Costco ($COST) reported flat comparable store sales in January, with a 1 percent increase in the U.S. offsetting a 6 percent drop in Canada. Total sales were up 2 percent year-over-year. Fred's Inc. ($FRED) reported an increase in comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 and the month of January 2016, but lowered its earnings outlook for the fourth quarter, citing deeper gross margin pressures.