New York, Feb 19, 2026, 15:59 EST — Regular session
Costco Wholesale Corp shares fell about 0.9% to $987.22 in late afternoon trading on Thursday, after swinging between $1,007.19 and $984.00. The stock was down $8.86 from its previous close of $996.08.
The dip matters because big-box retailers are back in the market’s crosshairs, with investors trying to pin down what “value” means when budgets feel tighter. A soft tape for U.S. stocks did not help.
Walmart’s new CEO John Furner struck a cautious tone about spending even as the retailer posted steady sales, a read-through some investors use for the broader retail group. “In the U.S. we see the customers being choiceful,” Furner said, adding that households earning below $50,000 still had “wallets” that were stretched. Walmart also rolled out a new $30 billion share buyback plan — a program where a company repurchases its own stock — and forecast profit below Wall Street expectations; its shares were up about 2% in Thursday trading. (Reuters)
A fresh batch of economic data added to the push and pull. Jobless claims fell and the U.S. goods trade deficit hit a record, while oil climbed to a six-month high on Middle East worries, Reuters reported. “Today (investors are) weighing some of the economic data and what Walmart’s earnings are saying in terms of the consumer,” said Chuck Carlson, CEO at Horizon Investment Services. (Reuters)
Costco, best known for its membership warehouses and growing e-commerce business, tends to trade like a slow-moving vote on household demand and renewal strength. When investors start arguing about the consumer again, the stock rarely stays quiet for long. (Reuters)
The next hard date on the calendar is March 5, when Costco is scheduled to report fiscal second-quarter results and its February sales update, the company’s investor site shows. The release is set for 1:15 p.m. PT (4:15 p.m. ET), after the U.S. market close. (Costco Investor Relations)
That February sales line matters because it gives investors a near-real-time look at traffic and ticket size before the quarter’s full details land. Commentary around membership fee income and shopping mix can move the stock as much as the headline sales figure.
But the downside case is sitting in plain view: retail sentiment can turn fast if the market decides Walmart’s caution is not company-specific but a broader signal. If higher fuel costs or sticky prices start to pinch discretionary spending, even Costco’s low-price pitch can look less automatic.
For now, traders are watching whether Thursday’s read-across from Walmart keeps pressure on the wider retail complex into the close, or fades as the focus shifts back to rates and macro data.
Costco’s March 5 report — and the February sales numbers bundled with it — is the next real test for COST bulls and bears.
