per share will be paid out on Feb. 13 to shareholders registered by Jan. 30, the company announced. While income funds often watch these dates, the dividend rarely jolts the stock price alone. 6
A hotter-than-expected CPI reading or a sudden rise in yields could challenge investors’ appetite for steady growth. Costco operates on slim merchandise margins, meaning any drop in foot traffic or surge in costs tends to surface quickly when the company discusses its outlook.
Costco’s next big event is its fiscal Q2 earnings call on March 5, followed by sales figures set for release on April 8, according to its investor relations page. Investors will be watching closely for clues on membership revenue, profit margins, and how quickly customers are spending on non-essentials. 7
Costco’s tape will probably track rates and the general retail sentiment until then, with key dates coming up Friday’s CPI release and the March 5 call.
