NEW YORK, January 30, 2026, 14:48 (EST) — Regular session.
- Costco shares slipped roughly 1.3% in afternoon trading, following some early volatility
- Instacart has extended its Costco delivery partnership to include France and Spain
- Upcoming catalysts include the January sales update on Feb. 4, followed by earnings on March 5
Shares of Costco Wholesale Corp slipped 1.3% to $940.68 in Friday afternoon trading, having fluctuated between $930.62 and $951.01 earlier in the session.
The stock’s jump shifts focus to growth engines beyond just the warehouse floor. Costco’s main appeal remains straightforward: low prices and consistent foot traffic. Yet, investors are pressing for the source of the next incremental visit.
Same-day delivery offers a solution. It drives smaller baskets, encourages more frequent orders, and provides members with a reason to stay engaged as shopping moves increasingly online.
The broader market dipped, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF slipping 0.4%. Consumer staples showed some resilience. Walmart and BJ’s Wholesale Club pushed higher, while Instacart gained roughly 0.4%.
Instacart and Costco have rolled out Costco’s first same-day delivery websites in France and Spain, building on a model already active in the US and Canada. Shoppers can place orders through local Costco sites, with deliveries coming directly from stores in cities like Paris and Madrid, the companies said. Chris Rogers described the move as “incredibly proud to expand that relationship into Europe,” while Costco executive Pierre Riel called it “another step in making Costco easier to access.” (Instacart)
Instacart’s software, Storefront Pro, powers the service, enabling retailers to run their own online ordering platforms and manage fulfillment—the pick-pack-and-deliver operations behind delivery. For Costco, this approach puts the membership connection front and center.
Delivery feels familiar, but it comes at a cost. Grocers and mass merchants have spent years adjusting fees, minimum order sizes, and labor to avoid turning last-mile delivery into a loss leader.
Yet, the rollout faces risks: slipping service standards, rising partner costs, or local regulations that restrict staffing flexibility. If orders lean toward small baskets, the boost in volume might barely move the profit needle.
Costco will release its January sales figures on Feb. 4, followed by its fiscal second-quarter earnings call on March 5. Investors are keen to see if digital order growth is boosting sales without hurting margins.
