Halsey ordered the remainder of the task force to return to base and directed the rest of his naval forces to take station in the Coral Sea, south of Guadalcanal, to be ready to counter a Japanese offensive.
Halsey beordrede resten af eskadren til at trække sig tilbage til deres base og gav resten af sine flådestyrker ordre til at gå i stilling i Koralhavet, syd for Guadalcanal, for at være klar til at imødegå den forventede japanske offensiv.