NEW YORK, Feb 14, 2026, 11:26 EST — The closing bell has sounded.
- Costco climbed 1.9% Friday, finishing at $1,018.48.
- Consumer stocks found some footing heading into the weekend after U.S. inflation data came in softer.
- A fresh lawsuit tied to alleged salmonella contamination in rotisserie chicken is now adding headline risk.
Costco Wholesale Corp finished Friday trading 1.9% higher, closing at $1,018.48. The warehouse retailer heads into the long weekend with U.S. markets closed until next week.
This shift is catching attention, with both rate expectations and consumer demand suddenly relevant again. A cooler inflation print is pushing traders to reconsider if the Federal Reserve might pull off a rate cut later this year—without sparking another round of price increases.
Investors won’t have to wait long for Costco’s next update: the company drops its fiscal second-quarter numbers and February sales figures on March 5.
The Dow and S&P 500 clawed out modest gains by Friday’s close, while the Nasdaq edged lower, capping off a volatile session. With that shakiness, investors gravitated toward more reliable consumer stocks. “Either way, it is a bit of good news as we head into the long holiday weekend,” said Tim Holland, chief investment officer at Orion, referencing the inflation data. Reuters
The consumer price index climbed 0.2% in January, according to the Labor Department. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, posted a 0.3% gain. “Price pressures remain a little too hot for comfort,” wrote James McCann, senior economist at Edward Jones, in a reaction to the numbers. Reuters
Costco pulled ahead of a handful of retail heavyweights this day. Walmart logged a modest gain, Amazon dipped, and Target saw a stronger pop. Shares of Costco wrapped up trading about 5.5% shy of their 52-week peak, with volume tracking close to recent norms, according to MarketWatch data.
The NYSE holiday calendar shows U.S. markets will be shut Monday, Feb. 16, for Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day. Trading picks back up on Tuesday, the next regular session.
Legal developments hit Costco this day, with a proposed class action accusing the retailer of salmonella risks linked to its rotisserie chicken supply chain. Plaintiffs pointed to a study, alleging a Nebraska facility supplying Costco didn’t meet U.S. safety standards. According to Reuters, both Costco and the plant have yet to comment. The litigation zeroes in on Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken—a “loss leader” meant to pull in customers. Reuters
Costco’s latest monthly figures, released earlier this month, put January net sales at $21.33 billion, up 9.3%. Comparable sales, the company’s main measure for stores open a year or more, climbed 7.1% in the four-week stretch.
The stock’s buffer only goes so far. Should the chicken lawsuit widen, trigger tougher scrutiny, or chip away at the brand’s value proposition, patience from investors could start to wear thin—particularly with shares hovering close to the upper end of their recent range.
Traders get back to work Tuesday, post-holiday. Next up: March 5. That’s when Costco reports results and February sales land — the next batch of numbers that could shake up expectations.
