Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Federal safety regulators have recalled more than 16,800 fabric dressers sold through Walmart.com after determining the units fail to meet mandatory federal stability standards designed to prevent tip-over accidents involving children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced Thursday that about 16,809 EnHomee 9-Drawer Fabric Dressers are being recalled because they are unstable if not anchored to a wall, creating tip-over and entrapment hazards that could result in serious injury or death to children.

The agency said the dressers violate the mandatory federal safety standard for clothing storage units required under the STURDY Act, a law enacted to help prevent furniture tip-over incidents involving children.

The recalled dressers were sold on Walmart.com by third-party seller Raybee-Direct between September 2023 and March 2026 for about $80. They were available in white, brown, gray and black and feature nine fabric drawers supported by a metal frame. Only units ordered before March 30, 2026, are included in the recall.

Federal safety regulators have recalled more than 16,800 fabric dressers sold through Walmart.com Sundry Photography – stock.adobe.com The CPSC said no injuries or incidents related to the recalled dressers have been reported.

TickerSecurityLastChangeChange %WMTWALMART INC.109.47+1.07+0.99% Consumers should stop using the dressers immediately if they are not anchored to a wall and move them to an area that children cannot access, according to the agency.

Consumers can contact Raybee-Direct for instructions on determining whether their dresser is included in the recall and how to dispose of it to receive a full refund.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cited failure to meet federal stability standards under the STURDY Act. Consumer Product Safety Commission To complete the refund process, consumers must submit a photo showing the dresser has been disposed of.

The recalled dressers were manufactured in China by Xuzhou Mingquanhe Household Co., Ltd. and imported by Changsha Yiman Keji Youxian Gongsi, doing business as Raybee-Direct.

Consumers seeking additional information can contact Raybee-Direct by emailing [email protected].

FOX Business has reached out to Walmart and Raybee-Direct for comment.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 25th, 2026

Bollard Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 15.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 327,537 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 42,880 shares during the quarter. Walmart comprises approximately 1.2% of Bollard Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Bollard Group LLC’s holdings in Walmart were worth $40,707,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Morningstar Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Walmart by 9.0% during the first quarter. Morningstar Investment Management LLC now owns 59,711 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $7,421,000 after acquiring an additional 4,919 shares in the last quarter. Pennington Partners & CO. LLC boosted its stake in Walmart by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Pennington Partners & CO. LLC now owns 9,313 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,160,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. GC Wealth Management RIA LLC raised its stake in shares of Walmart by 5.9% in the first quarter. GC Wealth Management RIA LLC now owns 83,521 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $10,380,000 after purchasing an additional 4,626 shares during the last quarter. Klingman & Associates LLC lifted its stake in Walmart by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Klingman & Associates LLC now owns 16,668 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,072,000 after acquiring an additional 442 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Modern Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Walmart by 15.4% during the first quarter. Modern Wealth Management LLC now owns 83,316 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $10,393,000 after acquiring an additional 11,107 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Walmart Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reportedly reaffirmed an Outperform rating on Walmart, a supportive signal that may help bolster investor confidence. Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) Earns Outperform Rating from Royal Bank Of Canada Positive Sentiment: Walmart was highlighted as a wide-moat, sustainable growth stock, reinforcing the view that it can keep delivering steady results even in choppy markets. Top Wide-Moat Stocks to Invest in for Sustainable Growth Positive Sentiment: Walmart partnered with ReturnPro to refurbish and resell returned products, which could improve e-commerce efficiency and reduce losses from returns. Walmart (WMT) Partners With ReturnPro To Resell Returned Products Positive Sentiment: Coverage suggesting Walmart may be a solid growth stock could keep investors focused on its durable financial performance and scale advantages. Is Walmart (WMT) a Solid Growth Stock? 3 Reasons to Think “Yes” Neutral Sentiment: Investors are closely watching Walmart ahead of earnings, with previews focusing on what the company may report rather than providing a fresh catalyst by themselves. Walmart’s quarterly earnings preview: What you need to know Neutral Sentiment: Walmart being one of Zacks’ most-searched stocks indicates strong investor interest, but not necessarily a direct fundamental driver. Investors Heavily Search Walmart Inc. (WMT): Here is What You Need to Know Neutral Sentiment: Articles discussing Walmart’s dividend profile may appeal to income investors, but they are unlikely to move the stock on their own. Does Walmart pay dividends? Its yield & payouts explained Negative Sentiment: One article noted Walmart’s extended share-price weakness and suggested the stock could be in a comeback setup, reflecting lingering concern after a recent downtrend. Walmart stock’s extended downturn could trigger a possible comeback Negative Sentiment: A bearish comparison piece argued investors might prefer another stock over WMT, citing weaker recent share performance and softer quarterly results. 3 Reasons to Sell WMT and 1 Stock to Buy Instead Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have weighed in on WMT shares. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Walmart from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Monday, June 8th. Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $137.00 target price (up from $135.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Monday, May 11th. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial set a $140.00 target price on Walmart in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walmart has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.85.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on WMT

Insider Activity at Walmart In other Walmart news, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This trade represents a 8.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.63, for a total transaction of $2,303,320.08. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,174,579 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $495,230,306.77. The trade was a 0.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 67,729 shares of company stock worth $8,124,931 over the last 90 days. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Walmart Stock Up 1.0% Shares of NASDAQ:WMT opened at $109.47 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $871.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.41, a P/E/G ratio of 4.04 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $116.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $121.97. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $95.42 and a 52-week high of $135.15.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 21st. The retailer reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.66. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.25% and a net margin of 3.13%.The company had revenue of $177.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $174.84 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.61 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q2 2027 guidance at 0.720-0.740 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a broad portfolio of store formats and digital services. Its core business includes large-format supercenters, discount department stores, neighborhood grocery stores and a membership warehouse chain, Sam’s Club. The company’s merchandising mix covers groceries, household goods, apparel, electronics and pharmacy services, supplemented by private-label products and category-specific offerings. Walmart pairs its physical store network with online platforms and mobile applications to provide omnichannel shopping, fulfillment and delivery options for consumers and businesses.

The company was founded by Sam Walton, who opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962; it is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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Walmart (WMT - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this world's largest retailer have returned -6.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry, to which Walmart belongs, has lost 9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Walmart is expected to post earnings of $0.74 per share, indicating a change of +8.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $2.89 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +9.5%. This estimate has changed +0.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.27 indicates a change of +13.3% from what Walmart is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.1%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Walmart is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Walmart, the consensus sales estimate of $186.4 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +5.1%. The $750.01 billion and $783.74 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +5.2% and +4.5%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWalmart reported revenues of $177.75 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.3%. EPS of $0.66 for the same period compares with $0.61 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $174.56 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.83%. The EPS surprise was +1.54%.

Over the last four quarters, Walmart surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Walmart is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Walmart. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

By PYMNTS  |  July 23, 2026

 | 

Highlights

Overlapping summer sale events from Amazon and Walmart nearly saturated the adult U.S. market, but average spending fell sharply at both retailers, showing that a bigger audience can still produce smaller baskets and weaker economics.

Deal-week competition is turning loyalty into price arbitrage. With shoppers moving fluidly between Amazon and Walmart, comparing offers in real time and choosing largely on price, promotional events increasingly reward the lowest offer rather than the strongest retail relationship.

AI is beginning to control the path to purchase. As shoppers use assistants to research, compare and recommend products before entering a retailer’s ecosystem, Amazon and Walmart risk losing influence over discovery, even when they ultimately win the transaction.

This summer, Amazon moved Prime Day to June 23-26, leaving July without its usual commercial centerpiece for the first time outside the pandemic-disrupted 2021 event. 

The shift created an apparent hole in merchants’ calendars. What emerged instead was a clearer view of how large-scale shopping events are changing. Prime Day still generated extraordinary demand, but the combination of Amazon’s earlier timing, its direct overlap with Walmart Deals and a subsequent July slowdown suggests retailers are no longer competing simply to produce the biggest sales day. They are competing to control a longer, more fragmented cycle of consumer attention.

An estimated 244 million U.S. consumers, or 93% of adults, shopped at least one of the events, up from 135 million the previous year. The share participating in neither promotion collapsed from 48% to 7%, according to a PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 2,160 consumers conducted in June.

But the larger crowd came with a catch: Shoppers spent less. The survey found average spending at Amazon fell from $360 in 2025 to $308, while Walmart’s average dropped from $484 to $326. The overlap expanded the top of the funnel while compressing the value of each customer moving through it.

That trade-off offers a preview of the next phase of promotional retail. The biggest shopping events may attract more people than ever, but they are also becoming less capable of concentrating consumer spending in one place.

See also: Amazon and Walmart’s Summer Sale Wars Deliver a Win (With An Asterisk) 

Retail Loyalty Gives Way to Comparison Shopping Running competing events simultaneously also made it easier for consumers to treat Amazon and Walmart as interchangeable deal inventories. Nearly three-quarters of dual-event participants compared prices across Amazon and Walmart, the survey found, and 46% said price alone determined where they completed a purchase. Loyalty was the deciding factor for just 15%.

The overlap therefore produced not only a bigger market but a more efficient one, at least from the consumer’s perspective. Shoppers could check the same television, appliance or household item on multiple platforms in real time, reducing retailers’ ability to use the event’s scale and urgency to soften price sensitivity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) added another comparison layer. Twenty-one percent of event participants used an AI assistant to research products, locate deals or compare prices. Nearly three-quarters of those users bought at least one product primarily because an AI tool recommended it.

Also from PYMNTS: PYMNTS covered Thursday (July 23) how Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos reportedly sees Prime Video as the place to tout the company’s AI efforts and has urged Prime Video boss Mike Hopkins to revamp the streaming service to give AI a starring role.

Without another July promotional sprint, consumer retail brands have shifted their attention toward back-to-school campaigns, fourth-quarter inventory forecasts, advertising allocations and final holiday shipments.

The result is a retail calendar that looks less like a series of isolated events and more like a continuous demand-management system. Winning within it requires merchants to distinguish between reach and profitability, participation and loyalty, promotional velocity and durable growth.

Read the report: The Overlap Effect: How Amazon and Walmart Expanded the Crowd and Shrank the Basket

AI Moves Upstream of the Retailer The more disruptive competitive pressure may come from outside both companies. More than one in five event shoppers used an AI chatbot or assistant to compare products, locate deals or research purchases, a rate that climbed to 35% among Generation Z.

That behavior moves an important part of product discovery upstream from the retailer. Instead of beginning a search inside Amazon or Walmart, shoppers can ask an independent interface to evaluate prices, features and reviews across multiple merchants before directing them toward a checkout page.

At the same time, the survey found that consumers expect major retailers to coordinate their discounting around the same shopping windows, just as they expect competitive shipping, accessible reviews and transparent pricing. What once distinguished a retailer can quickly become a market-wide condition.

That raises the strategic stakes. Attracting more shoppers is no longer sufficient when those shoppers are spending less, comparing more and arriving with recommendations generated outside the retailer’s ecosystem.

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.

Walmart (WMT - Free Report) is on the list of such stocks currently recommended by our proprietary system. In addition to a favorable Growth Score, it carries a top Zacks Rank.

Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this world's largest retailer is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Walmart is 6.4%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 9.4% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 8.9%.

Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Walmart is 6.5%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 0.6%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 5.8% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 4.8%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Walmart. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.1% over the past month.

Bottom LineWalmart has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination positions Walmart well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 22nd, 2026

Acumen Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 254.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,429 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,486 shares during the quarter. Acumen Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Walmart were worth $1,298,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of WMT. Entrust Financial LLC purchased a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the first quarter worth about $29,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 57.4% during the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clayton Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 193.0% during the fourth quarter. Clayton Financial Group LLC now owns 293 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walmart Price Performance WMT stock opened at $110.39 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $118.11 and a 200-day moving average of $122.11. The company has a market cap of $878.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.73, a PEG ratio of 4.18 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Walmart Inc. has a 12-month low of $95.29 and a 12-month high of $135.15.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 21st. The retailer reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.66. The firm had revenue of $177.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $174.84 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.25% and a net margin of 3.13%.Walmart’s quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.61 EPS. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q2 2027 guidance at 0.720-0.740 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

Positive Sentiment: Walmart is still attracting new brands to its platform, with candy maker Final Boss Sour raising funding and securing shelf space at the retailer. That supports Walmart’s marketplace growth strategy and could help improve traffic and monetization over time. Walmart (WMT) Faces A Fresh Valuation Test As New Brands Join Its Platform Positive Sentiment: Analysts highlighted a rebound in Walmart’s general merchandise business, including fashion, hardlines, private brands, and marketplace growth, which could lift margins if the trend continues. Can Walmart’s General Merchandise Revival Unlock Higher Margins? Neutral Sentiment: Walmart was mentioned in broader ecommerce-stock watch lists, which is not a direct catalyst but suggests continued investor attention on the retail and online commerce space. Top Ecommerce Stocks To Watch Now – July 18th Neutral Sentiment: Broader market headlines about renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and potential energy-price pressure may be weighing on consumer sentiment and creating a modest headwind for Walmart’s near-term trading. As the U.S.-Iran war heats up again, these parts of the stock market and economy could be affected Negative Sentiment: Walmart pulled certain lettuce items amid cyclosporiasis-linked recalls, which can create short-term reputational and operational concerns for the grocer. Walmart pulls lettuce items amid cyclosporiasis-linked recalls Negative Sentiment: The stock also faces valuation pressure, with recent commentary noting that Walmart’s share performance has lagged and that investors are reassessing how much growth is already priced in. Walmart (WMT) Faces A Fresh Valuation Test As New Brands Join Its Platform Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have commented on WMT. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Monday, June 8th. Truist Financial set a $140.00 price target on Walmart in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Walmart has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.85.

View Our Latest Research Report on WMT

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart In other Walmart news, CEO John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.08, for a total transaction of $1,628,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 661,037 shares in the company, valued at approximately $82,021,470.96. This trade represents a 1.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total transaction of $413,891.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 630,009 shares in the company, valued at $69,074,186.76. This trade represents a 0.60% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 87,145 shares of company stock worth $10,691,920. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a broad portfolio of store formats and digital services. Its core business includes large-format supercenters, discount department stores, neighborhood grocery stores and a membership warehouse chain, Sam’s Club. The company’s merchandising mix covers groceries, household goods, apparel, electronics and pharmacy services, supplemented by private-label products and category-specific offerings. Walmart pairs its physical store network with online platforms and mobile applications to provide omnichannel shopping, fulfillment and delivery options for consumers and businesses.

The company was founded by Sam Walton, who opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962; it is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Walmart Confidence Is Back, But Earnings Show the Consumer Is Being Picky AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off 3M’s Redemption Arc: Can Q2 Earnings Change the Narrative? 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).

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The pre-market trading for retailers in America is mixed, to say the least.

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AMZN Technical Analysis

Amazon daily chart, hovering near 248 around its 50-day EMA. Source: TradingView The pre-market trading for Amazon is slightly positive. It is a market that has recently broken out of a V-shaped consolidation pattern. It’s dropped to test the 50-day EMA and now looks as if it is trying to at least bounce from there. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, but if it follows the trajectory that it was on just last week, it could see a move towards $260. Amazon has seen a significant turnaround. It does have an earnings call on the 30th, so between now and then, it could be a little cautious.

WMT Technical Analysis Walmart daily chart, slipping near 110 below its EMAs. Source: TradingView Walmart, on the other hand, looks pretty flat at the open. Walmart certainly seems as if it is in a bit of a significant drop. It had broken down during the last earnings call on bad guidance. We dropped, we bounced, tested the 50-day EMA, fell again, tested the 50-day EMA for a second time, and then fell. That’s where we find ourselves right now, simply plunging.

The $100 level has a lot of psychology attached to it. I’ll be watching for a potential setup, not really interested in getting involved quite yet, though.

TGT Technical Analysis Target daily chart, holding near 138 after a steady climb. Source: TradingView Target looks like it’s going to be ever so slightly positive based on pre-market trading. It recently has formed a double top right here around $143, so breaking above there could open up a bigger move. We’ll just have to wait and see. The 50-day EMA does seem to support this market fairly well, as a trendline going back to basically Christmas of last year. So we’ll see if it falls, if that ends up being an area to be a buyer of. Keep in mind interest rates continue to rise, and that could be weighing on the idea of consumer spending, so it could be a sector issue eventually.

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Chris is a proprietary trader with more than 20 years of experience across various markets, including currencies, indices and commodities. As a senior analyst at FXEmpire since the website’s early days, he offers readers advanced market perspectives to navigate today’s financial landscape with confidence.

Editors’ Picks

In the latest close session, Walmart (WMT - Free Report) was down 1.61% at $110.39. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.89% for the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.74%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 1.29%.

The stock of world's largest retailer has fallen by 4.25% in the past month, lagging the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 1.33% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.63%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Walmart in its upcoming release. The company plans to announce its earnings on August 20, 2026. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $0.74, reflecting a 8.82% increase from the same quarter last year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $186.4 billion, up 5.07% from the year-ago period.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $2.89 per share and a revenue of $750.01 billion, signifying shifts of +9.47% and +5.17%, respectively, from the last year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Walmart. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 0.11% rise in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Walmart is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, Walmart is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 38.84. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 13.86 for its industry.

Meanwhile, WMT's PEG ratio is currently 4.18. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. WMT's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.94 as of yesterday's close.

The Retail - Supermarkets industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 229, placing it within the bottom 7% of over 250 industries.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow WMT in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 21st, 2026

Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 17.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 73,279 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 15,415 shares during the period. Walmart comprises 0.7% of Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s holdings in Walmart were worth $9,099,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Walmart in the 4th quarter worth about $6,458,529,000. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Walmart by 188.1% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 11,663,172 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,199,907,000 after buying an additional 7,614,172 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Walmart by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 103,010,709 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $11,426,753,000 after buying an additional 6,517,394 shares during the period. Capital International Investors purchased a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $592,848,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Walmart by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 439,957,146 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $49,015,626,000 after acquiring an additional 4,304,436 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Freedom Capital raised Walmart from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Walmart from $120.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Tigress Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price objective (up from $150.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday, June 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Walmart presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.85.

Get Our Latest Analysis on WMT

Walmart Trading Down 1.8% WMT opened at $112.20 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $892.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.37, a PEG ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Walmart Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.10 and a 12 month high of $135.15. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $118.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $122.11.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 21st. The retailer reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.25% and a net margin of 3.13%.The company had revenue of $177.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $174.84 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.61 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q2 2027 guidance at 0.720-0.740 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity In other Walmart news, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total value of $1,308,670.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 120,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,300,550.91. This trade represents a 8.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.08, for a total value of $1,628,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 661,037 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $82,021,470.96. This represents a 1.95% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 87,145 shares of company stock worth $10,691,920 over the last 90 days. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Walmart Profile (Free Report)

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a broad portfolio of store formats and digital services. Its core business includes large-format supercenters, discount department stores, neighborhood grocery stores and a membership warehouse chain, Sam’s Club. The company’s merchandising mix covers groceries, household goods, apparel, electronics and pharmacy services, supplemented by private-label products and category-specific offerings. Walmart pairs its physical store network with online platforms and mobile applications to provide omnichannel shopping, fulfillment and delivery options for consumers and businesses.

The company was founded by Sam Walton, who opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962; it is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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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

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 20th, 2026

Broderick Brian C boosted its position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 148.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,934 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 6,534 shares during the period. Broderick Brian C’s holdings in Walmart were worth $1,359,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Decker Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Walmart in the 1st quarter worth approximately $8,946,000. Eaton Cambridge Inc. bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $302,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 25.3% during the 1st quarter. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,839 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $229,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. True North Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 5.7% in the first quarter. True North Advisors LLC now owns 10,385 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,291,000 after purchasing an additional 560 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SEB Asset Management AB purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the first quarter valued at $179,537,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WMT has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Monday, June 8th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday, June 8th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 price objective (up from $145.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Walmart from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.85.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Walmart

Walmart News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

Positive Sentiment: June U.S. retail sales held up, suggesting consumers are still spending as Walmart heads into the back-to-school season; that could support traffic and sales volumes if the company remains aggressive on pricing. Retail Sales Hold Up as Walmart and Amazon Go Back to School Neutral Sentiment: Walmart is also being discussed in multiple market and analyst roundups, with commentary focusing on its strong digital growth and role as a defensive stock, but these pieces do not appear to include a major new business update. Walmart Commands a 36.74X Forward P/E: Is the Stock Worth Buying? Neutral Sentiment: An article about AI and retail highlighted that Walmart is investing in automation while still emphasizing workers, which reinforces its long-term strategy but is unlikely to move the stock on its own. Walmart’s people chief says these 10 jobs are still hot in the age of AI Negative Sentiment: Some analysts argue Walmart’s premium valuation leaves limited room for disappointment, with one note saying momentum alone may not justify the stock’s high forward P/E. Walmart’s Momentum Cannot Justify The Premium Negative Sentiment: Walmart has also been the subject of bearish commentary saying the recent sell-off may not be over, adding to investor caution around the shares. Walmart: The Sell-Off Isn’t Over Yet (Rating Upgrade) Insider Activity In related news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total transaction of $413,891.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 630,009 shares in the company, valued at $69,074,186.76. This trade represents a 0.60% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total transaction of $1,308,670.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 120,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,300,550.91. This trade represents a 8.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 87,145 shares of company stock valued at $10,691,920. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Walmart Price Performance WMT opened at $114.24 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $118.82 and a 200 day moving average of $122.11. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $94.43 and a 52-week high of $135.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The stock has a market cap of $909.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.08, a PEG ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.60.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 21st. The retailer reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.66. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.25% and a net margin of 3.13%.The company had revenue of $177.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $174.84 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.61 EPS. Walmart’s quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q2 2027 guidance at 0.720-0.740 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.89 EPS for the current year.

Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a broad portfolio of store formats and digital services. Its core business includes large-format supercenters, discount department stores, neighborhood grocery stores and a membership warehouse chain, Sam’s Club. The company’s merchandising mix covers groceries, household goods, apparel, electronics and pharmacy services, supplemented by private-label products and category-specific offerings. Walmart pairs its physical store network with online platforms and mobile applications to provide omnichannel shopping, fulfillment and delivery options for consumers and businesses.

The company was founded by Sam Walton, who opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962; it is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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Walmart capitalized on international travelers' awe. Ben Shimkus/Business Insider A Walmart Supercenter is a fluorescent palace of American consumption.

To US shoppers, it's a utilitarian one-stop shop where groceries, televisions, tires, and just about everything else sit beneath one enormous roof.

To some international World Cup fans, though, it is a viral tourist sensation. Many fans made a point to visit Walmart during their stay in the United States. Even Spanish soccer star Lamine Yamal shopped there between matches.

Walmart said it organized the tours to seize on all the attention. Over the past month or so, the retailer has worked with the professional Spanish soccer league, LaLiga, to offer guided store tours paired with appearances by some of soccer's biggest names.

I attended the final tour at Walmart's East Brunswick, New Jersey, store on Saturday, about 29 hours before Spain and Argentina were scheduled to kick off the 2026 World Cup final.

On the tour, guests received VIP lanyards, giveaway bags, and small "passports" to be stamped as they moved through a carefully curated version of the Walmart experience.

The featured main attractions: peanut butter, ground beef, soccer jerseys, and — of course — ranch dressing.

America's surprising superstore star

Walmart hosted around two dozen guests on a store tour on Saturday.  Ben Shimkus/Business Insider As soccer-loving (er, football-loving?) travelers crisscrossed the country for this year's World Cup games, some of the most ubiquitous fixtures of American consumer culture inspired genuine awe: a cheap Waffle House breakfast, the sprawling excess of a Buc-ee's gas station, and the giant aquariums inside Bass Pro Shops.

Videos went viral after a crowd of Australian national team fans turned a Dallas Walmart's produce section into an impromptu party. Wearing yellow-and-green jerseys, they traded the familiar "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" chant for a new refrain: "We're going to Walmart!"

The tours were Walmart's effort to turn that organic wonderment into an official welcome — and to highlight its unique position as both a cornerstone of American consumerism and a place to get ranch dressing.

There was just one surprise at the tour I attended: The passport holders I spoke to were Americans.

Passports, ranch dressing, and rain

Walmart's tour ended at 11 a.m. The outdoor event was interrupted by a thunderstorm.  Ben Shimkus/Business Insider Walmart said it had expected international visitors at the East Brunswick event.

The store sits about 30 miles from MetLife Stadium, where Argentina star and overall legend Lionel Messi was set to chase a second World Cup title the following day. The outdoor LaLiga event — which included games, free food, and live music — also promised appearances from retired Spanish star Carles Puyol and Colombian striker Radamel Falcao.

About four hours before the player meet-and-greet, Walmart representatives handed tour guests giveaway bags containing about $35 in merchandise and small paper "passports."

The first stop was the condiments aisle, where guides presented ranch dressing and peanut butter as American staples. Guests received a stamp in their passports before moving on.

Next came the meat department, where ground beef earned a steak-shaped stamp. We stopped near the apparel, where Walmart showed off soccer-themed jerseys and added one last mark to each passport.

Finally, we ended back in the produce section, where Walmart highlighted its best-selling product across the US: the banana. Walmart says they sell 4.46 billion bananas each year.

While Walmart said they expected international travelers in New Jersey, that wasn't who showed up on Saturday. Everyone I spoke to said they all lived in the United States.

Karl Marttz, who lives 40 minutes away in North New Jersey, brought his children along for the tour while rain fell outside.

"As a person who lives near another Walmart, it was … eh," he told Business Insider after the tour concluded. He was mostly there for the meet-and-greet.

A Walmart spokesperson told Business Insider it built the tours to "be relevant for first-time or longtime fans," and that they were "happy from all of the positive feedback."

Quickly after the tour, the weather soon worsened. A thunderstorm swept through, prompting organizers to move the meet-and-greet from the parking lot into the store.

That put the soccer stars under the same enormous roof as the now-Walmart-product-passport-holding Americans.

Nearly everyone I spoke with said they planned to watch the final on television the next day. One woman told the group she was going to MetLife Stadium to see Messi in person.

"I am so excited," she said.

Read next

Ben Shimkus You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Ben Shimkus is a reporter for the Business News desk. He writes about cars, transportation, retail, and jobs. Ben's reporting has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Verge, Automotive News, USA Today, AutoBody News, LGBTQ Nation, TopSpeed, and Out Magazine. He's also held staff writing positions at The U.S. Sun and the Daily Mail. He graduated from NYU with a Master's in journalism in 2024. Email Ben at [email protected] or message him privately on Signal at bshimkus.41. 

Walmart World Cup Soccer More

Investors are weighing whether Chewy (CHWY 3.02%) or Walmart (WMT 0.62%) offers the best balance of growth and stability as the digital and physical shopping worlds continue to converge in 2026.

Chewy dominates the online pet market with its high-touch customer service model and subscription-based revenue. Walmart uses its unparalleled physical footprint and growing e-commerce capabilities to serve millions of shoppers globally. As both companies expand their digital ecosystems, understanding their different scales and profitability profiles is essential for deciding which stock fits your strategy.

The case for ChewyChewy operates as a leader among retail stocks focused on pet parents across the U.S. and Canada. The company serves approximately 21.3 million active customers and maintains an extensive network of partners, including roughly 20,000 veterinary practices. Following its acquisition of Modern Animal in April 2026, the company has added physical veterinary clinics to its digital platform.

In the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, 2026, revenue reached nearly $12.6 billion, representing growth of approximately 6.2% year over year. The company reported net income of close to $222.8 million for the period. While earnings declined compared with the prior fiscal year, a net margin of roughly 1.8% indicates the company remains profitable while investing in expansion.

As of its February 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.1x, which compares total debt to shareholder equity, while the current ratio is about 0.9x. In the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, 2026, the company generated nearly $562.4 million in free cash flow. Note that stock-based compensation represented roughly 43.1% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

The case for WalmartWalmart operates a massive omnichannel retail model across 19 countries, serving nearly 280 million customers weekly. The company uses proprietary customer data to bolster its advertising revenue streams following its acquisition of Vizio. This physical and digital reach allows it to maintain a dominant position in the global consumer landscape.

In the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2026, revenue reached roughly $713.2 billion, a 4.7% increase compared with the prior fiscal year. Net income for the period was close to $21.9 billion. This performance resulted in a net margin of approximately 3.1%, highlighting its ability to generate significant profit at a massive scale.

According to its January 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is about 0.7x, meaning total debt is lower than shareholder equity. The current ratio, which measures the ability to meet short-term obligations, is approximately 0.8x. In the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2026, the company generated roughly $14.9 billion in free cash flow, providing significant capital for dividends and growth.

Risk profile comparisonChewy faces intense pressure from both online and physical competitors, including direct-to-consumer suppliers and giants like Amazon. The company relies heavily on third-party cloud infrastructure, making cybersecurity and data privacy critical vulnerabilities. Additionally, BCP Partners maintains significant voting control, and failure to comply with complex pet health and pharmacy regulations could lead to fines.

Walmart must execute high-stakes capital investments in AI and supply chain automation to stay ahead of Amazon and Target. The company deals with persistent legal risks, including class actions and regulatory scrutiny related to its massive scale. Furthermore, results are sensitive to global inflation and shifts in consumer spending that can hurt inventory turnover and increase costs.

Valuation comparisonWalmart carries a higher Forward P/E, comparing its price to future earnings estimates, while Chewy offers a lower P/S ratio measuring price against sales.

MetricChewyWalmartSector BenchmarkForward P/E26.6x39.6x91.6xP/S ratio0.7x1.3xn/aSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLY sector ETF.
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Both of these companies benefit from consumers' spending on everyday necessities, but they take very different approaches. Chewy focuses on pet care, while Walmart is a diversified retail giant. Which stock looks like the better buy today?

Walmart’s network of stores is enormous, and it sells everything from home goods to tools and groceries. It offers oil changes. It’s even become an e-commerce platform for third-party sellers. Its scale and consumer convenience position it to deliver steady earnings growth. Investors will also appreciate its long track record of consecutive annual dividend increases.

Chewy’s business model revolves around consumers’ devotion to their pets. Its autoship program generates the majority of its revenue through recurring sales of necessary items such as food, cat litter, flea treatments, and more. It has also branched out into veterinary medications and, over the past couple of years, has opened physical veterinary care locations. Although the company has a loyal following, discretionary pet spending has softened, and it’s far from being the only company to offer autoship for pet products.

Both companies have compelling qualities for investors. Of the two, I would choose Walmart for its diversified offerings and consistent dividend history.

Kieran Shanahan, chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., will leave this week.

By PYMNTS  |  July 16, 2026

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U.S. consumers kept spending in June, but the mix shows why Walmart and Amazon are leaning harder into price as the back-to-school season begins. The Commerce Department’s June retail sales report showed sales rising 0.2% from May to $768.6 billion and 6.7% from a year earlier. A 5.3% drop at gasoline stations restrained the headline. Nonstore sales, including eCommerce, rose 1.9%, while core retail sales gained 0.5%. Because the figures are not adjusted for inflation, they show continued spending, not necessarily stronger unit demand. The June CPI report offered some relief: prices fell 0.4% from May, but remained 3.5% above year-ago levels, while food was up 3.0%.

“Consumers continue to prioritize value, respond to promotions and make deliberate trade-offs across discretionary categories, EY-Parthenon Americas Retail Sector Leader Will Auchincloss said. “Retailers that can convert spending into traffic, unit volume and repeat purchases, through the distinctive combination of value, convenience and experience, will be best positioned to win.”

That’s music to the ears of Amazon and Walmart as they head into the back-to-school season. Walmart, for example, is making back-to-school value visible. The retailer said it has 1,300 more back-to-school items on rollback than last year and cut prices on 14 common supplies to their lowest level since 2019, with some starting at 25 cents. It is also promoting lunchbox options averaging $2 per meal and a “College Grocery Haul” below $35.

Those offers follow a broader July round of thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club price cuts. Walmart CFO John David Rainey said in May that the company wanted to “invest in the customer and invest in price.”

Amazon is using broad discounts and digital discovery to compete for the same budget. A recent back-to-school roundup found markdowns of up to 60% across supplies, apparel, backpacks and lunch boxes. Amazon also centered its June Prime Day event on essentials and school needs. eMarketer analyst Sky Canaves told Reuters that shoppers wait for promotions to stock up on necessities and delayed big-ticket purchases; eToro analyst Bret Kenwell expected a “greater focus on value.”

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in January that tariffs were beginning to “creep into some prices,” with sellers choosing to absorb, pass through or split the added cost.

Household budgets remain constrained. The 2026 Deloitte Back-to-School Survey expects $30.4 billion of K-12 spending, or $557 per child. That is flat in nominal terms and down 6% after inflation. Parents plan to spend 22% more on clothing and accessories but 16% less on technology as upgrades are deferred. Fifty-seven percent expect the economy to worsen, and half plan to cut dining, entertainment or other expenses to make room.

PYMNTS Intelligence sees the same pressure beneath the totals. Its recent report, “The Inflation Mirage: What Rising Spending Hides About Consumer Demand,” found that April spending rose 0.5%, but higher prices accounted for roughly 0.4 percentage points and real purchase volume for only 0.1 point. Across financial groups, 84% to 87% said essentials cost more, while 53% of financially strained consumers cut nonessential spending. For retailers and payments providers, the signal is that shoppers remain active but are more selective and more dependent on tools that help manage timing and cash flow.

For the Walmart-Amazon rivalry, PYMNTS Intelligence’s “Basket Breakaway” report adds the strategic context. Amazon held 9.3% of U.S. consumer retail spending in the first quarter, versus Walmart’s 7.8%. Walmart leads food and beverage by nearly 18 percentage points, but Amazon leads the “considered order” categories shoppers research and ship. Back-to-school spans both: Walmart can attach supplies to grocery and lunch traffic, while Amazon can win apparel, electronics and backpacks.

For retail and payments executives, the contest is not only about lower shelf prices. It is about which retailer can turn value-seeking into checkout through memberships, wallets and financing without giving away too much margin.

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Walmart truck drivers earn an average annual salary of $109,000. Walmart Artificial intelligence is reshaping work, but Walmart says the tech isn't shaking its need for people to power its growing business.

With more than 2.1 million workers, Walmart is not only the largest private employer in the world — it's also one of the broadest.

Behind the cart-pushers, shelf-stockers, and order-pickers, there are teams of truck drivers, supply chain managers, and data engineers who keep the business moving. Many of them got their start in hourly roles, including CEO John Furner and former chief Doug McMillon.

"It's really all careers, and that's what makes it exciting for our associates," Walmart's chief people officer Donna Morris told Business Insider. "I might start as a frontline associate, but my pathway could lead me in so many different directions."

Like many large companies, Walmart is betting heavily on an AI-powered future, but Morris said people remain at the heart of the retailer's growth strategy. The company's jobs board lists nearly 41,000 active openings with another 273,000 future roles.

"The reality is we are a service-driven organization, which means we're going to have a lot of jobs always," she said.

"We also believe that technology absolutely should serve people," she said. "But it should be done in a manner that people actually end up having better jobs and better careers over time."

Walmart is sharing its first-ever jobs spotlight, highlighting 10 career pathways at the company that it said are (and will continue to be) in high demand, many of which lead to six-figure salaries.

Some, like store and club managers and team leads, are straightforward tracks at a company that operates more than 10,000 locations around the world.

Others, like data engineers and advertising sales associates, represent the white-collar opportunities at the retail giant. The tech division laid off about 1,000 workers in May, a move its leadership said was intended to address duplication within certain teams.

And then there are the higher-paying blue-collar jobs where Walmart is training store workers to become truck drivers and skilled trades technicians.

Earlier this year, the company said it graduated its 1,000th truck driver through the program and that more than 600 associates had completed training to become HVAC specialists, electricians, or maintenance techs.

Beyond these re-skilling programs, Walmart said more than 126,000 employees have completed training through its online education portal for everything from AI certificates to four-year degrees.

Morris said she was surprised by the total.

"I should know that because I lead the function, but when you see quarter after quarter, you don't necessarily see it cumulatively," she said.

At a time when companies continue to cite AI in their decisions to shed workers, Morris also said large employers like Walmart have a responsibility to demonstrate optimism about their need for people and the opportunities it presents.

"The economy needs people to be working," she said. "The more the narrative is about people not working, the more it's frankly disruptive to everyone, and counterproductive to people's well-being."

Here is Walmart's full list of its most in-demand careers:Advertising SalesUS base pay range: $90,000 to $234,000 a yearTypical career path: Account Management > Sales Associate > Sales Loader > Senior Sales LeaderStore ManagerUS base pay range: $95,000 to $170,000 a yearTypical career path: Team Associate > Team Lead > Coach > Store ManagerData EngineerUS base pay range: $90,000 to $234,000 a yearTypical career path: Analyst > Data Engineer > Senior EngineerFacility Services TechnicianUS base pay range: $26 to $76 an hourTypical career path: Entry-Level Technician > Certified Technician > Senior TechnicianSupply Chain General ManagerUS base pay range: $116,000 to $351,000 a yearTypical career path: Area Manager > Operations Manager > General ManagerPrivate Fleet DriverUS base pay: Walmart drivers averaged more than $109,000 over the past yearTypical career path: Driver Trainee > Truck Driver > Senior Driver/TrainerPharmacistUS base pay range: $98,000 to $172,000 a yearTypical career path: Pharmacy Intern > Staff Pharmacist › Pharmacy Manager > Market DirectorStore/Club Team LeadUS base pay range: $19 to $40 an hourTypical career path: Associate > Team Lead > Coach/ManagerClub ManagerUS base pay range: $110,000 to $160,000 a yearTypical career path: Assistant Manager > Co-Manager > Club ManagerRealty Project CoachBase pay range: $50,000 to $143,000 a yearTypical career path: Field Role > Project Specialist > Realty Project Coach

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Dominick Reuter You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Dominick Reuter is a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, primarily covering Walmart, Target, and Costco. His stories tend to focus on issues and trends that affect employees and customers.Prior to joining BI in 2019, Dominick worked for more than a decade as an independent photojournalist covering a wide range of stories for global wire services and newspapers, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and Agence France-Presse.Dominick studied photojournalism at Boston University and later earned a Masters in business and economics journalism from Columbia University.If you're an employee or customer with a story to share, please contact me via email or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750.

Walmart Jobs Careers More AI Employment Retail

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Every summer, millions of Americans prepare for one of life's biggest annual reset moments. Parents are rebuilding routines. Students are getting ready for new classrooms and campuses. Teachers are stocking supplies for a new school year. And families everywhere are balancing confidence, convenience and cost. This season, Walmart is helping customers navigate America's annual back-to-school reset with its lowest prices since 2019 on the 14 most popular school.

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.

SummaryCompaniesInnovation has allowed shoppers to overcome traditional barriersShoppers can pay by mobile phone accounts charged at kiosksGPS guides delivery in cities without formal street addressesAmazon, Walmart have no presence in much of sub-Saharan AfricaDAKAR, July 14 (Reuters) - No bank card? No address? No problem. Shoppers in Africa increasingly are buying online from big brands such as Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab or Walmart (WMT.O), opens new tab even though they have no physical presence on much of the continent.

Among those benefiting ​from the shift are local and foreign package-forwarding companies that use technology and increasing internet penetration in Africa to overcome hurdles, including a lack of formal street addresses and customers with no ‌access to traditional banks.

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One is Senegalese startup, Afrety, which provides a snapshot of how Africa's shoppers can rely on intermediaries to buy from the United States, Europe and China and receive the package at their doorstep.

DELIVERING WITHOUT AN ADDRESSAfrety's service provides shoppers with delivery addresses at warehouses in France, the United States and China. Multiple purchases can be consolidated for each customer and repackaged for dispatch to West Africa. On arrival, customs duties are paid, benefiting local governments.

Customers without bank cards can pay by digital, mobile money accounts that ​can be charged with cash at kiosks. Mobile money is used widely in Senegal, along with other parts of Africa, instead of conventional banking.

Once the packages arrive in Senegal, motorbikes and vans parked outside ​Afrety's depot deliver using GPS across a major city like Dakar.

"You have to be very, very, very flexible. That's the key word," Souane Diop, the 34-year-old CEO, told ⁠Reuters, outside his depot filled with packages labelled Amazon and other international brands.

Diop said the company started in 2018 with the aim of connecting informal networks of air travellers between France and Senegal.

From small beginnings it has grown ​to four to five metric tons by air and two to three containers by sea each week. To keep costs low, Afrety rents its warehouse in France and uses partners in the U.S. and China to handle trade ​there.

A REVOLUTION IN ONLINE SHOPPING IN AFRICAGlobal logistics company Aramex (ARMX.DU), opens new tab is a much bigger rival, operating two platforms with overlapping services.

Whereas Afrety grew out of the deep connections between Senegal and former colonial power France, which has a large Senegalese diaspora population, Aramex in Sub-Saharan Africa relies on MyUS, which began by providing goods for U.S. expatriates living in Africa.

Aramex acquired MyUS in 2022 and in addition runs a platform that it created, Shop and Ship, which also delivers to many countries on the continent.

Aramex Group Chief Executive ​Amadou Diallo told Reuters the company aims to serve African customers that want choice and brands otherwise unavailable to them.

Angola is one of its main destinations, but it also operates in difficult environments, notably Somalia, which has been ​riven by war for decades.

ONLINE GROWTH BUT FUNDS ARE FINITEAramex says Sub-Saharan Africa is one of its fastest growing regions.

The products most in demand are electronics, apparel, toys and machinery for agriculture and auto parts. The company says it plans to ‌double revenue from ⁠shipping these and other goods there by 2030.

But constraints on growth remain. For Aramex and also Afrety, customers mostly live in or near major cities, where relative wealth is concentrated.

That is because e-commerce in Africa is largely driven by economic hubs, according to Tech Cabal Insights, a consultancy.

Internet penetration has reached around 43% of Africa's 1.5 billion people, but only a small fraction have enough income to shop online, it says. Even in Nigeria, West Africa's economic powerhouse, only 1 in 3 internet users shop online.

In poorer regions like Central Africa, only about 1 in 20 people shop online, the consultancy says.

THE EXCEPTION OF SOUTH AFRICASouth Africa, the richest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, dominates the continent's internet ​use and stands alone in Africa for its level ​of online shopping.

Online retail volumes in South Africa have ⁠grown by close to 35% annually over the last five years to about 140 billion rand in 2025 ($7.26 billion), Mastercard figures show.

The growth has drawn big brands to set up their first operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Amazon launched its first online marketplace in South Africa in 2024, competing with local e-commerce giant Takealot.

The first Walmart-branded stores in ​Africa opened in Johannesburg last year.

When asked, neither Amazon nor Walmart commented on whether they were considering expanding to other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. They also did ​not respond to requests for data ⁠on sales volumes to intermediaries.

COMPETITION INTENSIFIES IN STRONG MARKETSEven if the online giants remain absent from much of Africa, the intermediaries face other competition.

Nigerian retail company Jumia, often known colloquially as the Amazon of Africa, operates in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa, selling consumer goods ranging from fashion to electronics to home appliances. It has yet to make a profit, but says it expects to break even this year.

Its Chief Executive Francis Dufay told Reuters that the company is fending off ⁠competition from Chinese ​retail giants including Temu and Shein by tailoring its services to each country, including opening local help centres and pick-up points in rural ​areas.

Executives at both Jumia and Aramex said Nigeria was among the African e-commerce markets with most potential.

The Nigerian government does not routinely publish e-commerce figures but has cited United Nations figures estimating the total at around $75 billion in 2025.

Aramex opened a warehouse in Nigeria in April this ​year. Jumia's Dufay said business there has grown by around 50% over the last quarter of 2025.

"It's still totally underpenetrated We're just at the beginning of our transformation In Nigeria," he said.

Reporting by Jessica Donati; editing by Barbara Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Walmart (WMT - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Over the past month, shares of this world's largest retailer have returned -5.9%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry, which Walmart falls in, has lost 5.6%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Walmart is expected to post earnings of $0.74 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.89 points to a change of +9.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.1%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.27 indicates a change of +13.3% from what Walmart is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.1%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Walmart.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Walmart, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $186.4 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +5.1%. For the current and next fiscal years, $750 billion and $783.74 billion estimates indicate +5.2% and +4.5% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWalmart reported revenues of $177.75 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.3%. EPS of $0.66 for the same period compares with $0.61 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $174.56 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.83%. The EPS surprise was +1.54%.

Over the last four quarters, Walmart surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Walmart is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Walmart. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

'The Big Money Show' panel debates whether Walmart's sweeping price cuts are driven by competition, consumer demand or President Donald Trump's economic agenda as the retail giant slashes prices on thousands of items.

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.

The Federal Reserve named a former Walmart CEO to a task force to develop contemporaneous data on spending, inflation and growth.

Walmart is now appealing to wealthier customers.

getty

Something important is happening at Walmart, and it’s easy to misread it.

The company that built its reputation serving the mass market is not abandoning price-conscious shoppers. It is still fighting to be the low-price authority, lowering prices on thousands of household items just this week. But its growth increasingly comes from shoppers who do not fit the old stereotype of the Walmart customer.

In its most recent quarterly results, Walmart said its U.S. market-share gains were "led by upper-income households." That’s a clue to where retail is going.

Walmart, still the largest U.S. retailer by domestic retail sales, is following the money. The problem for many other retailers is that the money is increasingly concentrated in fewer households.

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, shared research that puts numbers around a trend retailers have been experiencing for years. The top 20% of the income distribution now accounts for nearly 60% of all personal outlays, up from about half in the early 1990s. The bottom 80%, which accounted for half of all outlays is now only about 40% of personal outlays. This chart shows the change.

The interests of high-income and low-income consumers are increasingly divergent.

Moody's Analytics

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That’s a major shift in the addressable market for every retailer, restaurant, travel company, brand and service provider in America.

(Moody’s measure is not retail sales, it’s “personal outlays.” The methodology uses two Federal Reserve datasets to capture high-income spending that traditional consumer surveys often miss.)

Walmart's pursuit of higher-income households is often described as a “consumer trading down” story: affluent consumers want value so they shop at Walmart. That’s true, but it’s incomplete.

For higher-income households, Walmart is not just price, it’s often about convenience. Pickup in-store, online assortment, faster fulfillment, advertising and its Walmart+ service change what Walmart means to more affluent households. Walmart can be the place where such a broad variety of products are available to affluent households and saves them a trip to multiple other retailers or apps.

There is another reason the affluent consumer has become more important: wealth.

Moody’s estimates that almost 90% of corporate equities and mutual funds are held by households in the top 20% of the income distribution. When stocks rise, the wealth effect is not spread evenly. It goes mostly to the same households that are already driving spending. It explains why aggregate consumer spending can look healthy while so many households feel financially strained.

It also explains how a broad-based retailer like Walmart can grow when consumer sentiment has dropped by 18.5% in the last year. A majority of people believe the economy is going poorly but a wealthy, prospering minority is driving growth in revenue.

The wealthy are more impactful at retail than ever.

Moody's Analytics

In the twelve months ending March 2026, Moody's estimates that outlays by the top 20% grew 6.5%. Outlays by the bottom 80% grew 2.7%, barely ahead of 2.6% CPI inflation. In real terms, the bottom 80% was close to flat.

That’s the retail conundrum in one sentence: most households are still shopping, but a smaller group is driving the growth. So if you’re a big retailer and you want to grow, you better find a way to appeal to more affluent consumers.

It also means the stock market has become a retail variable. If stocks keep rising or move sideways, the well-to-do consumer can support the economy. If stocks stumble, the same households may pull back quickly.

Not every retailer can chase rich people and many will fail if they try. Walmart is doing it because it’s not diluting its value proposition to its legacy customer base. Costco can do it because membership, treasure hunt and bulk value already appeal across income groups. Many other retailers don’t have that flexibility and their message becomes mixed if they try.

The Big Lessons HereWhen you combine Moody’s analysis with Walmart’s behavior, you can see some important messages:

Value is not just about low price in this environment. It’s also about trust, speed, assortment and convenience. The affluent shopper is not always looking for luxury; often they want convenience without feeling overcharged. There needs to be balance, most retailers can’t afford to lose their lower- and middle-income shoppers who need price relief. There is a broader risk behind the retail trend. When the top 20% of households account for nearly 60% of outlays, the economy can look stronger in the aggregate than it feels to most people. Retail sales can grow. Airlines can fill premium seats. Costco can renew memberships. Walmart can gain affluent shoppers. And yet most households can still feel stuck.

When you take that condition to the extreme, you get instability in society, you get a small number of people holding the wealth and everyone else seething with resentment. It accounts for the constant drumbeat of “throw the bums out” in our politics.

It’s not retailers’ fault that there’s this divide, they’re just trying to live with it. But retailers’ responses help us see the divide more clearly.

That’s why Walmart's move matters. It is not a departure from its history. It is an adaptation to an economy in which the need for value remains broad, but spending power is becoming more concentrated.

The discount retailer is lowering thousands of prices, but grocery chains are too. The problem: Americans have lost their patience, and so has Wall Street.