Costco stock (COST): what moves it and when to watch
Most big companies report 4 times a year. Costco also shares its sales every month, so COST gets a small report card 12 times a year.
This page explains how the stock tends to move. It isn't a recommendation to buy or sell it.
At a glance
| Item | Costco (COST) |
|---|---|
| What it is | A US chain of membership warehouse stores. Shoppers pay a yearly fee to shop there |
| Where it trades | Nasdaq, ticker COST |
| Indexes it's in | S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 |
| Earnings | 4 times a year, after the close, usually in March, May, September and December |
| Monthly sales | Costco also posts sales figures for most months |
| What moves it most | Same-store sales, membership renewals and fees, profit margins |
| How it tends to move | Usually smooth, with sharp moves when results miss high hopes |
| Regular hours | 9:30 am–4:00 pm ET, plus pre-market and after-hours sessions |
What the company does
Costco sells a limited range of goods in bulk at low markups. Groceries, gas, electronics, tires, even travel.
The low prices are possible because of the membership fee. Fees are a small slice of sales but a big part of profit. That's why investors watch renewals so closely. Costco raised its fees in September 2024, the first increase in about seven years.
What moves it
- Monthly sales. Costco reports how much it sold, including "comparable" sales: stores open at least a year, compared with last year. Gas prices can swing this number, so Costco also shows it without gas.
- Quarterly earnings. Costco's fiscal year ends around the start of September. Its first three quarters are 12 weeks each and the fourth is 16 weeks. That's worth knowing when you compare reports. See Earnings report.
- Membership. Sign-ups, renewal rates and fee news.
- Special dividends. Besides its regular Dividend, Costco has paid several one-time special dividends over the years, most recently in early 2024.
- The shopper. Inflation and the wider spending mood feed in. See retail sales explained.
When it's busiest
- Monthly sales nights: figures usually come out after the close. The reaction shows at the next open.
- Earnings nights: after 4:00 pm ET, usually on a Thursday.
- 9:30–10:30 am ET: the open, where those numbers get priced in.
US stock hours stay 9:30 am–4:00 pm ET all year. Extended-hours times depend on your broker.
Its personality
- Smooth trends. COST has often trended in long, orderly steps. Turning points tend to be clear.
- High expectations. Investors often pay a lot for each dollar of Costco's profit. When hopes run that high, a small miss can bring a big drop.
- High share price. COST trades at a high price per share, so even small percent moves are big in dollars.
- Defensive streak. People keep buying groceries in slow times, so it can hold up differently from flashier stocks.
Reading it with our method
Start on the weekly or daily chart. Mark the last places price turned around. Are the highs and lows stepping up or stepping down? Trade with that direction.
Then go to your entry chart. Only a candle body closing past a level counts. Monthly sales mornings can paint long tails.
Set the stop from the chart, then size from the stop. With a high share price, you may only trade a few shares. Example: your stop is $15 below your entry and your plan risks $75. That's $75 ÷ $15 = 5 shares. The position size calculator does the math. A math example, not a promise. Any trade can lose.
If one share puts more at risk than your plan allows, the honest answer is a smaller trade or no trade. Some brokers offer fractional shares; check yours.
Common mistakes
- Missing the monthly report. COST can gap on a sales number in a week with no earnings.
- Mixing up the 16-week quarter. Q4 is longer, so raw totals look bigger. Compare like with like.
- Thinking "boring" means "safe." Calm stocks can still drop hard on a miss.
- Rounding share counts up. With a high price, one extra share can blow past your risk. See how to set a stop loss.
Questions
Does Costco report sales every month?
Yes. Costco posts net sales and comparable sales for most months, usually after the market closes. Check Costco's investor site for the schedule.
When does Costco report earnings?
Four times a year, after the US market closes, usually in March, May, September and December. Its fiscal year ends around the start of September.
Why do investors care so much about Costco memberships?
Membership fees are a big part of Costco's profit, and renewal rates show how loyal shoppers are. Fee changes and renewal numbers get close attention.
Is Costco in the Dow Jones?
No. Costco is in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100, but not the Dow.
Want the next step? We'll walk you through it.
Four free lessons by email, one every few days — each with a 10-minute exercise on a real chart.
Send Me the Free Lessons 4 short emails · No spam · Unsubscribe anytimeOr see the whole method, step by step:
See What’s Inside the Course Try everything free first. Decide when you're ready. · Open the free chart tool (works in the TradingView phone app)One chart idea a day, in plain English. Follow along: