DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) raised its quarterly dividend by 2 cents to 18 cents a share.

While luxury retailers, department stores and clothing chains are struggling to attract shoppers, discount retailers, such as Costco, generally have maintained sales levels.

However, Costco, the largest U.S. warehouse club based on sales, saw its fourth-quarter profits fall steeply because of aggressive price cuts to attract more customers.

Its shares were at $47.12, up 0.1%, in after-hours trading.

- By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5975; Kathy.Shwiff@dowjones.com