NEW YORK, January 27, 2026, 19:19 ET — After-hours trading session underway.
- Costco shares slipped roughly 0.7% to $970.28 in late after-hours trading
- A class action has been filed challenging Costco’s “no preservatives” claims on its rotisserie chicken
- Investors have their eyes on Costco’s January sales report due Feb. 4, followed by earnings on March 5
Costco Wholesale Corporation shares dipped roughly 0.7% to $970.28 in late after-hours trading Tuesday, following intraday swings from $961.73 up to $978.60.
Costco is now gearing up for two key dates: a January sales update set for Feb. 4 and the fiscal second-quarter earnings report on March 5.
Those dates are key since Costco frequently adjusts guidance through monthly sales reports, not only during quarterly earnings calls. Investors focus on comparable sales—also known as same-store sales—which track revenue at stores open for at least a year, looking for early clues about shifts in customer traffic or spending patterns.
A proposed class action in California federal court accuses Costco of marketing its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken as containing “no preservatives,” even though the ingredient list includes sodium phosphate and carrageenan—both of which plaintiffs say act as preservatives. 1
The chicken is priced at $4.99, with the complaint noting that “no preservatives” claims were displayed both in-store and online, according to Delish. 2
Costco’s investor calendar lists Jan. sales results set for release on Feb. 4. 3
The March 5 meeting is listed as the Q2 2026 earnings call. 4
Costco’s most recent sales update, covering December, reported net sales rising 8.5% to $29.86 billion. Total company comparable sales increased 7.0%, while digitally-enabled comparable sales jumped 18.9%. 5
Costco topped Wall Street expectations for both revenue and profit in its latest quarterly report. Greg Zakowicz, an ecommerce and retail advisor at Omnisend, noted, “Shoppers are not ignoring budgets, but are looking to stretch their dollar further.” Analysts at Truist Securities highlighted Costco’s “deep value model” as a key reason it “continue to gain market share,” Reuters reported. 6
U.S. stocks finished mixed Tuesday, with the S&P 500 just managing to hit a record high as traders held back ahead of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision and a flood of major earnings reports, Reuters said. 7
Expectations remain high as shares linger around $1,000: even a slight dip in January sales or an earnings update signaling cost or demand challenges could swiftly weigh on consumer stocks.
Investors are eyeing the Jan. 30 record date for Costco’s $1.30 quarterly cash dividend. After that, the January sales figures drop on Feb. 4, with the earnings call set for March 5. 8
