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Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is up 16.2% in October, on track for its best month since 1999.

When American households start to worry about money, they rarely stop shopping. They change where they shop.

Walmart compared the arrangement to adding an authorized user to a credit card.

U.S. shopping giant Walmart on Wednesday unveiled tools allowing artificial intelligence agents such as Meta's Muse to shop on behalf of its customers, taking the opposite approach to rival Amazon, which bars outside AI agents from its platform.

AI agents are programs that can carry out multistep tasks on a user's behalf—such as searching for products, comparing prices and completing a purchase—rather than only answering questions as chatbots do.

Tech companies including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and Meta are investing heavily in agents, which much of the industry sees as the next phase of the AI boom that followed the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.

Anthropic on Wednesday released a preview of Claude Duet, an agent that works in the background across users' connected apps and can make online purchases with their approval.

Its archrival OpenAI launched its own always-on agents, called Dots, last month.

Muse, which Meta launched in September and has made available only in the United States and Canada, has been downloaded more than 10 million times, according to an analysis of third-party data by Sensor Tower.

Walmart said it would launch "Agent Profiles" within the next month, letting customers register each AI assistant they use as a separate profile within their Walmart account so that purchases made by the agent appear apart from their own.

Customers will be able to require approval for every purchase or let an agent buy on its own up to a spending limit they set, such as $50, $100 or $200, and delete a profile at any time.

Walmart compared the arrangement to adding an authorized user to a credit card.

Amazon, the largest U.S. online retailer, has taken a harder line, blocking third-party shopping agents while promoting its own AI tools such as Alexa for Shopping and its Buy for Me feature.

Last month, Amazon blocked Muse from its site, with users shown a notice saying unauthorized AI agents violate Amazon's conditions of use.

Amazon sued Perplexity in November 2025, accusing the startup of using its Comet browser agent to covertly make purchases on its marketplace, and has also moved to restrict agents from Google and OpenAI.

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As global consumption patterns shift, investors often weigh high-growth international tech against domestic retail stability. Choosing between Alibaba Group (BABA -3.87%) and Walmart (WMT -0.04%) requires balancing deep value against steady, massive scale. In 2026, the decision depends on whether you prefer a turnaround story in Asia or a dominant market leader in the United States.

Alibaba operates as a technology-first conglomerate with a massive footprint in Chinese e-commerce and cloud computing. Walmart remains the world's largest traditional retailer, successfully transitioning into an omnichannel powerhouse. While both benefit from consumer spending, their business models and geographic focuses offer different paths for growth and risk.

Alibaba Group focuses on a dual strategy of AI-driven cloud computing and global commerce. In its latest annual report, filed for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, the company did not disclose any single customer accounting for more than 10% of revenue. This lack of concentration suggests a broad and diversified user base serving 190 countries.

In its 2026 fiscal year (FY), ended March 31, revenue reached $148.4 billion, representing a growth rate of roughly 3% over the prior year. Net income for the period was $14.8 billion, resulting in a net margin of approximately 10%. This performance shows a slight decline in profitability compared to the 13% net margin achieved in FY 2025.

As of its March 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was 0.2x. This ratio compares total debt to shareholder equity, showing that the company maintains a conservative level of debt. The current ratio was 1.3x, which measures the ability to pay short-term debts with short-term assets. Free cash flow was negative at $7.6 billion, which occurs when a company spends more on capital assets than it generates from its operating activities.

The case for WalmartWalmart operates as a massive omnichannel retailer among retail stocks, leveraging more than 10,900 physical locations to support its growing digital sales. A recent expansion of its delivery business includes a partnership with Papa John's, further broadening the services available. Since it serves millions of individual shoppers through an 'Everyday Low Price' model, the company faces no significant customer concentration risk.

In FY 2026, revenue reached $713.2 billion, which is a growth of 5% compared to the previous year. Net income for the period was $21.9 billion, yielding a net margin of 3.1%. While this margin is lower than that of tech-heavy peers, it reflects a steady improvement from the 2.9% net margin reported in FY 2025.

As of its January 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was 0.7x. This indicates that for every dollar of equity, the company carries roughly 70 cents of debt. The current ratio was 0.8x, suggesting a lean approach to managing short-term assets. Free cash flow was $14.9 billion.

Risk profile comparisonAlibaba Group faces significant competitive pressure in the Chinese e-commerce market from well-funded domestic rivals. Geopolitical tensions and evolving regulatory frameworks in both China and international markets can impact its cloud and digital commerce operations. Additionally, fluctuations in consumer sentiment within the Asian region may lead to slower revenue growth.

Walmart deals with an intense competitive landscape involving both traditional brick-and-mortar stores and large digital platforms. The company remains involved in various legal and regulatory proceedings, including ongoing opioid-related litigation and consumer protection class actions. Operational complexity across a global supply chain also poses risks, especially regarding labor costs and inflation.

Valuation comparisonWalmart has a higher Forward P/E based on future earnings estimates, while Alibaba's P/S ratio measures sales over the past twelve months.

MetricAlibabaWalmartForward P/E16.6x41.1xP/S ratio1.7x1.3xValuation metrics include sourcing from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Which stock would I buy in 2026?Walmart and Alibaba are both leaders in the retail space in the U.S. and China, respectively. Alibaba's e-commerce dominance extended into cloud computing, where it's among the top five in the world, positioning the company to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom.

However, between these two, I would buy Walmart stock right now. Alibaba is a high-profile business in China, subjecting it to scrutiny by the Chinese government to a degree not possible in the U.S. Discussing this, Alibaba admitted the "legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all." This means the e-commerce giant may not realize it's violating a policy until the government penalizes the company. I own shares in Alibaba, and experienced first-hand the uncertainty and drag on the share price this brings.

Walmart is not handcuffed by this level of regulatory ambiguity. Amid a macroeconomic environment of persistent inflation, it still delivered a 6% year-over-year revenue increase to $187.9 billion in its fiscal second quarter, ended July 31, helped by strong 23% year-over-year growth in e-commerce sales. For a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer to achieve double-digit e-commerce expansion demonstrates the company has plenty of opportunity to keep growing.

Thousands of Walmart customers in the US will be receiving refunds following a Federal Trade Commission complaint alleging the international retailer failed to stop scammers from defrauding consumers.

According to the FTC announcement, around 65,000 consumers will be sent refund checks totaling $9.8 million as a result of a settlement reached with Walmart in June 2025.

The FTC alleged that Walmart allowed scammers to use its money transfer services between 2013 and 2018, prompting a 2022 complaint against the retailer.

“The company turned a blind eye while scammers took advantage of its failure to properly secure the money transfer services offered at Walmart stores,” the FTC alleged in an announcement at the time. “The company did not properly train its employees, failed to warn customers, and used procedures that allowed fraudsters to cash out at its stores.”

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In addition to the payout, the settlement also prohibits Walmart from offering money transfer services “without taking timely and appropriate action to effectively detect and prevent fraud-induced money transfers” or paying out money transfers that are known to be fraud-induced. 

“Electronic money transfers are one of the most common ways that scammers tell consumers to send them money, because once it’s sent, it’s gone for good,” Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a 2025 announcement. “Companies that provide these services must train their employees to comply with the law and work to protect consumers.”

Consumers affected will be receiving checks from the FTC, and will have 90 days to cash the check. The FTC notes that consumers may direct their questions regarding payments to Rust Consulting, the refund administrator.

The FTC settlement is not Walmart’s only recent widespread refund. As part of a new combined Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus membership deal—offering both for $120 annually—the company announced this week that customers currently paying for both will be able to receive a “prorated refund” for the Walmart+ membership.

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Walmart is adding tools it says will make AI agent shopping easier. Bloomberg/Getty Images Walmart wants your bot to shop.

The retail giant said Wednesday that it has two new tools to help third-party AI agents shop on customers' behalf: agent profiles and an agent gateway.

The agent profiles link all transactions to the bot that performed them, and allow Walmart customers to manage authorizations and spending limits as they would for an additional user on their credit card account, the company said.

With agent gateways, bots no longer have to navigate a website that is designed for humans. Instead, Walmart is granting access through a model text protocol that it says will help agents work more quickly and accurately.

Walmart's move contrasts with Amazon's approach, which recently blocked Meta's agent Muse from its site, saying agents violate Amazon's conditions of use. Amazon has also pushed back on other third-party agents, including a lawsuit against Perplexity and restrictions on agents from Google and OpenAI.

"As customers begin using agents to help them shop, we're building connections, permissions and options that complement those tools and support how customers want to use them," the company said in a statement.

The company also said the gateway protects the information that Walmart has about its customers, and only provides what is necessary for completing a given transaction. In particular, the gateway can share a relevant pattern or preference — such as a customer's favorite laundry detergent brand — without sharing their entire purchase history with the agent.

The company also laid out a set of terms and conditions regarding how AI agents are expected to operate when shopping.

Under the terms, the company said it will honor its usual returns policy and that agents will always see the same pricing that a human would see on Walmart.com.

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Dominick Reuter is a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, primarily covering Walmart, Target, Costco, and other big box retailers. His stories tend to focus on issues and trends that affect employees and customers, such as affordability challenges and the growing race to provide ultra-fast delivery services on e-commerce orders.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.

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Earnings are arguably the most important single number on a company's quarterly financial report. Wall Street clearly dives into all of the other metrics and management's input, but the EPS figure helps cut through all the noise.

The earnings figure itself is key, of course, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb and vice versa.

Now that we know how important earnings and earnings surprises are, it's time to show investors how to take advantage of these events to boost their returns by utilizing the Zacks Earnings ESP filter.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.

With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.

In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Walmart?The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. Walmart (WMT - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) 29 days from its next quarterly earnings release on November 19, 2026, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.65 a share.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.65 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.64 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Walmart has an Earnings ESP of +1.44%. Investors should also know that WMT is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

WMT is one of just a large database of Retail and Wholesale stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY - Free Report) .

Slated to report earnings on October 28, 2026, O'Reilly Automotive holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $0.95 a share seven days from its next quarterly update.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for O'Reilly Automotive is $0.93, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of +2.11%.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, WMT and ORLY could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Should You Invest in Walmart Inc. (WMT)?

Before you invest in Walmart Inc. (WMT), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.

Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)

Walmart is bundling its Walmart+ with Sam's Club memberships for $120 a year.

Walmart announced Tuesday it is rolling out a new membership bundle that gives shoppers access to both Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus for $120 a year, nearly $100 less than purchasing the two memberships separately.

The bundle works out to the equivalent of $10 per month, though Walmart said it will only be available as an annual membership and will not include a monthly option or free trial.

Walmart CEO John Furner told FOX Business that the retail giant wanted to roll out the combined membership ahead of the holiday season, when many households are looking for ways to save both money and time.

“It does help at a time when we do see some customers showing some signs of pressure,” Furner said, pointing in particular to higher energy costs.

The launch comes after Walmart reported continued growth across its membership and e-commerce businesses in its most recent quarterly results in August.

Walmart announced Tuesday it is rolling out a new membership bundle that gives shoppers access to both Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
During the company’s second-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings call on Aug. 20, Furner said membership fee revenue increased 17% to an all-time high.

“Marketplace, fulfillment services, membership, advertising and other commerce solutions are strengthening our business, and they are improving the economics of the company,” he said at the time.

Furner also said Walmart+ membership grew by double digits during the quarter, while Sam’s Club membership posted growth in the U.S., China and Mexico.

Walmart CEO John Furner told FOX Business that the retail giant wanted to roll out the combined membership ahead of the holiday season, when many households are looking for ways to save both money and time. Business Wire
He told FOX Business that the bundle is designed to appeal across income levels.

Walmart+ currently costs $98 for the standard annual plan, while Sam’s Club Plus costs $120 a year.

The new bundle rivals Amazon Prime, which costs $139 annually.

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Members will receive the benefits of both programs, including free delivery from Walmart and Sam’s Club, access to Sam’s Club locations and member-only pricing, a choice between Peacock and Paramount+, gas discounts and 2% Sam’s Cash on eligible purchases, according to the retailer.

Furner said Walmart aims to have the bundle encourage existing Walmart+ members to shop at Sam’s Club and also appeal to consumers who currently have memberships elsewhere.

“We’re deciding to do this from a position of strength and momentum,” Furner said.

Members get combined program benefits: free delivery from Walmart and Sam’s Club, Sam’s Club access and member pricing, gas discounts, 2% Sam’s Cash on eligible purchases, and a choice of Peacock or Paramount+. Eric BVD – stock.adobe.com
Annual Walmart+ members can add Sam’s Club Plus for an additional $22 per year, while existing Sam’s Club members can upgrade to Plus for $60 and receive Walmart+ at no additional cost.

Current Sam’s Club Plus members will be able to activate Walmart+ at no additional charge.

Walmart also said U.S. field associates at Walmart and Sam’s Club will receive access to both memberships as part of their employee benefits.

The new offering comes as consumers continue to contend with higher prices. Inflation climbed 3.7% in September from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. Gasoline prices rose more than 34% over the past year, while grocery prices climbed 1.8%.

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.

Shares of this world's largest retailer have returned +10.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. The Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry, to which Walmart belongs, has gained 10.9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere 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.

Walmart is expected to post earnings of $0.64 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.2%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $2.88 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +9.1%. This estimate has changed +0.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.22 indicates a change of +12.1% from what Walmart is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

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 #3 (Hold).

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 $186.46 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +3.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $751.49 billion and $783.59 billion estimates indicate +5.4% and +4.3% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWalmart reported revenues of $187.94 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.9%. EPS of $0.81 for the same period compares with $0.68 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $186.26 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.9%. The EPS surprise was +10.96%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

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.

Bottom LineThe 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.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) shares are in the spotlight Tuesday, with a new $120-a-year membership bundle, a recent Deutsche Bank upgrade and earnings on November 19 all drawing attention.

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It's time people got more out of their memberships. And paid a whole lot less. Starting today, Walmart+ and Sam's Club Plus are available together for $120 a year — almost $100 less than members were previously paying for the two memberships separately.“We're giving people a reason to expect more from their memberships,” said John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart Inc. “For $120 a year, we're raising expectations for what a membership can deliver: more money.

Flipkart, the Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce giant, is preparing to challenge India’s food-delivery duopoly of Zomato and Swiggy. It is entering a fiercely competitive market that has defeated even previous attempts by Amazon and Google to break in.

The Bengaluru-based company is testing its food-delivery service internally and has expanded the trial from a few hundred employees to upwards of 8,000, according to two people familiar with the matter. It has also deployed a dedicated fleet of riders through its logistics arm, Ekart, separate from the riders who handle its quick-commerce deliveries, as it prepares for a public launch.

The employee-only service appears as a separate tab on Flipkart’s main shopping app, alongside its Minutes quick-commerce offering and travel bookings, TechCrunch has learned. It draws on restaurants listed through ONDC, a government-backed network that connects online buyers and sellers across different platforms, as well as restaurants that Flipkart signed up directly.

Riders wearing jerseys bearing the “Eat-in by Minutes” branding have also begun fulfilling orders on the streets of Bengaluru, the southern Indian city where Flipkart is headquartered.

As Flipkart expands its food-delivery operations, it is entering a market that the brokerage firm Bernstein estimates is growing 18% to 20% a year. Online delivery, though, still accounts for just over 15% of India’s broader food-services industry. Zomato, owned by Eternal, and Swiggy together serve an estimated 85 million to 95 million paying customers a year, per Bernstein. That figure shows how dominant the two are, and how much room newcomers have to grow online food ordering in the world’s most populous country, which has more than a billion internet subscriptions.

Flipkart is not the only company trying to shake up India’s food-delivery market. Ride-hailing company Rapido, which has already given Uber and its Indian rival Ola a tough fight, has been expanding Ownly, its food-delivery service that charges restaurants zero commission. Meanwhile, Swiggy has launched Toing, a separate app aimed at customers looking for cheaper meals. Both moves reflect growing pressure on the industry’s existing pricing model and the commissions that restaurants pay.

“Monopoly is bad, but duopoly is more pathetic,” said Sagar Daryani, president of the New Delhi-headquartered National Restaurant Association of India, which represents over 500,000 restaurants nationwide. “What one does, the other follows suit.”

Daryani argued that restaurants have long needed alternatives to the two dominant platforms.

Flipkart is not the first deep-pocketed company to try breaking into India’s food-delivery market. In 2020, Amazon launched a food-ordering service in Bengaluru, but it shut the service down two years later. Google’s Areo app, which offered food ordering alongside other services, also failed to gain traction. Uber also left the market in 2020, selling its Uber Eats business in India to Zomato.

Daryani sees one important difference between Flipkart and the companies that tried food delivery before it. Zomato and Swiggy built their businesses around delivering meals before expanding into quick commerce. Flipkart is doing the reverse, using its established e-commerce business and growing quick-commerce operations as a springboard into food delivery.

“Flipkart’s quick commerce benefit will get passed on to food delivery, so it will be leaner, more efficient,” Daryani told TechCrunch.

Restaurants are also hoping that new entrants will bring down the cost of selling meals online. Daryani, also co-founder and CEO of the dumpling chain Wow! Momo Foods, said Flipkart has proposed a base commission of about 10%, compared with the 20% to 25% that restaurants typically pay Zomato and Swiggy.

Commissions are only part of the expense, though. Once advertising, discounts, and other promotional costs are factored in, restaurants can end up spending 40% to 50% of an order’s value on the established platforms, Daryani told TechCrunch. He expects Flipkart to keep that total cost closer to 15% to 16%, which could mean restaurants keep more money from each order.

Nonetheless, getting restaurants on board is one thing and winning over customers is another. Bernstein estimates that new entrants could save customers just ₹20 to ₹30 (around 20–30 cents) per order by operating more efficiently, which may not be enough to draw customers away from Zomato and Swiggy. The two incumbents could also offer deeper discounts to keep them.

Flipkart is not planning to stay in Bengaluru for long. The company has told restaurants that it expects to launch its food-delivery service publicly by the end of October and to expand to five or six cities by the end of this year, Daryani told TechCrunch.

The food-delivery push also comes as Flipkart’s long-awaited stock-market listing remains uncertain. Chief Executive Kalyan Krishnamurthy (pictured above) recently declined to give a timetable for an IPO, even as the company continues to expand into businesses that could bring customers back to its app more frequently.

Flipkart’s expansion comes as competition in India’s e-commerce market intensifies. Quick-commerce platforms that started by delivering groceries in minutes now sell even the latest iPhones and other discretionary purchases, putting them in more direct competition with Flipkart and Amazon.

Flipkart did not respond to a request for comments.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) EVP Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.60, for a total transaction of $349,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 563,353 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $67,940,371.80. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Christopher James Nicholas also recently made the following trade(s):

On Thursday, September 17th, Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.65, for a total transaction of $309,285.00. On Thursday, August 20th, Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total transaction of $308,386.00. Walmart Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ:WMT opened at $118.81 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $942.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.89, a PEG ratio of 4.53 and a beta of 0.58. Walmart Inc. has a 52 week low of $98.88 and a 52 week high of $135.15. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $108.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $116.18.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.68 EPS. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. Research analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.88 earnings per share for the current year. Trending Headlines about Walmart Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank upgraded Walmart to Buy and raised its price target to $136 from $113. The bank cited a favorable 2027 outlook, inflation-driven customer traffic and growth opportunities in advertising, marketplace services and Walmart+ membership income. Walmart is a buy as inflation attracts more customers, says Deutsche Bank Positive Sentiment: Investors are increasingly valuing Walmart’s higher-margin revenue streams. The retailer’s global e-commerce sales rose 23% in the latest quarter, while marketplace, advertising and membership growth could improve profitability beyond its traditional low-price retail model. Walmart also raised fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.80-$2.87. Walmart Stock Gets an Upgrade as Analyst Sees More Room to Run Positive Sentiment: Expanded employee benefits may support Walmart’s long-term investment story. The company added more than 250 free prescription drugs and up to 12 weeks of paid NICU leave. While benefits could raise costs, Deutsche Bank viewed the move alongside fee-based growth as evidence Walmart is investing in employee retention and more profitable operations. How Benefit Expansion At Walmart Has Changed Its Investment Story Neutral Sentiment: Recent operating results remain solid. Walmart’s latest quarterly revenue increased 5.9% year over year to $187.94 billion, and EPS exceeded analyst expectations. Faster pickup, delivery and digital initiatives could further support holiday sales and Walmart+ engagement, though the stock’s elevated valuation limits room for disappointment. Can Walmart’s Faster Shopping Options Boost Holiday Sales Growth? Negative Sentiment: Rising costs remain a risk. Walmart and Target are facing pressure from higher operating and merchandise costs, which could squeeze margins if the retailers cannot pass expenses on to consumers. Walmart, Target Face a New Price Problem as Costs Surge Negative Sentiment: Several executives reported stock sales, including CEO John Furner. The transactions were conducted under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans and executives retained substantial holdings, reducing their significance, but insider selling can still temper sentiment at recent highs. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walmart Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Rise Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Walmart by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 5,073 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $527,000 after buying an additional 535 shares during the last quarter. James T. Borello RIA purchased a new position in Walmart during the third quarter worth $129,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 9.7% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 9,784 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 864 shares during the last quarter. YANKCOM Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 2.7% in the third quarter. YANKCOM Partnership now owns 11,309 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,175,000 after acquiring an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial & Tax Architects LLC lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 8.9% in the third quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC now owns 76,784 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $7,979,000 after acquiring an additional 6,272 shares in the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Oppenheimer reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Walmart from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Walmart from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Walmart from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $132.41.

View Our Latest Report on WMT

About Walmart (Get Free Report)

Walmart Inc (NASDAQ:WMT) operates a global retail business through a network of supercenters, supermarkets, discount stores, neighborhood markets, warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms. Its stores and websites sell a broad assortment of merchandise, including groceries, consumables, health and wellness products, apparel, electronics, home goods, toys and other general merchandise.

The company organizes its operations into Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam’s Club U.S. Walmart U.S.

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Key Takeaways Walmart raises its FY27 capital spending outlook to 4% of net sales, prioritizing automation and fulfillment.Target plans $5 billion in FY26 capital spending, focusing on new stores, remodels and technology upgrades.Dollar General targets 4,730 real estate projects in FY26, backed by up to $1.5 billion in capital spending. Major U.S. retailers are stepping up capital expenditures to strengthen their store networks, modernize supply chains and improve technology capabilities. Investments in new stores, remodels, automation and digital infrastructure remain important as retailers seek to enhance customer convenience, improve operational efficiency and support long-term growth. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) , Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) and Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) are directing capital toward these priorities.

Walmart Prioritizes Automation and Supply-Chain InvestmentsWalmart has increased its capital expenditure outlook for fiscal 2027 to about 4% of annual net sales from its prior expectation of 3.5%. The company continues to invest in infrastructure and capabilities supporting its evolving omnichannel retail model.

The retailer's investments in supply-chain automation, technology, fulfillment capacity and its physical network are helping improve inventory movement, product availability and delivery speed. These capabilities support its growing e-commerce and marketplace operations while strengthening efficiency across its distribution network.

Walmart's global e-commerce sales increased 23% in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, highlighting the importance of its digital and fulfillment capabilities. Despite higher planned capital spending, management expects double-digit free cash flow growth for the fiscal year. This suggests continued emphasis on balancing infrastructure investments with cash generation.

Target Expands Store and Technology InvestmentsTarget is accelerating capital investments to strengthen its physical footprint, supply chain and technology infrastructure. The company expects approximately $5 billion in capital expenditures for fiscal 2026, supporting its strategic growth priorities.

Through the first half of 2026, Target deployed approximately $2.4 billion in capital expenditures, up nearly 30% year over year. Spending has focused on new stores, full-store remodels, supply-chain improvements and technology capabilities. Target opened 17 new stores during the second quarter, bringing its first-half total to 24.

Target is also modernizing technology to improve personalization, strengthen digital engagement and enhance operational execution. These initiatives complement its broader strategy of delivering differentiated merchandise, convenience and value to customers.

Dollar General Focuses on Store Growth and RemodelsDollar General is maintaining its capital expenditure outlook of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion for fiscal 2026. During the first half, the company invested approximately $758 million, including $414 million in existing-store improvements, upgrades, remodels and relocations.

Another $168 million supported distribution and transportation projects, while $133 million was allocated to new-store facilities. Technology-related investments totaled approximately $31 million.

Dollar General plans approximately 4,730 real estate projects in fiscal 2026, including new-store openings, relocations and remodels under Project Renovate and Project Elevate. These projects aim to improve store presentation, customer experience and operational efficiency.

Final WordsCapital expenditures remain central to retailers' efforts to strengthen competitiveness and support sustainable growth. While Walmart emphasizes automation and omnichannel capabilities, Target focuses on store modernization and technology, and Dollar General prioritizes network development and remodels. The long-term benefits will depend on disciplined execution, productivity improvements and the ability to generate adequate returns on investment.

Walmart Inc. (WMT) demonstrates strong long-term fundamentals, robust growth in digital operations, and expanding higher-margin businesses like advertising and memberships. WMT has delivered a 20.5% CAGR in share price over the past decade, but current valuation is elevated, trading at a P/E of 46.8 versus historical averages. Profitability metrics are mixed: ROE is solid at 19%, but ROIC (12%) and gross margin (24%) fall short of preferred thresholds.

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Stock to Watch: Walmart (WMT - Free Report) Walmart Inc. has evolved from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer into a global omnichannel retailer. Its stores, clubs, e-commerce sites, mobile applications, delivery services and membership programs allow customers to shop across physical and digital channels. The company also uses marketplace, advertising, fulfillment and data capabilities to extend its retail ecosystem.

WMT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. WMT has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 9.1% for the current fiscal year.

Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $2.88 per share. WMT also boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.9%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, WMT should be on investors' short list.

Is the digital cloud giant or the global retail king a better fit for your portfolio? Deciding between Amazon (AMZN -1.87%) and Walmart (WMT +0.80%) requires weighing high-growth tech against steady brick-and-mortar stability.

Amazon leads in e-commerce and cloud computing, while Walmart dominates the physical retail landscape with its massive grocery presence. Both companies are now blurring these lines, competing fiercely in online delivery and advertising. Understanding their different financial profiles is essential for deciding which path suits your investment goals in 2026.

The case for AmazonAmazon operates a diverse business ecosystem, including online stores, third-party seller services, and an advertising platform. Its powerful Amazon Web Services segment provides cloud infrastructure and machine learning capabilities to enterprises, while the company also manages a $309.5 million class action settlement involving customer refunds. Navigating these complexities is central to managing a global workforce of 1.5 million employees among retail stocks.

In the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2025, according to its latest annual report, revenue reached nearly $716.9 billion, representing a growth of approximately 12.4% compared with the prior fiscal year. This expansion was accompanied by a net income of roughly $77.7 billion.

Amazon has total cash of $122.9 billion against total debt of $251.6 billion. It also has a total debt-to-equity ratio of 45.6%, and its 12-month trailing operating cash flow is $161.4 billion.

AMZN Amazon$250.00-$4.76 (-1.87%)

NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/16/26

The case for WalmartWalmart serves approximately 280 million customers weekly through a vast network of physical stores and an expanding e-commerce presence. The company is currently integrating AI and supply chain automation to improve its omnichannel strategy. It also offers financial services by collaborating with partners like Mastercard (MA +0.18%) to provide credit cards to its members.

In the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2026, as reported in its most recent annual filing, revenue reached close to $713.2 billion, a 4.7% increase year over year. The majority of these net sales were generated by the company's domestic Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club U.S. operations. For this period, the company reported net income of approximately $21.9 billion.

Walmart has total cash of $11.5 billion compared to total debt of $75 billion. Its total debt-to-equity ratio is 71.6%, and its 12-month trailing operating cash flow is $42.9 billion.

WMT Walmart$118.81+$0.94 (+0.80%)

NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/16/26

Risk profile comparisonAmazon.com faces intense global competition across retail, advertising, and cloud services where rivals often possess localized advantages or greater resources. International operations in regions like China and India carry risks of regulatory and ownership constraints that could disrupt the business model. Additionally, the company manages significant legal challenges including antitrust proceedings from the Federal Trade Commission and risks related to its complex global fulfillment networks.

Walmart operates in a highly competitive retail landscape against global omnichannel retailers and wholesale clubs that utilize advanced shopping platforms. The company faces operational vulnerabilities in its complex information systems. Furthermore, reliance on international manufacturing exposes its operating margin to tariffs, trade barriers, and geopolitical instability across the countries where it operates.

Valuation comparisonDeciding depends on whether you prefer Walmart's lower price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, or Amazon's lower forward price-to-earnings (P/E).

MetricAmazonWalmartForward P/E23.6x38xP/S ratio3.4x1.2xI like both of these stocks and believe that both have room in a portfolio. Walmart is more of a classic retailer than Amazon, with nearly 11,000 stores and clubs in 19 countries. Being a traditional retailer, however, hasn't stopped it from tapping into technology to meet the needs of more customers. It's seeing solid results with its AI shopping assistant, Sparky, as customers who use the AI agent spend 40% more than those who don't. Walmart is also seeing a boost in its online sales, with its global e-commerce sales up 23% in the second quarter of its fiscal 2027.

Still, if I had to pick only one stock to own between the two, I would choose Amazon. It just has more upside potential thanks to its role as an infrastructure backbone for AI. According to Statista, as of the first quarter of 2026, Amazon was the global leader in the cloud market, with 28% of the market share. It's also developing its own chips, and it has a stake in the AI start-up Anthropic, which is expected to go public soon. As the global AI market is valued at more than $707 billion in 2026 and is expected to jump to $1.9 trillion by 2032, Amazon is positioned to be a winner, offering greater potential for stock price appreciation than Walmart.

A market signal that peaked as the financial system collapsed in 2008 is climbing again, and one economist says it points directly at what the Federal Reserve does next.

Economist Jim Paulsen says his “Walmart Recession Signal” is rising again. In 2008, as the stock market collapsed, the signal rose toward the highest level it has ever recorded. That same year, the top 25 hedge fund managers earned a combined $11.6 billion, or an average of $464 million each, according to Alpha, the Institutional Investor publication, down from a combined $22.5 billion in 2007, Financial Planning reported. The only link between the signal and what those managers earned is the year.

Paulsen, a former chief investment strategist at The Leuthold Group who retired in 2022, now writes Paulsen Perspectives. He says the signal is rising again since August.

How the Walmart Recession Signal Works
Paulsen defines the signal as the ratio of Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT | WMT Price Prediction) stock to a group of stocks linked to wealthier consumers. The original version compared Walmart with the S&P 500 Retail index. Since July 2025, it has compared Walmart with the S&P Global Luxury Index. A rising signal means Walmart is outperforming that group. His reasoning is that lower-income households feel recessions first, and Walmart caters to them.

2008 Shows the Logic in Action
Walmart’s stock price rose about 18% in 2008, while the S&P 500 fell by more than a third. On October 28, 2008, Walmart rose 11%, its best day in 20 years, per Talk Business. That is the pattern the signal is designed to capture: shoppers trading down and investors moving toward value retail.

Rising Again Since August
In his March update, Paulsen said the signal was close to the highest level ever recorded, a level last seen during the financial crisis, according to Fortune. At the time, Fortune reported that Walmart’s stock was up over 40% from a year earlier at $123.95. The luxury index was up about 7.7% from a year earlier but down 13.6% since the start of 2026.

In his October 12 post, Paulsen said the signal has been rising again since August. Yahoo Finance’s summary of that post says Walmart has outperformed the luxury index by roughly 21% since August, and that Walmart shares are up about 8% from their late August low. Both figures are approximate.

Walmart’s own results fit the trade-down story. Its second-quarter fiscal 2027 release reported “share gains continued across categories and income tiers, led by upper-income households”, with revenue of $187.94B, up 5.9%. Walmart has named upper-income households as the leaders of its share gains in each of the past four quarterly reports. The stock traded at $118.59 on Friday, up 7.26% over the past week, after Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) said inflation is attracting more customers to the retailer.

What Paulsen Says It Means for the Fed
On the Excess Returns podcast on October 15, 2026, Paulsen said the signal is most useful as a guide to what the Fed may do. He called it imperfect and said it works “generally.” He said Walmart’s gains since mid-August suggests the Fed may have to pause before raising rates again, “or maybe even more than that.”

The Fed has been tightening. On September 17, 2026, it raised its target range, which had been 3.50% to 3.75%, to a new range of 3.75% to 4.00%, according to Federal Reserve data.

Paulsen expects real GDP to stay positive and the economy to avoid a recession this year. He also expects the S&P 500 to avoid a full bear market. He does see stress in the economy and the job market, along with the possibility of a “fairly nasty correction,” especially in newer high-flying stocks.

Where the Signal Falls Short
Paulsen himself calls the measure imperfect, and it can run well ahead of events. A rising reading has also not always arrived alongside a sharp jump in unemployment. Right now, the jobless rate stands at 4.2%, up from 4.1% in August. That is well below the 4.5% recorded last November. Retail sales rose 6.3% year over year in September. Consumer sentiment came in at 51.7 in August, which is low by historical standards.

What to Watch Next
Two things will show whether Paulsen’s reading holds up. One factor is whether Walmart continues outperforming luxury stocks. Also key is what the Fed does at its next meeting, after the September increase.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Amazon and Walmart both run booming ad businesses, but they are selling completely different things to advertisers and the gap between them is widening fast. Which model survives the next wave of retail competition?

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN | AMZN Price Prediction) and Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) both reported this summer, and their ad businesses tell two different stories. Amazon Ads grew 26% to $19.8 billion on search intent. Walmart Connect grew 43% (ex-VIZIO) on store traffic and purchase data. One sells the digital shelf. The other sells the checkout lane.

Sponsored Prompts Carry Amazon While Stores Carry Walmart
Amazon’s chief executive called sponsored products “our largest offering and a key driver of growth.” The proof came from conversational shopping. Shoppers who click a sponsored prompt “convert to a sale 48% more often and spend 21% more on average.” For a brand, that is about as close to guaranteed checkout as advertising gets. Prime Video adds premium video on top, with Thursday Night Football, NBA, WNBA and NASCAR inventory “all sold out.”

Walmart’s engine runs through physical locations. Stores handle last-mile fulfillment for 80% of e-commerce orders, and about 280 million customers and members shop weekly. That traffic generates first-party transaction data few rivals can match. CFO John David Rainey said ad growth is outpacing e-commerce “by a large margin on a larger base.” In plain terms, ads are raising digital profitability.

Business Driver
Amazon Ads
Walmart Connect

Latest Ad Growth
26%
43% (ex-VIZIO)

Ad Scale
Over $70B TTM
Nearly $6.40B (full year)

Data Edge
Search and purchase intent
In-store and omnichannel transactions

Video Channel
Prime Video, live sports
VIZIO connected TV

Amazon Reaches Outward as Walmart Moves Downmarket
Amazon now sells ads beyond its own properties, letting buyers reach Netflix, Spotify, SiriusXM through Amazon Ads. AdsAgent users saw 8% lower cost per impression, a cost cut that keeps budgets running. That cash matters, because Q2 capex reached $54.2 billion and TTM free cash flow stands at -$7.6 billion. Ads help fund the AI buildout.

Walmart is expanding its advertiser base. The Vibe acquisition adds self-service tools for smaller merchants, at a cost of about 20 basis points of operating income growth. The price looks modest. Marketplace sales rose 52%, giving more sellers reasons to advertise. VIZIO links purchase data to living-room screens, but Walmart disclosed no separate VIZIO figures, so I remain skeptical until it does.

Closed-Loop Measurement Will Decide Who Gains Ground
Watch whether Alexa for Shopping, used by over 350 million customers in the last 12 months, becomes a reliable ad surface. You should keep an eye on whether Walmart shows CTV ads drive store sales, especially as tariff refunds running into price and Q3 EPS guidance lands at $0.62-$0.64.

Why I See Walmart Connect as the Growth Story and Amazon as the Scale Story
For me, Amazon Ads remains the more shows machine. Intent data plus sold-out sports inventory is hard to copy. Still, its stock carries AI capex risk that ads alone cannot offset. Amazon shares are up 10.37% year to date.

Walmart fits investors seeking a smaller ad business compounding faster inside a defensive retailer. Shares rose 6.61% over the past week as Deutsche Bank turned bullish on the stock. If Walmart breaks out VIZIO results showing real proof, I would view its ad story as the more exciting of the two.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Retail’s next great efficiency breakthrough may come with an invoice addressed to someone else.

As Walmart pushes robotics deeper into its distribution network, and Amazon brings artificial intelligence into consumers’ everyday conversations with new product launches across its Bee wearable line, the two retail giants are pursuing different versions of the same economic ambition: reducing the distance between consumer demand and a completed sale.

But the more consequential story isn’t what their technology eliminates. It’s what happens to the costs, risks and commercial opportunities left behind.

Warehouse automation can reduce labor-intensive handling while requiring suppliers to redesign packaging and shipping operations. AI assistants can eliminate the need to search for products while giving technology platforms greater influence over which brands consumers discover and ultimately buy.

Both developments illustrate a fundamental change in retail economics. Innovation is no longer simply reducing the cost of commerce. It is changing which businesses bear that cost, which ones capture the savings and who controls the transaction.

See also: Amazon and Walmart Want Merchants’ Software Budgets 

Walmart’s Robots Are Changing the Economics Outside the Warehouse Walmart’s warehouse modernization program has become one of retail’s most ambitious experiments in industrial automation. The company has been deploying robotics and automated systems across its distribution network, seeking improvements in inventory handling, fulfillment productivity and operating efficiency.

Recent reporting has also highlighted the engineering challenges involved in automating the movement of everyday consumer merchandise. A warehouse full of machines, after all, still has to process products designed for a world of human workers.

And when a retailer changes the physical requirements of its distribution infrastructure, suppliers may have to change how merchandise arrives. Packaging dimensions, labeling, case configurations and shipping specifications can become prerequisites for participating efficiently in the network. The result is a potentially uncomfortable contradiction: A retailer’s investment in operational efficiency can generate new expenses elsewhere in its supply chain.

If Walmart captures productivity gains while suppliers shoulder substantial implementation costs, the financial returns will look very different depending on whose balance sheet is being examined.

Read more: Amazon Builds Its Own Answer to Walmart’s 5,000 Stores 

Amazon Wants to Capture Demand Before It Becomes a Search If Walmart is changing the economics of getting products to consumers, Amazon is experimenting with changing the economics of discovering what consumers want in the first place.

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On Thursday (Oct. 15), Amazon introduced two new devices from Bee, the personal AI company it acquired last year. The $74.99 Bee Frontier wearable and forthcoming $99.99 Bee Eclipse phone attachment are designed to turn conversations into summaries, reminders and actionable recommendations. Through the $11.99 monthly Bee Pro subscription, consumers can opt to connect the devices to Amazon.com and Alexa+. Something mentioned in conversation, such as needing household supplies, can subsequently appear as a personalized product recommendation. Amazon says audio is processed and deleted, with users controlling their information.

The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Will the 2026 Shopping Season Go Agentic?“ found that roughly 132 million people have made a retail purchase with AI assistance, while 22% now begin online retail research in an artificial intelligence tool.

For brands, the opportunity is potentially lower-friction conversion. The risk is that another platform increasingly determines which products enter the consumer’s consideration set.

The Next Retail Advantage Is Who Controls the Handoff Walmart’s robotics and Amazon’s conversational AI appear to address opposite ends of the retail value chain. One seeks to improve the physical movement of merchandise. The other seeks to improve the identification and conversion of consumer demand.

But both can strengthen the position of the platform that controls the infrastructure.

Walmart’s modernization illustrates how operational standards can affect the economics of supplier participation. Amazon’s AI expansion illustrates how ownership of the consumer interface can influence access to demand.

Walmart is working to control the transition from supplier inventory to automated fulfillment. Amazon is expanding its ability to connect consumer conversations with product discovery and shopping.

These are different operations, but they share a commercial characteristic: Whoever establishes the rules at the handoff can influence the economics of everyone participating.

That influence does not guarantee profits. Walmart’s automation difficulties demonstrate that owning infrastructure can bring significant capital, maintenance and execution costs. Amazon’s Bee expansion faces unresolved questions about consumer adoption, privacy expectations and whether personalized recommendations meaningfully change purchasing behavior.

For all PYMNTS digital transformation and B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily digital transformation and B2B newsletters.

Key Takeaways Walmart's faster pickup and delivery options could boost holiday sales and strengthen customer loyalty.
Walmart U.S. e-commerce sales rose 24% in fiscal Q2, driven by 43% growth in store-fulfilled deliveries.
Express Pickup offers one-hour collection at 500 stores, with nationwide rollout planned before Thanksgiving.

Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) continues to strengthen its omnichannel retail capabilities to meet growing consumer demand for convenience, affordability and faster fulfillment. The retailer's investments in digital technology, store-based fulfillment and delivery infrastructure are helping improve shopping experiences and support market share gains. These capabilities could prove particularly valuable during the holiday season, when demand for convenient shopping and timely deliveries typically increases.

Against this backdrop, Walmart recently announced several shopping enhancements for the 2026 holiday season. The retailer is introducing Express Pickup, allowing customers to collect orders in as little as one hour. Currently available at 500 stores, the service is expected to expand nationwide ahead of Thanksgiving. Walmart+ members can access unlimited Express Pickup without additional fees, enhancing the membership program's appeal.

Walmart is also introducing Shop to Light, which helps shoppers locate merchandise through app-enabled shelf lighting. Meanwhile, its delivery options, including drone delivery, fulfillment within 30 minutes and scheduled services, provide greater flexibility. These initiatives could encourage more frequent purchases and help capture last-minute holiday spending.

The initiatives complement Walmart's strong digital momentum. In second-quarter fiscal 2027, Walmart U.S. e-commerce sales increased 24%, supported by approximately 43% growth in store-fulfilled deliveries. Deliveries completed within three hours accounted for roughly 37% of store-fulfilled orders. Walmart+ membership fee revenues also registered double-digit growth.

Walmart's expanding shopping options strengthen its ability to serve customers across different shopping occasions. By leveraging its extensive store network and faster fulfillment capabilities, the retailer could attract incremental holiday spending and deepen customer loyalty. Growing Walmart+ engagement may also support repeat purchases, reinforcing Walmart's competitive position and longer-term omnichannel growth prospects.

What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares gain 6.5% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 1.9%. Shares of Costco have climbed 2.5%, while Target has surged 70.8% in the aforementioned period.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 37.29, higher than the industry’s 32.74. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.96) while trading at a discount to Costco (42.51). 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Walmart stock WMT rose in premarket trading on Thursday after Deutsche Bank upgraded the retailer to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $136 from $113. Walmart shares gained 2.7% in early trading.

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