Walmart v USA zvýšil srovnatelné tržby v segmentu general merchandise ve čtvrtletí středním jednociferným tempem a hrubá marže vzrostla o 29 bazických bodů na 27,8 %. Tahounem byly fashion, hardlines a privátní značky.
Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. general merchandise comparable sales rose at a mid-single-digit rate in the quarter.Fashion, hardlines and double-digit private-brand growth drove the strongest share gains in five years. Favorable mix helped expand Walmart U.S. gross margin 29 basis points to 27.8% despite higher fuel costs. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) delivered a notable improvement in its general merchandise business during the first quarter of fiscal 2027, with stronger performance in discretionary categories beginning to contribute more meaningfully to the merchandise mix. The quarter marked an important development as improved general merchandise sales supported gross-margin expansion despite continued cost pressure from higher fuel expenses.
General merchandise comparable sales in Walmart U.S. increased at a mid-single-digit rate during the quarter, representing the highest level of share gains in five years. Growth was led by fashion and hardlines, while private-brand sales increased at a double-digit rate and gained 175 basis points of mix. Marketplace sales in hardlines, home and apparel also grew more than 40%, reflecting continued expansion across these categories.
The stronger merchandise mix helped lift profitability. Walmart U.S. gross profit increased 5.6% to $32.5 billion, while the gross profit rate expanded 29 basis points to 27.8%. The improvement reflected a favorable merchandise category mix, continued inventory management benefits and a stronger business mix driven by digital advertising. These gains were partially offset by higher fuel costs affecting distribution and fulfillment.
The quarter also marked the first time in 18 quarters that merchandise mix contributed positively to Walmart U.S. gross-margin expansion. General merchandise sales grew at a mid-single-digit rate, supported by stronger performance across key categories and approximately 7,200 rollbacks across the assortment, more than 20% higher than a year ago.
Taken together, the first-quarter results suggest that Walmart's general merchandise business is once again becoming a meaningful contributor to merchandise mix and gross-margin performance. Whether this momentum continues will likely depend on the company's ability to sustain growth across higher-value discretionary categories while navigating an elevated cost environment.
How Do Target and Costco Compare?Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) delivered broad-based merchandise momentum in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with net sales increasing 6.7% and comparable sales rising 5.6%. TGT reported higher sales across all six core merchandising categories, with strength spanning apparel, beauty, food and beverage, hardlines, home furnishings and household essentials. Improved merchandise performance also supported profitability, as Target's gross margin rate expanded 80 basis points to 29%.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) continued to report strong sales momentum in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. The company posted 11.6% net sales growth and a 9.8% comparable sales increase, supported by gains in both traffic and ticket size. COST’s gross margin declined 21 basis points to 11.04%. However, excluding the impact of gasoline prices, Costco’s gross margin improved by 1 basis point, indicating stable underlying merchandise profitability despite external pricing effects.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Walmart have risen 19.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 16.8%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 37.24, higher than the industry’s average of 33.97.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Walmart ve fiskálním prvním čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby o 7,3 % na 177,8 miliardy USD, tažený reklamou, členstvím a e-commerce. Firma potvrdila celoroční výhled růstu upraveného provozního zisku o 6 % až 8 %.
Walmart (WMT +0.77%) has quietly become one of the market's strongest large-cap performers over the past few years, rewarding investors who had long underestimated it. Lately, though, the run has cooled. Yet even after slipping from a 52-week high near $135 to about $114 as of this writing, the stock still fetches about 40 times earnings -- a growth stock multiple for a retailer that rings up most of its sales on low-margin groceries.
That gap is the whole question for anyone buying today. Can a company this enormous grow into a price like that over the next five years? The answer sits in a surprisingly small corner of the business.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The engines behind the premium On the surface, Walmart's results read like a big, dependable retailer's. In its fiscal first quarter of 2027 (the period ended April 30, 2026), total revenue rose 7.3% to $177.8 billion. Comparable sales in the U.S., excluding fuel, grew 4.1% -- healthy, but a notch below the 4.5% it posted a year earlier. Growth like that doesn't explain such a premium.
The explanation sits beneath the top line. Walmart's fastest-growing businesses happen to be its highest-margin, and they are finally big enough to matter. In the U.S., its Walmart Connect ad platform grew 44%, part of a broad jump in higher-margin advertising across the company. Membership fee income climbed 17.4% globally. And e-commerce sales rose 26%, now about 23% of net sales.
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Two things make that mix powerful. These lines carry far fatter margins than selling packaged food, so a growing share of Walmart's profit now comes from advertising, memberships, and marketplace fees rather than the shelves. And its online business, long a drag the company absorbed just to stay competitive, is finally reaching the point where better e-commerce economics help profits instead of hurting them.
"Our teams are ... growing higher-margin commerce solutions," CEO John Furner said in the company's first-quarter earnings release, describing a push he tied to stronger returns.
Automation feeds the same goal, with Walmart steering more of its capital expenditures into automated distribution and fulfillment that lower the cost of each online order.
Where the stock could be in 2031 Here is what today's price is really asking. At about 40 times earnings, the market is valuing Walmart less like a retailer and more like a durable and fast-growing compounder -- and management's own outlook shows why that's a stretch. For the full year, Walmart reiterated guidance for non-GAAP (adjusted) operating income to grow 6% to 8% and adjusted earnings per share of $2.75 to $2.85, up only about 6% from the prior year. Mid-single-digit profit growth rarely earns a valuation multiple in the 40s.
The five-year outcome comes down to two things: how fast earnings grow, and what multiple investors keep paying. Assume Walmart compounds earnings at 8% to 10% a year, a bit above current guidance and generous to the high-margin businesses. Hold the price-to-earnings ratio at 40, and the stock could approach $175. Let the premium fade toward a still-rich 30 times, and the same earnings support a price closer to $130. Push the multiple toward the broader market's, and five years of steady execution could leave the shares near where they trade now.
So a realistic five-year range runs from about $130 to $175, and nearly all of that spread comes from the multiple, not the business. The single most important factor, then, isn't comparable sales or the next holiday quarter. It's whether the high-margin engines, advertising above all, keep growing fast enough to keep investors excited about the growth story and ultimately defend the valuation premium. If Walmart Connect and membership keep compounding at double-digit rates, the mix shift can justify a rich multiple. If they cool, it likely compresses, and the stock can stall for years even while the business does fine.
There are, of course, reasons for caution. U.S. comparable sales already slowed last quarter, and higher fuel costs in the supply chain weighed on operating profit. Sure, Walmart keeps sending cash back to shareholders through a $30 billion buyback authorization (and notably a small dividend that yields under 1%). But against a company worth more than $900 billion, this repurchase program only modestly moves earnings.
So where does that leave the stock? I think Walmart will very likely be a bigger, more profitable business in five years, carried by the high-margin growth it's leaning into. But an excellent business bought at a demanding price can still make an ordinary investment. At about 40 times earnings, too much of the good news already sits in the share price for me. I'd rather wait for a pullback that prices in the chance the advertising and membership businesses cool before they fully scale. For now, it's a stock I'd watch rather than buy.
Walmart+ ve 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 zvýšil příjmy z členských poplatků dvouciferným tempem a přidal rekordní počet nových členů. Členové utrácejí čtyřikrát více a na e-shop chodí sedmkrát častěji než nečlenové.
Key Takeaways Walmart fee revenues rose at a double-digit rate, with record first-quarter net additions. Members spend four times more and make seven times more annual e-commerce visits than non-members. WMT can reach about 60% of the U.S. population with delivery in 30 minutes or less. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is steadily expanding the role of Walmart+ within its omnichannel strategy, making membership an increasingly important source of recurring revenues and customer engagement. As shoppers place greater value on convenience and savings, the program is helping deepen interaction across the company’s digital and physical retail network.
The first quarter of fiscal 2027 reflected continued momentum. Walmart+ membership fee revenues increased at a double-digit rate, while net additions reached a record first-quarter high. The program also contributed to Walmart U.S. adjusted operating income, which rose 5.7% during the quarter, alongside improved e-commerce economics and other income benefits.
The value of Walmart+ extends beyond membership fees. Members generally spend four times more than non-members and make seven times more e-commerce visits annually. Those engagement trends complement Walmart’s broader digital performance, with Walmart U.S. e-commerce sales increasing 26%, supported by store-fulfilled delivery, marketplace and advertising.
Convenience is also strengthening the membership proposition. More than 36% of U.S. store-fulfilled deliveries were completed in less than three hours, while Walmart can now reach approximately 60% of the U.S. population with deliveries in 30 minutes or less. Faster fulfillment is supporting greater engagement and making the program more useful for everyday purchases.
Walmart+ is also becoming more relevant as consumers seek additional savings. Members increased their use of fuel benefits during the quarter as gasoline prices remained elevated.
The latest results suggest that Walmart+ is becoming a more meaningful part of WMT’s business model. By combining recurring fee revenues with higher spending, stronger digital activity and greater convenience, the program is supporting the company’s broader omnichannel momentum.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares rally 18.9% over the past year compared with the industry’s 16.4% growth. Shares of Costco have dipped 6.6%, while Target has gained 28.9% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 37.22, higher than the industry’s 33.98. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.73) while trading at a discount to Costco (41.3).
Sam's Club přidává k členství výhody Weight Watchers: členové Plus dostanou tři měsíce zdarma a všichni slevy na wellness programy. Walmart zároveň uvedl, že tržby z členských poplatků vzrostly v prvním čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 o více než 17 %.
Key Takeaways Sam's Club adds Weight Watchers perks to expand membership value beyond traditional retail. Plus members get three free months, while all members receive discounts on added wellness programs. Walmart's membership fee revenue rose more than 17%, supporting its push for higher-margin growth. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) continues to strengthen its competitive position by expanding the value of its membership ecosystem beyond traditional retail. Instead of relying solely on low prices, the company is increasingly adding services to encourage members to engage more frequently across shopping, healthcare and digital offerings. Sam's Club's new collaboration with Weight Watchers is the latest example of this strategy.
Under the initiative, Sam's Club Plus members are eligible for a complimentary three-month Weight Watchers Core membership, while all members can access discounted pricing on additional wellness programs focused on nutrition, weight management and clinical support. The offering also complements Sam's Club's existing pharmacy services, prescription savings, healthy food offerings and prescription delivery capabilities, creating a more integrated wellness experience.
The collaboration is consistent with Walmart's broader focus on growing membership-based revenues and strengthening customer loyalty. Enterprise membership fee revenue increased more than 17% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, while Sam's Club U.S. membership revenue rose 5.6%. Members are also making greater use of delivery, fuel savings and digital services, suggesting that expanding the range of membership benefits may encourage higher engagement and reinforce renewal rates over time.
While the partnership is unlikely to have a material impact on Walmart's near-term financial performance, it highlights the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company's efforts to make membership more valuable through services that extend beyond retail purchases. By integrating wellness support with grocery, pharmacy and digital offerings, Sam's Club is building a broader value proposition for its members.
If the initiative drives stronger engagement and more frequent use of membership benefits, it could further support Walmart's long-term strategy of expanding recurring, higher-margin revenue streams while reinforcing Sam's Club's competitive position in the warehouse club industry.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of WMT have risen 18.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 17.3%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.71, higher than the industry’s average of 33.76.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WMT’s current and next fiscal year earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.5% and 13.3%, respectively.
Stocks to ConsiderRoss Stores, Inc. (ROST - Free Report) , a leading U.S. off-price retailer operating Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS stores, sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.2%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 9.1% and 17.1%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) a leading value retailer that operates thousands of discount stores, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). DLTR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.1%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 6.5% and 21.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX - Free Report) , a major off-price apparel and home fashions retailer, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The TJX Companies’ current fiscal-year sales indicates growth of nearly 5.9%, and estimates for earnings suggest a 9.3% increase from the year-ago figure. TJX delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.8%, on average.
Walmart WMT shares are on the rise following the announcement of thousands of summer Rollbacks across various categories, including grocery, household essentials, outdoor products, toys, and apparel. Additionally, over 250 price reductions have been introduced at Sam’s Club. This positive market response indicates that investors view these initiatives as a strategic move to enhance WMT’s value proposition, attract customers, and increase market share, rather than a sign of widespread inventory issues.
Price Investment: WMT is continuing its value strategy, which included approximately 7,200 Rollbacks in Q1, marking a year-over-year increase of over 20% across grocery and discretionary categories. Competitive Advantage: Walmart's purchasing scale, supply chain efficiency, and diverse product offerings allow it to lower prices more effectively than many competitors, helping to maintain customer traffic and loyalty. Margin Backdrop: In Q1, Walmart U.S. gross margin increased by 29 basis points, even as the company absorbed around $175 million in unexpected fuel costs instead of passing them onto consumers. While fuel inflation remains a concern, recent results indicate WMT's ability to invest in value without sacrificing overall margin improvement. Profit Cushion: Higher-margin sectors are bolstering WMT's model, with global advertising up 37%, U.S. advertising up 36%, membership fee revenue rising over 17%, and U.S. marketplace sales climbing nearly 50%. These Commerce Solutions businesses lessen WMT’s dependence on traditional merchandise margins. Core Demand: In Q1, Walmart U.S. comparable sales rose 4.1%, enterprise eCommerce sales increased by 26%, delivery sales grew by 45%, and general merchandise saw mid-single-digit growth with the strongest market share gains in five years. These trends suggest that the Rollbacks aim to further enhance already-strong demand rather than address a significant sales shortfall. Guidance and Inventory Watch: The Q2 adjusted EPS guidance of $0.72-0.74 fell short of the $0.75 FactSet Consensus, but WMT upheld its FY27 outlook of $2.75-2.85. Investors will be looking for assurance that inventory levels align with sales and that promotional activities do not escalate to the point of impacting earnings. Today's market response indicates that investors are recognizing WMT's strategic use of pricing to enhance its competitive position, rather than perceiving the Rollbacks as a warning sign. With its scale, procurement capabilities, and growing advertising, membership, and marketplace segments, WMT has more flexibility than many retailers to fund promotions while maintaining profitability. This initiative could further enhance customer traffic, retention, and market share across both grocery and discretionary sectors, especially as consumers remain focused on value. The upcoming earnings report will need to demonstrate that this strong value proposition translates into healthy comparable sales without compromising gross margin, inventory management, or the full-year profit forecast.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
Key Takeaways Sam's Club e-commerce sales rose 23% in Q1 fiscal 2027, lifting digital's role in performance.Club-fulfilled delivery sales grew more than 90%, while digital sales hit a record share of sales. Walmart's membership and other income rose 11%, backed by higher fees, renewals and Plus members. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is strengthening Sam’s Club as a digitally enabled membership business, with convenience, fulfillment speed and omnichannel engagement becoming more important parts of the club model. The latest quarter shows that e-commerce is playing a larger role in Sam’s Club’s performance while supporting broader member engagement.
Sam’s Club’s e-commerce sales increased 23% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, driven by continued strength in club-fulfilled pickup and delivery. Digital sales contributed roughly 400 basis points to comparable sales growth, up from about 350 basis points in the year-ago quarter. Comparable sales, excluding fuel, rose 3.9%, supported by higher transactions and unit volumes, with transactions up 6.2%.
Fulfillment remains central to the momentum. Club-fulfilled delivery sales grew more than 90% in the quarter, and e-commerce reached an all-time high share of Sam’s Club’s sales mix. Walmart also launched Dynamic Express Delivery, allowing members to receive club items in less than an hour.
Membership trends add support. Membership and other income grew 11%, reflecting a 5.6% increase in membership fee revenues, driven by steady growth in member counts, renewal rates and Plus members.
Overall, Sam’s Club’s e-commerce momentum appears supported by stronger fulfillment capabilities, rising digital penetration and a healthier membership base. Walmart is making online shopping a more integrated part of the Sam’s Club member experience, giving the business a clearer foundation to sustain digital growth over time.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares rally 12.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s 10.5% growth. Shares of Costco have dipped 4.1%, while Target has gained 28.2% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 36.64, higher than the industry’s 33.4. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.18) while trading at a discount to Costco (43).
Walmart spouští agentické nakupování s Google Gemini, což může posílit celý e-commerce řetězec od platforem po logistiku. Firma zároveň hlásí růst globálního e-commerce o 26 % a marketplace téměř o 50 %.
Walmart’s agentic shopping push with Google’s Gemini has flipped a long-simmering thesis into a live catalyst: AI agents that browse, compare, and check out on behalf of consumers are moving from concept to production at the largest retailer on earth. That reroutes value across the entire e-commerce stack, from storefront platforms to payments rails to the warehouses and trucks that turn a chatbot cart into a doorstep delivery.
To rank the top beneficiaries, we weighted five factors: e-commerce growth, agentic AI readiness, marketplace or platform positioning, financial momentum, and direct linkage to the Walmart-Google flywheel. The beneficiary set includes such names as Target, Wayfair, UPS, Mastercard, and PayPal, but the five below are closest to the action.
5. FedEx FedEx (NYSE:FDX | FDX Price Prediction) is the parcel backbone for packages agentic carts will generate. Q4 FY26 revenue hit $25.01 billion (+12.5% year on year) with adjusted EPS of $6.31, the fourth consecutive beat. U.S. Priority Package yield rose 10%, and management guided calendar 2026 to roughly 11% revenue growth. Shares are up 68.1% year to date through July 1. Yield discipline and the June 1, 2026, Freight spin-off leave a leaner parcel business ready to price agentic-driven volume.
4. Etsy Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) is the most direct pure-play agentic-commerce partner. The marketplace has plugged into OpenAI’s shopping framework and cites partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google as incremental traffic drivers. Q1 FY26 GMS grew 5.5% to $2.50 billion, active buyers grew sequentially for the first time in two years, and take rate expanded 180 bps to 25.7%. CEO Kruti Patel Goyal said, “As technology continues to evolve, particularly with the rise of AI, we believe those qualities become more important, not less.” Shares are up 31.4% year to date, with analysts carrying a $72.71 target.
3. Symbotic Symbotic (NASDAQ:SYM) is the purest picks-and-shovels play on Walmart’s fulfillment buildout. Q2 FY26 revenue rose 23.1% to $676.48 million, adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $77.75 million, and operational systems reached 52 (up from 37). The contracted backlog sits near $22.7 billion, anchored by Walmart and buttressed by the SoftBank Exol JV worth roughly $11 billion. Symbotic acquired Walmart’s Advanced Systems and Robotics business, deepening the linkage. Shares are down 24.4% year to date, which arguably prices in the GAAP EPS miss while leaving room for re-rating if agentic order flow lifts throughput.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Walmart didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
2. Shopify Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP) is the merchant-side AI backbone for millions of storefronts an agent will transact against. Q1 FY26 revenue jumped 34.3% to $3.17 billion, GMV reached $100.74 billion (+35%), and free cash flow was $476 million at a 15% margin. Merchant Solutions revenue grew 39%, and Shopify is layering AI commerce intelligence, agentic checkout tooling, and merchant-facing AI directly into its stack. Shares trade at a rich 120 times earnings and are down 24.44% year to date, giving forward-looking investors a cheaper entry into the agentic distribution layer than a year ago.
1. Walmart Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is the story. Q1 FY27 revenue hit $175.68 billion (+6.1% year on year), global e-commerce grew 26% and now represents 23% of net sales, marketplace sales rose nearly 50%, and Walmart Connect advertising grew 44% ex-VIZIO. Store-fulfilled delivery is up 45%, with expedited orders under three hours accounting for roughly 36% of store-fulfilled volume. CEO John Furner said Walmart is “adopting innovative technologies, driving productivity through automation, and growing higher-margin commerce solutions.” A $30 billion repurchase authorization underpins the investment case. Analysts carry a $138.59 target versus a current price near $111.60. The Google Gemini agentic shopping tie-in gives Walmart a distribution moat few competitors can replicate: physical stores, a booming marketplace, its own ad platform, robotics via Symbotic, and an AI front door.
The Bottom Line Walmart owns the anchor deal, Shopify powers the merchant layer, Symbotic automates the warehouses, Etsy is already inside the ChatGPT shopping surface, and FedEx moves what agents buy. Consumer sentiment is soft (the University of Michigan index printed 44.8 in May 2026, well into recessionary territory), yet retail sales still hit a 12-month high of $763.7 billion. The clear risk: agentic commerce adoption is early and unproven, and any of these stocks could see the narrative outrun the numbers before consumers meaningfully shift to AI-mediated checkout.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Walmart didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Amazon a Flipkart v Indii agresivně rozšiřují doručování na minuty a chtějí dohnat lídra Blinkit. Amazon Now míří do více než 300 měst, Flipkart Minutes má přes 1 000 mikrofulfillmentových center ve více než 130 městech.
Hello, this is Priyanka Salve, writing to you from Singapore.
Welcome to the latest edition of "Inside India" — your one-stop destination for stories and developments from the world's fastest-growing large economy.
India's 15-minute delivery boom is reshaping one of the world's fastest-growing e-commerce markets. The service, expected to account for nearly 40% of online retail sales in the country by 2030, is currently led by local players, but Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are mounting an aggressive challenge. The stakes extend beyond growth — they're fighting to stay relevant in a market that's redefining consumer expectations.
Any thoughts on today's newsletter? Share them with the team.
The big storyThe under-15-minute delivery, or quick commerce, companies in India have achieved something remarkable: they disrupted the biggest disruptors. But the fight isn't over yet.
Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart, the e-commerce giants that once ended the dominance of physical retail stores in India, were late to enter the quick commerce space but are now mounting an aggressive challenge against the sector's incumbents.
E-commerce companies are not just chasing market share in a new format – they need to offer quick commerce services to remain relevant to consumers, experts told CNBC, adding that India is an important long-term growth market where they need to tap into shifts in consumption habits.
So, during Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy's visit to India last week, quick commerce was undoubtedly in focus.
On June 24, Jassy visited a micro fulfilment center in Mumbai and said in a post on X that the global e-commerce major now has ambitions to become India's "largest delivery-in-minutes network."
On its app, Amazon Now in India is offering cash back of up to 25% for the first five orders and waiving platform fees and delivery charges as it seeks to rapidly onboard customers and deepen adoption of the service.
The U.S company plans to offer Amazon Now services in more than 300 cities, compared to Blinkit, which is India's dominant quick commerce company with more than 2,200 dark stores serving over 200 cities as of March 2026.
The other challenger, Flipkart, also said last week that its quick service offering, Minutes, has over 1,000 micro fulfilment centers across more than 130 cities.
"For Amazon and Flipkart, this isn't simply about entering another retail format — it's about ensuring they remain relevant if instant fulfilment becomes the preferred mode of e-commerce," Aakash Agrawal, associate director at Anand Rathi Investment Banking, told CNBC.
The frenzied adoptionQuick commerce is a post-pandemic phenomenon in India that began with under-15-minute delivery of fresh produce and fast-moving consumer goods but has gradually expanded to include smartphones, small electronic gadgets and appliances, beauty products, pharmacy and more.
It has rewired consumer habits to prioritize delivery of online products within minutes rather than days. Food delivery companies like Eternal and Swiggy, with their localized logistics networks, were among the first to scale up in this space in India, even though it is start-up Zepto that is often credited with being the first to launch quick commerce in 2021.
While fresh produce, staples, and FMCG goods are the most frequently ordered products on quick commerce platforms, according to experts, small electronic items, kitchen appliances, and travel accessories are also popular across Amazon, Flipkart and their more established rivals.
Amazon is also setting up 100 urban fulfilment centers that will stock apparel, electronics, jewelry, shoes, luggage, watches, wireless accessories, musical instruments and furniture for quick commerce orders.
According to an April report by Bain & Company, India is the "global leader" in quick commerce adoption, with nearly 17% of its e-commerce gross merchandise value flowing through these platforms.
By 2030, the quick commerce opportunity in India is expected to reach between $65 and $70 billion, up sixfold from 2025, the report said, adding that it will account for up to 40% of total online retail sales by gross volume and nearly half of incremental sales.
Both Amazon and Flipkart are already experiencing the frenzy of quick commerce adoption in India and are expected to take market share from competitors with a weaker financial profile, experts said.
"Prime members triple their shopping frequency once they start using it [Amazon Now], and we've seen orders double every quarter since launch," Jassy said in his post, adding that quick commerce is now the "fastest-growing ecommerce business unit in India" for the company.
A Flipkart spokesperson told CNBC that the e-commerce firm is seeing a sharp rise in adoption of quick commerce outside of metro cities, with Gen Z being the "fastest-growing cohort," accounting for 40% of the customer base.
With the entry of Flipkart and Amazon, the competitive intensity of the quick commerce market has increased, experts said, adding that it will eventually shrink to two to three companies in the next few years as cash burn ends.
Blinkit, the quick commerce platform of Eternal, is the only quick commerce company that has proved profitability at the operating level over the last two quarters. It reported adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of 370 million rupees ($3.8 million) in the March quarter and of 40 million rupees in the previous quarter.
"Our view is that Blinkit is definitely going to be one of those two or three players," Aditya Soman, senior research analyst at CLSA India, told CNBC's Inside India on Tuesday.
But the slot for two more winners in the quick commerce race remains wide open.
Need to knowAmazon adds new funding, lifting India AI and cloud investment to $48 billion
Amazon plans to invest an additional $13 billion to expand artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure in India, taking its total investment in the country to $48 billion between 2026 and 2030. These funds will be used to expand AWS data center capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad.
One of India's largest gold exporters paid its managing director just $180 a month, probe reveals
Indian authorities uncovered multiple accounting and operational irregularities at one of the country's largest gold companies, Rajesh Exports, according to an investigation released Wednesday, weeks after market regulators raised concerns over the company's reported revenue.
Coming up
July 1-3: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visits India.
Akcie Walmartu klesly o 4,5 % poté, co Cleveland Research upozornila na zpomalení tržeb ve stejných prodejnách. Analytici zpochybnili, zda firma splní čtvrtletní výhled tržeb.
Shares of Walmart (WMT 4.27%) fell 4.5% on Wednesday as of 1:05 p.m. EDT. The day's fall marks an extension of a recent pullback in Walmart shares, which are now down nearly 20% from their May highs.
Today, a Wall Street analyst issued a negative note on Walmart's same-store sales, leading to another leg down in this month-long pullback.
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Cleveland Research channel checks show a slowdown Today, sell-side research firm Cleveland Research published a note on Walmart, stating that its channel checks showed a slowdown in same-store sales. The analyst noted that Walmart may be lowering prices to clear excess inventory, which the company may offset with tariff refunds. As a result, the analysts questioned whether Walmart will be able to beat its sales guidance for the quarter, which ends at the end of July.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down most of the tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration in early 2025, which affected all major retailers. As such, companies that paid tariffs to the government last year are now entitled to a refund. Customs and Border Protection began taking applications for refunds beginning on April 20.
However, while last year's tariffs were struck down, it is expected that the Trump Administration could issue new and potentially higher tariffs under a different statute, beginning on July 24.
Combined with higher oil prices in the second quarter due to the Iran war, consumers may be squeezed a bit. Higher oil and gas prices also drive up the costs of goods, as do tariffs. So, even though Walmart is perhaps best-positioned of nearly any big box retailer due to its buying power, it can't totally escape the dual problems of lower demand and higher costs.
Image source: Getty Images.
Walmart's high valuation does it no favors Even after the recent pullback, Walmart stock trades at a lofty 38 times earnings. This is for a company that guided to revenue growth of just around 4% this year.
That type of valuation reflects Walmart's competitive advantage as a consumer staples leader, but doesn't leave much margin of safety at all, should anything go wrong. With today's note, that was certainly enough to deepen the current pullback. Even with the recent slide, Walmart shares are no bargain.
Medicare poprvé začalo dočasně hradit léky na obezitu v rámci vládního programu a Walmart s CVS Health pomáhají seniorům se v nové dostupnosti zorientovat. Walmart a Sam's Club nabízejí poradenství a podporu v téměř 5 000 pobočkách, CVS rozšiřuje podporu v 9 000 lékárnách a MinuteClinic.
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.
Medicare has officially started covering obesity drugs for the first time through a temporary government program – and companies like Walmart and CVS Health are playing an important role for patients.
The huge shift in Medicare policy is going to open up access to millions of older Americans who previously couldn't afford blockbuster GLP-1s from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to treat obesity. But many seniors may not know about this new coverage or how to navigate its complexities, such as eligibility requirements and how it differs from traditional Medicare insurance for drugs, CNBC previously reported.
A staggering 82% of all older Americans said they were unaware that Medicare was about to begin covering obesity drugs, according to a survey released in early June by the Obesity Care Advocacy Network.
Healthcare providers are always a reliable resource for patients, but many Medicare beneficiaries face long waits for appointments with doctors. So, Walmart and CVS Health are trying to step in to fill the gap.
Walmart and Sam's Club last week launched a nationwide effort to help Medicare patients better understand the new coverage, by offering more educational materials, more pharmacy support at almost 5,000 locations and assistance in navigating healthcare resources.
Walmart's website will curate several resources directed at Medicare beneficiaries, including a learning page that will help seniors interested in gaining coverage along with options for weight management support. The company will also provide other digital tools: For example, seniors who are regular Walmart shoppers can join what's called Everyday Health Signals, which can help review their grocery purchases and recommend healthier alternatives.
Those resources are still going to be broadly available for the patients that don't qualify for coverage under the government program, called Bridge, Kevin Host, senior vice president of Walmart Health & Wellness, said in an interview. Walmart is training its pharmacists and technicians, who will be providing one-on-one consultations to help patients understand what their next steps are and can help them manage side effects once they start therapy, Host said.
Pharmacists are "easily the most accessible healthcare professionals," he added. Walmart has 15,000 pharmacists, roughly half of whom have been with the company for more than a decade, Host said.
"You think about the relationships that they're able to establish – we got a pretty significant presence in rural spots, and many are medically underserved communities," he said.
CVS is also ramping up its GLP-1 support across 9,000 pharmacy locations and MinuteClinic, a division that provides retail clinic services, as the new coverage rolls out. The effort includes expanded pharmacy support designed to help patients access the treatments and manage common side effects so they can stay on them, according to a CVS release.
It also includes a new $49 MinuteClinic virtual visit that connects eligible patients with licensed clinicians who can evaluate and prescribe a GLP-1 treatment if appropriate.
"From helping patients manage side effects to identifying ways to lower costs, our pharmacists are there every step of the way," said Sid Tenneti, CVS's interim president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, in the release.
Walmart's Host said amid huge coverage changes, patients are looking for simplicity and experiences that are easier to navigate.
"We think we have the unique ability to help, and we're looking to help with accessibility and affordability," he said. "We're leveraging our trusted healthcare professionals, those pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and just bringing in everyday convenience at a national scale that very few organizations can match."
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at a new email: [email protected].
Walmart Connect ve 1. čtvrtletí vzrostl o 44 % a pomohl zvednout hrubou marži Walmart U.S. o 29 bazických bodů. Růst podpořilo hlavně digitální inzerování a lepší mix podnikání.
Key Takeaways Walmart Connect grew 44% in Q1, outpacing 36% U.S. advertising revenue growth. Sellers lifted ad spending by more than 50% after sales gains, reinforcing Walmart's ad opportunity.WMT's U.S. gross margin rose 29 bps, helped mainly by digital advertising and better business mix. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is steadily reshaping its profit profile by scaling higher-margin digital businesses alongside its core retail operations. Within that shift, Walmart Connect is emerging as an increasingly important part of the company’s margin story.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Walmart U.S. advertising revenues increased 36%, while Walmart Connect, excluding VIZIO, grew 44%. This growth came alongside 26% U.S. e-commerce sales growth and nearly 50% Marketplace sales growth, giving brands and sellers a broader, more engaged customer base.
Marketplace growth is also reinforcing the advertising opportunity. Sellers increased their advertising spending by more than 50% after seeing corresponding sales gains. Walmart also enhanced its ad capabilities via AI-powered campaign optimization tools and expanded reach through VIZIO’s connected TV platform.
The margin impact is becoming more visible. Walmart U.S. gross margin expanded 29 basis points, helped by a favorable business mix led primarily by digital advertising, though higher fuel costs in distribution and fulfillment partly offset the gains. Adjusted operating income for Walmart U.S. rose 5.7%, reflecting improved e-commerce economics, higher Walmart+ membership fee revenues and other income benefits.
Walmart Connect may not yet be proven as WMT’s biggest margin driver, but it is clearly becoming a more meaningful one. Its rapid growth, seller engagement and role in improving business mix suggest advertising is strengthening Walmart’s omnichannel economics and supporting a more profitable growth model.
How TGT and KR Are Using Retail Media to Lift MarginsTarget Corporation (TGT - Free Report) is also using retail media to support profitability beyond merchandise sales. In first-quarter 2026, the company reported a 24.6% increase in non-merchandise revenues, driven by growth in Roundel advertising, Target Circle 360 membership fees and Target Plus marketplace revenues. These higher-margin streams helped lift TGT’s gross margin rate to 29% from 28.2% a year ago, along with lower markdowns and supply-chain efficiencies. For Target, Roundel is becoming a more visible earnings lever within its broader digital ecosystem.
The Kroger Co. KR is pursuing a similar path through higher-margin alternative profit businesses. In first-quarter 2026, the company’s Kroger Precision Marketing profit grew more than 20%, supported by strong on-site customer traffic and higher advertiser commitments. KR also delivered 19% adjusted e-commerce sales growth, while e-commerce, including media, reached profitability for the first time. By leveraging first-party customer data and digital engagement, Kroger is making retail media a more meaningful contributor to margin expansion beyond grocery sales.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Walmart have risen 16% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 14.9%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 37.17, higher than the industry’s average of 34.18.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Walmart uvádí, že týdenní aktivní uživatelé Sparky vzrostli o více než 100 % a jejich průměrná hodnota objednávky byla asi o 35 % vyšší než u ostatních zákazníků. Počet jednotek přes Sparky se navíc zvýšil více než čtyřnásobně.
Key Takeaways Sparky weekly active users rose more than 100% from the prior quarter. Walmart says Sparky users had average order values about 35% higher than non-users. Sparky units rose more than fourfold as e-commerce sales grew 26% globally. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) continues to use technology to make shopping faster, easier and more personalized, and its AI shopping assistant, Sparky, is becoming a more visible part of that effort. The latest quarter shows that Sparky is gaining user traction while also supporting larger digital baskets.
Weekly active users of Sparky increased more than 100% from the prior quarter. Walmart also improved Sparky’s intelligence and response quality by 40% this year, making the tool more useful across shopping occasions. Customers can now use Sparky in stores, automatically reorder frequently purchased items and interact with it in Spanish.
The more notable signal is order behavior. Customers using Sparky had an average order value about 35% higher than non-Sparky customers. Units purchased through Sparky also rose more than fourfold from the previous quarter. This indicates that shoppers are using the tool for broader purchases, not just one-off searches.
The trend fits within Walmart’s stronger digital performance. Global e-commerce sales grew 26%, while Walmart U.S. delivery rose 45%. More than 36% of U.S. store-fulfilled deliveries were completed in less than three hours, giving Sparky a stronger fulfillment backdrop as customers build orders.
Overall, Sparky is still one piece of Walmart’s broader omnichannel model, but the early data is encouraging. Rising usage, higher order values and stronger unit activity suggest that AI is becoming a more meaningful layer in Walmart’s shopping experience, helping customers create larger and more convenient baskets.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares rally 16.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s 15.3% growth. Shares of Costco have dipped 4.4%, while Target has gained 35.8% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 38.61, higher than the industry’s 37.62. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.62) while trading at a discount to Costco (42.83).
Amazon se v roce 2025 stal největším maloobchodníkem v USA podle hrubé hodnoty zboží a podle J.P. Morgan předstihl Walmart. Firma nyní drží odhadovaný 47% podíl na americkém e-commerce trhu.
Amazon became the largest retailer in the United States in terms of gross merchandise value sometime in 2025, overtaking Walmart, Seeking Alpha reported Thursday (June 25), citing a report by J.P. Morgan.
J.P. Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth and his team attributed Amazon’s gains to its selection, pricing and fast delivery, according to the report.
They added that the growth of Amazon’s retail business outpaced that of the broader eCommerce market in the first quarter and that the company is now estimated to hold 47% of the U.S. eCommerce market, per the report.
The PYMNTS Intelligence report “The Basket Breakaway: How Amazon Is Turning Walmart’s Store Traffic Into a Retail Weakness” found that while Walmart draws tens of millions of people into its store every week for groceries, Amazon has pulled ahead in the sale of other retail items and is widening its lead.
PYMNTS Intelligence found that Amazon surpassed Walmart in terms of share of consumer retail spending in the first quarter of 2024.
As of the first quarter of 2026, Amazon holds a 9.3% share of consumer retail spending, up from 8.6% a year earlier, while Walmart holds 7.8% share, equal to the share it held in the first quarter of 2025.
Amazon holds a significant lead in four of seven retail categories, including sporting and hobby goods, musicand books; electronics and appliances; furniture and home furnishing; and clothing and apparel, according to the report.
“These are precisely the goods that travel well in a box, delivered the same day or the next in most cases,” the report said. “Amazon wins them all without owning a single aisle of shelf space.”
Amazon also holds a 0.1 percentage point lead in a fifth category, health and personal care, while Walmart has a greater share of the food and beverages category and the auto parts category, per the report.
Both Amazon and Walmart are currently holding sales events, with Amazon’s Prime Day running June 23-26 and Walmart Deals running June 22-28. An Amazon executive said groceries and household essentials will be a “real focus” of Prime Day, while Walmart is offering deals both online and in stores.
Společnost Walmart koupí Vibe.co a rozšíří tak Walmart Connect o samoobslužnou platformu pro reklamu v CTV. Cílem je zpřístupnit a lépe měřit CTV kampaně pro malé a střední inzerenty.
Acquisition brings Vibe.co’s self-serve, connected TV advertising platform into Walmart Connect’s commerce media platform, making TV advertising more accessible and measurable for small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) and mid-market advertisers.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walmart and Vibe.co today announced they have entered into an agreement under which Walmart will acquire Vibe.co, a self-serve, connected TV (CTV) advertising platform designed to simplify advertising for small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) and mid-market brands. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration or early termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition advances Walmart’s strategy to build more accessible, full-funnel advertising solutions through Walmart Connect, its commerce media business. By combining Vibe.co’s self-serve CTV platform with Walmart’s commerce audiences, closed-loop measurement and growing media ecosystem, including VIZIO, Walmart Connect aims to help more advertisers launch CTV campaigns and better measure their business impact.
“Walmart Connect is focused on making commerce media more accessible, more measurable and easier to activate for advertisers of all sizes,” said Ryan Mayward, GM and Senior Vice President, Walmart Connect U.S. “Vibe.co has created a purpose-built platform that simplifies streaming TV advertising, and together, we can help more businesses connect with customers across streaming environments while measuring the impact of those campaigns through Walmart’s commerce capabilities.”
Vibe.co’s platform offers self-serve campaign activation, direct supply partner integrations, proprietary advertising technology and performance-driven optimization that helps advertisers access premium connected TV inventory more efficiently. The combination is expected to support broader adoption of the CTV ad media among advertisers across Walmart Connect, and the broader connected TV ecosystem, particularly among SMB and mid-market advertisers, including Walmart’s third-party marketplace sellers. The platform can deliver easier campaign activation, greater transparency and stronger measurement between media investment and commerce outcomes.
“Vibe.co was built as the self-serve platform for performance and ecommerce marketers to run streaming TV the way they run paid social: measurable, fast to launch, and optimized for better outcomes,” said Arthur Querou, Co-Founder and CEO, Vibe.co. “Joining Walmart gives us the opportunity to accelerate that mission and bring performance TV advertising to one of the most powerful commerce media ecosystems in the market.”
Advertisers continue to navigate a fragmented media landscape where CTV can deliver reach and impact but often remains complex and costly to buy. Walmart Connect and Vibe.co aim to reduce friction across planning, targeting, ad content creation, activation, measurement and optimization, making CTV more accessible to advertisers without large media teams or specialized resources.
This transaction builds on Walmart Connect’s existing solutions and continued investments to make commerce media easier to access and manage, including recent partnerships with Magnite, Yahoo DSP, and Google DV360. Combined with Walmart’s acquisition of VIZIO, Vibe.co strengthens Walmart Connect’s ability to deliver simplified activation, enhanced targeting and measurable outcomes across its growing CTV ecosystem.
Walmart Connect and Vibe.co remain committed to operating within an open and collaborative advertising ecosystem, working with broadcasters, publishers, supply-side platforms (SSPs), measurement providers and technology partners across the industry. Existing partner relationships remain an important part of Walmart Connect’s advertising strategy. The acquisition is intended to expand advertiser choice and accessibility, not limit how advertisers or partners engage with Walmart Connect’s media ecosystem.
Following the close of the transaction, Vibe.co CEO and Co-Founder Arthur Querou, CTO and Co-Founder Franck Tetzlaff, and the broader Vibe.co team are expected to join Walmart Connect to help maintain business momentum, support a seamless integration and continue serving Vibe’s advertisers, publishers and technology partners. Their expertise in connected TV, self-serve activation and performance advertising will serve as valuable additions to the Walmart team.
The parties expect the transaction to close by the end of fiscal year 2027. Walmart does not expect the transaction to have any impact to FY27 sales and operating income growth guidance, as previously provided.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
About Vibe.co
Vibe.co is a self-serve, connected TV advertising platform designed to make streaming TV advertising more accessible, efficient and performance-driven for ecommerce brands, growth-stage businesses and SMBs. With more than 10,000 advertisers, advanced targeting, AI optimization and measurement capabilities, Vibe.co makes streaming TV advertising as accessible and accountable as digital.
Walmart uzavřel se společností Constellation Energy dlouhodobou smlouvu na dodávky jaderné elektřiny pro své dříve oznámené „high-tech“ distribuční centrum pro rychle se kazící zboží v Belvidere v Illinois. Firma bude odebírat zhruba 176 megawattů v rámci dvou 15letých kontraktů od let 2029 a 2030.
A Walmart store is shown in Oceanside, California, U.S., May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesJune 23 (Reuters) - Retail bellwether Walmart (WMT.O), opens new tab has signed a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy (CEG.O), opens new tab, the companies said on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, Constellation Energy will supply nuclear power from its Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois to Walmart's previously announced "high-tech" perishable distribution center, currently in development in Belvidere, Illinois.
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Walmart will buy about 176 megawatts of electricity, including 30 megawatts of additional output from planned upgrades, under two 15-year contracts starting in 2029 and 2030.
The agreement is among the first between a major U.S. retailer and a nuclear energy provider and underscores growing corporate interest in baseload clean power, which can provide electricity around the clock.
The deal would support investment in efficiency upgrades, or uprates, at the Dresden Clean Energy Center, allowing the plant to increase output without building new generation capacity.
Dresden, one of Constellation's largest nuclear plants, is licensed to operate through 2049 and 2051.
Reporting by Varun Sahay in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Walmart spustil celostátní iniciativu, která má příjemcům Medicare pomoci lépe pochopit krytí léků na předpis. Program nabízí konzultace s lékárníky, digitální nástroje a napojení na zdravotní zdroje.
Key Takeaways Walmart launched a nationwide effort to help Medicare users understand prescription drug coverage.The program offers pharmacist consultations, digital tools and links to healthcare resources. Walmart's pharmacy scale and health focus could drive engagement and loyalty over time. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) and Sam’s Club have launched a nationwide initiative to help Medicare beneficiaries better understand prescription drug coverage options for weight management and other chronic conditions. While the program is primarily educational, it could strengthen Walmart’s healthcare presence by increasing pharmacy engagement and deepening customer loyalty while potentially supporting prescription volumes over time.
The initiative will provide educational materials, pharmacist consultations, digital navigation tools and assistance connecting customers with healthcare resources. With nearly 5,000 pharmacy locations, including stores in rural and underserved communities, Walmart is well-positioned to help seniors navigate evolving Medicare coverage requirements.
The move aligns with Walmart’s broader focus on weight management and chronic care. The company has been expanding support for customers using or exploring GLP-1 therapies through its Better Care Services platform, complemented by nutrition resources, wellness products and pharmacy services.
Walmart’s first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings call highlighted the growing importance of its health and wellness business. The company reported continued prescription volume growth, pharmacy market share gains, investments in digital healthcare capabilities and faster pharmacy delivery options, underscoring its efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and convenience.
While the initiative is not expected to have a significant impact on earnings in the near term, it could benefit Walmart over time by bringing more customers to its pharmacies, creating opportunities for additional health and wellness purchases and strengthening its reputation as a trusted healthcare destination. Overall, the move fits Walmart’s strategy of leveraging its physical scale, digital tools and pharmacy network to build stronger customer relationships beyond traditional retail.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesWalmart currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Shares of the company have risen 19.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 16.7%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 38.6, higher than the industry’s average of 35.02.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WMT’s current and next fiscal-year earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.5% and 13.3%, respectively.
Stocks to ConsiderRoss Stores, Inc. (ROST - Free Report) , a leading U.S. off-price retailer operating Ross Dress for Less and dd's DISCOUNTS stores, sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.2%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 9.1% and 17.1%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) , a leading discount retailer, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). DLTR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.1%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 6.5% and 21.4%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX - Free Report) , a major off-price apparel and home fashions retailer, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The TJX Companies’ current fiscal-year sales calls for growth of 5.9%, and estimates for earnings suggest a 9.3% increase from the year-ago figure. TJX delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.8%, on average.
