No Wonder Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Is Down 10% When Consumer Sentiment is This Bad
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Source: TipRanks
Walmart's Stock Decline: Walmart's shares dropped 10% following weak guidance for the upcoming year, reflecting concerns over consumer sentiment and economic conditions, including rising inflation expectations and a decline in spending among lower-income households.
Consumer Spending Trends: The top 10% of earners now account for nearly half of all consumer spending, while low-income and middle-class households have reduced their expenditures, prompting Walmart to forecast slower revenue growth than previously anticipated.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy DLTR?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on DLTR
Wall Street analysts forecast DLTR stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for DLTR is 126.00 USD with a low forecast of 75.00 USD and a high forecast of 150.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
17 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
6 Hold
3 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 119.100
Low
75.00
Averages
126.00
High
150.00
Current: 119.100
Low
75.00
Averages
126.00
High
150.00
About DLTR
Dollar Tree, Inc. is an operator of retail discount stores operating under the brand names of Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada. The Company operates approximately 9,000 stores and 18 distribution centers across 48 contiguous states and five Canadian provinces. The Dollar Tree segment operates a discount variety of stores offering merchandise at the opening price point. The Dollar Tree segment includes its operations under the Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada brands in the United States and Canada. Its Dollar Tree Canada stores carry a range of products such as kitchen and dining, cleaning supplies, food and beverages, health and beauty, toys, party supplies, stationery, craft supplies, seasonal decor, and others. It also offers customers same-day local delivery. The Company also offers Dollar Tree Gift Cards and can be purchased in stores and online and redeemed in any one of its store locations.
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.
Discount Retailers Show Strong Performance Amid Inflation
- Discount Retail Stock Performance: As of 2026, discount retail stocks in the S&P 500, such as Walmart and Costco, have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 index, with Walmart up 5.8% year-to-date and 26.6% over the past 52 weeks, indicating strong consumer demand for discount retail.
- Consumer Shift to Discount Stores: Due to inflation, 28% of high-income households shopped at discount chains in 2025, up from 20% four years earlier, suggesting that discount retailers are attracting a broader consumer base.
- Same-Store Sales Growth: In Q4 2025, same-store sales increased by 4.2% at Walmart and 5.7% at Costco, reflecting consumer preference for discounted goods in a high-price environment, further boosting these retailers' performance.
- Future Inflation Expectations: Although the inflation rate has decreased from 9% in June 2022 to around 2.7%, economists expect inflation to remain elevated through 2026, which will continue to benefit discount retailers as consumers remain price-sensitive.
Continue Reading
Trump's Affordability Push Likely to Benefit Low-Income Consumer Stocks
- Policy Shift: The Trump administration is expected to enhance affordability efforts ahead of the midterm elections, targeting low-income consumers, with anticipated changes likely to reshape market dynamics despite current limited impact.
- Beneficiary Companies: Analyst Lakos-Bujas highlighted that retailers like Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Dollar General (DG), along with financial firms such as Citigroup (C) and Western Union (WU), are poised to benefit, reflecting a focus on the low-end consumer segment.
- Market Performance: Despite a recent downgrade, Dollar Tree's stock has surged over 78% in the past year, while Walmart (WMT) has seen a 25% increase due to a surge in AI-driven traffic, indicating sustained demand for low-cost goods.
- Industry Trends: The S&P Retail Select Industry Index (SPSIRE) has gained over 10% in the past year, highlighting strong performance among discount retailers and reflecting a growing consumer demand for affordability.
Continue Reading