Next Week's Market Focus: Walmart Earnings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy MDT?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Walmart Earnings Expectations: Analysts anticipate Walmart will report its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, with net sales expected to rise approximately 4% and operating income potentially increasing by 11%, further solidifying its status as a trillion-dollar company.
- Consumer Health Insights: Investors will closely monitor Walmart's commentary on consumer health and its 2026 financial guidance to assess future market trends and corporate strategy.
- FOMC Meeting Minutes Release: The minutes from the January FOMC meeting will be released on Wednesday, providing insights into policymakers' views on the path of interest rates, especially after holding rates steady at the start of the year, which has generated significant market interest.
- Personal Consumption Expenditures Data: On Friday, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data will be released, which is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, and the market will be keen to see if it confirms that inflation is steadily cooling or prompts the Fed to maintain a cautious stance.
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Analyst Views on MDT
Wall Street analysts forecast MDT stock price to rise
20 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 96.410
Low
102.00
Averages
111.76
High
120.00
Current: 96.410
Low
102.00
Averages
111.76
High
120.00
About MDT
Medtronic Public Limited Company is an Ireland-based company, which provides healthcare technology solutions. The Company’s products category includes Advanced Surgical Technology; Cardiac Rhythm; Cardiovascular; Digestive & Gastrointestinal; Ear, Nose & Throat; General Surgery; Gynecological; Neurological; Oral & Maxillofacial; Patient Monitoring; Renal Care; Respiratory; Spinal & Orthopedic; Surgical Navigation & Imaging; Urological; Product Manuals; Product Ordering & Inquiries; and Product Performance & Advisories. Its products include Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) Stabilization, Aortic Stent Graft Products, CareLink Personal Therapy Management Software, CareLink Pro Therapy Management Software. Its services and solutions include Ambulatory Surgery Center Resources, Care Management Services, Digital Connectivity Information Technology (IT) Support, Equipment Services and Support, Innovation Lab, Medtronic Healthcare Consulting, and Office-Based Sinus Surgery.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Significant Revenue Growth: Medtronic reported worldwide revenue of $9.017 billion for Q3 FY26, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year increase, with organic revenue growth of 6%, surpassing market expectations and demonstrating the strength of its product portfolio.
- Strong Cardiac Ablation Solutions: The cardiovascular portfolio grew by 11% year-over-year, with cardiac ablation solutions skyrocketing by 80%, driven by the successful rollout of pulsed field ablation technology, further solidifying Medtronic's leadership in cardiac care.
- Improved Profitability: The company achieved a GAAP operating profit of $1.464 billion with an operating margin of 16.2%, while non-GAAP operating profit reached $2.177 billion with a margin of 24.1%, showcasing success in cost control and efficiency improvements.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Medtronic reiterated its FY26 organic revenue growth guidance of approximately 5.5% and projected diluted non-GAAP EPS between $5.62 and $5.66, despite facing an estimated $185 million impact from tariffs, reflecting confidence in future growth prospects.
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- Fear Index Update: The CNN Money Fear & Greed Index registered at 37.3 on Tuesday, slightly up from 36.1, indicating a minor easing in market sentiment while still remaining in the 'Fear' zone, suggesting cautious investor behavior.
- Market Performance: On Tuesday, U.S. stocks saw slight gains, with the S&P 500 rising approximately 0.1% to close at 6,843.22, despite all major indices experiencing losses last week, including a 1.4% drop in the S&P 500.
- Sector Performance Divergence: Most sectors within the S&P 500 closed negatively, with consumer staples, energy, and materials stocks suffering the largest losses, while real estate and financial stocks bucked the trend, indicating a divergence in sector performance amid overall market uncertainty.
- Manufacturing Index Decline: The NY Empire State Manufacturing Index fell to 7.1 in February, down from 7.7 the previous month and below market expectations of 7, reflecting a slowdown in economic activity that could negatively impact future market sentiment.
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- Market Performance Fluctuates: On Tuesday, the S&P 500 rose by 0.10%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.07%, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.13%, indicating a mixed market recovery from early losses, with the Nasdaq 100 hitting a 2.75-month low, reflecting investor caution towards tech stocks.
- Apple Product Launch Boost: Apple shares surged over 3% after announcing a product launch on March 4, with several new devices expected in the coming weeks, which not only boosted Apple's market performance but also generated positive sentiment across the tech sector.
- Airline Stocks Rally: Airline stocks showed strong performance on Tuesday, led by a 6% increase in Southwest Airlines after UBS upgraded its rating from neutral to buy with a price target of $73, which not only enhanced the overall performance of airline stocks but also contributed to a more optimistic market outlook.
- Mixed Economic Data: The U.S. February NAHB housing market index unexpectedly fell to a 5-month low of 36, below the expected 38, while the February Empire manufacturing survey slightly declined to 7.1, indicating uncertainty in economic recovery, as the market remains focused on upcoming corporate earnings and economic news.
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- Profit Decline: Medtronic's Q3 net profit fell to $1.143 billion, or $0.89 per share, down from $1.294 billion and $1.01 per share last year, indicating significant pressure on the company's profitability.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding items, Medtronic reported adjusted earnings of $1.750 billion, or $1.36 per share, showing some resilience in profitability despite the overall decline in net income.
- Revenue Growth: The company experienced an 8.7% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $9.017 billion compared to $8.292 billion last year, indicating strong market demand.
- Future Guidance: Medtronic's full-year EPS guidance is set between $5.62 and $5.66, reflecting management's optimism about future earnings despite the current profit decline, suggesting confidence in business prospects.
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- Earnings Beat: Medtronic reported adjusted earnings of $1.36 per share for Q3, surpassing expectations of $1.33, indicating robust profitability amid challenging economic conditions.
- Neuroscience Growth: The Neuroscience portfolio generated $2.558 billion in revenue, a 4.1% increase, with mid-single-digit growth in Neuromodulation and Cranial & Spinal Technologies, reflecting strong market demand in this segment.
- Diabetes Business Surge: Revenue from the diabetes segment reached $796 million, up 14.8%, showcasing the company's innovation and acceptance in diabetes management products, further solidifying its market position.
- Positive Outlook: Medtronic reiterated its fiscal 2026 organic revenue growth forecast of approximately 5.5% and adjusted EPS guidance of $5.62 to $5.66, despite a potential $185 million tariff impact, demonstrating confidence in future growth prospects.
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- Cardiovascular Growth: Medtronic's cardiovascular segment achieved an 11% year-over-year growth, marking the strongest growth in a decade, which underscores the company's market leadership and potential for future expansion in this critical area.
- New Product Approval: The FDA clearance of the Hugo robotic system has led to initial installations and surgeries at Cleveland Clinic, which is expected to drive future revenue growth, particularly in the urologic surgical field.
- Diabetes Business Performance: Despite being in the early stages of manufacturing ramp-up, the diabetes segment reported a 15% growth, indicating strong market demand and the potential for further margin improvement in the future.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Medtronic anticipates fiscal year 2026 EPS guidance between $5.62 and $5.66, and despite facing a tariff impact of approximately $185 million, the company remains confident in achieving high single-digit earnings growth.
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