Key Stock Developments on Thursday: Factors That May Influence the Market in the Upcoming Trading Session
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 20 2025
0mins
Should l Buy WMT?
Source: CNBC
Walmart Earnings Report: Walmart is set to release its quarterly earnings on Thursday, with shares having increased nearly 5% over the past three months but down 2.6% from its 52-week high.
Workday Performance: Workday will report its earnings after the market closes on Thursday, with its stock experiencing a decline of nearly 17% in the last three months and down 22% from its December peak.
Disney CEO Appearance: Disney's CEO Bob Iger will appear on "Squawk on the Street," as Disney shares are currently 6% below their 52-week high, despite being up 30% over the past year.
Federal Reserve Discussions: CNBC's senior economics reporter will cover key topics at Jackson Hole, including interest rates and potential controversies involving Federal Reserve officials, along with weekly jobless claims data.
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Analyst Views on WMT
Wall Street analysts forecast WMT stock price to fall
26 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 130.330
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
Current: 130.330
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
About WMT
Walmart Inc. is a technology-powered omnichannel retailer. The Company is engaged in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, as well as eCommerce Websites and mobile applications, located throughout the United States (U.S.), Africa, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India and Mexico. It operates in three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club U.S. The Walmart U.S. segment includes the Company's mass merchandising concept in the U.S., as well as eCommerce, which includes omni-channel initiatives and certain other business offerings such as advertising services. The Walmart International segment consists of the Company's operations outside of the U.S. through its subsidiaries, as well as eCommerce and omni-channel initiatives. The Sam's Club U.S. segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the U.S., as well as samsclub.com and omni-channel initiatives.
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.
Balancing Portfolios: Stability in Consumer Goods
- Walmart's Price Advantage: With over 10,000 retail units globally, Walmart attracts consumers by offering low prices and convenience, positioning itself to generate hundreds of billions in annual sales, thereby reinforcing its market leadership.
- Coca-Cola's Sales Growth: Coca-Cola posted organic sales growth of 4% to 5% in Q1, with a 13% increase in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volume, demonstrating the company's success in meeting consumer demands and diversifying its product offerings despite challenges from price hikes.
- Procter & Gamble's Strong Performance: Procter & Gamble achieved a 7% organic sales growth in its beauty segment for Q3 2026, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of 2.5%, indicating the company's capability to navigate high costs and tariffs, although future margin sustainability remains a concern.
- Stable Dividend Growth: Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble have consistently increased their dividends over decades, with Walmart and Coca-Cola at 53 and 64 years respectively, while Procter & Gamble leads with 69 years, reflecting their ability to maintain stable cash flows and shareholder returns amid economic fluctuations.
See More
Comparative Investment Value of Walmart and Costco
- Sales Model Differences: Walmart's strategy focuses on selling a wide range of products at the lowest prices, reporting $190.7 billion in revenue for the latest quarter, while Costco's more selective model generated $68.2 billion, highlighting Walmart's advantage in market reach and customer demographics.
- Membership Growth and Revenue: Costco boasts 147.2 million cardholders, with 83.1 million paid memberships contributing 2% of total revenue, yet Walmart's faster growth in e-commerce and high-margin sectors indicates a stronger market potential.
- Dividend Stability: Walmart offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2475 and has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years, earning the title of 'Dividend King', while Costco's dividend has grown 86% over the past five years, but Walmart's stability is more appealing to conservative investors.
- Valuation and Market Performance: As of April 29, Walmart's P/E ratio stands at 45.1, making it more attractive than Costco's 49.4, and with a 33% stock price increase over the past 12 months, Walmart shows stronger market momentum, suggesting greater long-term growth potential.
See More
Comparative Growth Analysis of Walmart and Costco
- Membership Revenue Dominance: Costco boasts 147.2 million cardholders, with 83.1 million paid memberships contributing 50% of its operating income, highlighting its reliance on membership fees for profitability.
- Sales Model Differences: Walmart reported $190.7 billion in revenue for the latest quarter compared to Costco's $68.2 billion, with Walmart's omnichannel strategy allowing it to reach a broader customer base, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Dividend Stability: Walmart's quarterly dividend stands at $0.2475, having increased for 53 consecutive years, while Costco's dividend of $1.47, although growing faster, lacks the same level of stability, reflecting differing shareholder return strategies.
- Valuation and Growth Potential: As of April 29, Walmart's P/E ratio is 45.1, more attractive than Costco's 49.4, and Walmart's stock has risen 33% over the past 12 months, indicating stronger market momentum.
See More
Amazon Surpasses Walmart as World's Largest Company by Revenue
- Revenue Comparison: Amazon recorded $716.9 billion in sales over the past year, surpassing Walmart's $713.2 billion for the first time, highlighting its robust growth potential in the e-commerce sector.
- Digital Advertising Growth: Walmart's digital advertising revenue surged 46% to $6.4 billion last year, indicating its ongoing investment and adaptability in high-tech categories, even as overall retail revenue lags behind Amazon.
- Automation Investment: Walmart's close partnership with Symbotic is driving the adoption of robotics and AI, enhancing operational efficiency and potentially delivering significant returns for long-term shareholders, showcasing its forward-looking strategy in the retail space.
- Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has risen approximately 32% over the past year, with a current P/E ratio of about 45 times, and while the company has a strong track record of cash returns, its high valuation makes investors cautious about future performance.
See More
Walmart's Q2 Earnings Drive Share Price Surge
- Share Price Revaluation: Walmart's (WMT) second-quarter earnings report has led to a significant increase in its share price, reflecting positive market expectations for its performance and likely boosting investor confidence.
- Performance Drivers: The report indicates strong sales growth and profit improvement, suggesting that Walmart's competitiveness in the retail market continues to strengthen, potentially attracting more institutional investor interest.
- Market Reaction: The positive response from investors may lead to further growth in Walmart's market capitalization, enhancing the company's position in the retail sector and strengthening its long-term growth potential.
- Strategic Implications: The successful release of this earnings report not only increases shareholder value but may also prompt the company to pursue more strategic investments in the future to maintain its market leadership.
See More
Amazon Sees Strong E-Commerce Growth Amid Consumer Spending Recovery
- E-Commerce Sales Surge: Amazon's e-commerce unit sales grew 15% year-over-year in Q1, marking the highest growth since the pandemic's end, indicating a recovery in consumer spending potentially linked to tax relief.
- Walmart's Earnings Outlook: Walmart is expected to report a 5% year-over-year sales increase to $172 billion on May 21, with nearly all growth coming from existing stores, and earnings projected to rise 8% to $0.66 per share, reflecting strong performance amid improving consumer spending.
- E-Commerce Competitive Edge: Walmart's e-commerce sales surged 24% year-over-year in Q4, significantly outpacing Amazon's 8% increase, suggesting that Walmart's rapid growth in e-commerce could pose a competitive threat to Amazon.
- TJX Companies' Steady Growth: TJX has reported sales growth in 19 of the last 20 years, with Q1 sales expected to rise 6.5% to $13.9 billion, and management noted that the availability of quality inventory remains strong, which is crucial for attracting customers.
See More
Balancing Portfolios: Stability in Consumer Goods
- Walmart's Price Advantage: With over 10,000 retail units globally, Walmart attracts consumers by offering low prices and convenience, positioning itself to generate hundreds of billions in annual sales, thereby reinforcing its market leadership.
- Coca-Cola's Sales Growth: Coca-Cola posted organic sales growth of 4% to 5% in Q1, with a 13% increase in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volume, demonstrating the company's success in meeting consumer demands and diversifying its product offerings despite challenges from price hikes.
- Procter & Gamble's Strong Performance: Procter & Gamble achieved a 7% organic sales growth in its beauty segment for Q3 2026, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of 2.5%, indicating the company's capability to navigate high costs and tariffs, although future margin sustainability remains a concern.
- Stable Dividend Growth: Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble have consistently increased their dividends over decades, with Walmart and Coca-Cola at 53 and 64 years respectively, while Procter & Gamble leads with 69 years, reflecting their ability to maintain stable cash flows and shareholder returns amid economic fluctuations.
See More
Comparative Investment Value of Walmart and Costco
- Sales Model Differences: Walmart's strategy focuses on selling a wide range of products at the lowest prices, reporting $190.7 billion in revenue for the latest quarter, while Costco's more selective model generated $68.2 billion, highlighting Walmart's advantage in market reach and customer demographics.
- Membership Growth and Revenue: Costco boasts 147.2 million cardholders, with 83.1 million paid memberships contributing 2% of total revenue, yet Walmart's faster growth in e-commerce and high-margin sectors indicates a stronger market potential.
- Dividend Stability: Walmart offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2475 and has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years, earning the title of 'Dividend King', while Costco's dividend has grown 86% over the past five years, but Walmart's stability is more appealing to conservative investors.
- Valuation and Market Performance: As of April 29, Walmart's P/E ratio stands at 45.1, making it more attractive than Costco's 49.4, and with a 33% stock price increase over the past 12 months, Walmart shows stronger market momentum, suggesting greater long-term growth potential.
See More
Comparative Growth Analysis of Walmart and Costco
- Membership Revenue Dominance: Costco boasts 147.2 million cardholders, with 83.1 million paid memberships contributing 50% of its operating income, highlighting its reliance on membership fees for profitability.
- Sales Model Differences: Walmart reported $190.7 billion in revenue for the latest quarter compared to Costco's $68.2 billion, with Walmart's omnichannel strategy allowing it to reach a broader customer base, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Dividend Stability: Walmart's quarterly dividend stands at $0.2475, having increased for 53 consecutive years, while Costco's dividend of $1.47, although growing faster, lacks the same level of stability, reflecting differing shareholder return strategies.
- Valuation and Growth Potential: As of April 29, Walmart's P/E ratio is 45.1, more attractive than Costco's 49.4, and Walmart's stock has risen 33% over the past 12 months, indicating stronger market momentum.
See More
Amazon Surpasses Walmart as World's Largest Company by Revenue
- Revenue Comparison: Amazon recorded $716.9 billion in sales over the past year, surpassing Walmart's $713.2 billion for the first time, highlighting its robust growth potential in the e-commerce sector.
- Digital Advertising Growth: Walmart's digital advertising revenue surged 46% to $6.4 billion last year, indicating its ongoing investment and adaptability in high-tech categories, even as overall retail revenue lags behind Amazon.
- Automation Investment: Walmart's close partnership with Symbotic is driving the adoption of robotics and AI, enhancing operational efficiency and potentially delivering significant returns for long-term shareholders, showcasing its forward-looking strategy in the retail space.
- Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has risen approximately 32% over the past year, with a current P/E ratio of about 45 times, and while the company has a strong track record of cash returns, its high valuation makes investors cautious about future performance.
See More
Walmart's Q2 Earnings Drive Share Price Surge
- Share Price Revaluation: Walmart's (WMT) second-quarter earnings report has led to a significant increase in its share price, reflecting positive market expectations for its performance and likely boosting investor confidence.
- Performance Drivers: The report indicates strong sales growth and profit improvement, suggesting that Walmart's competitiveness in the retail market continues to strengthen, potentially attracting more institutional investor interest.
- Market Reaction: The positive response from investors may lead to further growth in Walmart's market capitalization, enhancing the company's position in the retail sector and strengthening its long-term growth potential.
- Strategic Implications: The successful release of this earnings report not only increases shareholder value but may also prompt the company to pursue more strategic investments in the future to maintain its market leadership.
See More
Amazon Sees Strong E-Commerce Growth Amid Consumer Spending Recovery
- E-Commerce Sales Surge: Amazon's e-commerce unit sales grew 15% year-over-year in Q1, marking the highest growth since the pandemic's end, indicating a recovery in consumer spending potentially linked to tax relief.
- Walmart's Earnings Outlook: Walmart is expected to report a 5% year-over-year sales increase to $172 billion on May 21, with nearly all growth coming from existing stores, and earnings projected to rise 8% to $0.66 per share, reflecting strong performance amid improving consumer spending.
- E-Commerce Competitive Edge: Walmart's e-commerce sales surged 24% year-over-year in Q4, significantly outpacing Amazon's 8% increase, suggesting that Walmart's rapid growth in e-commerce could pose a competitive threat to Amazon.
- TJX Companies' Steady Growth: TJX has reported sales growth in 19 of the last 20 years, with Q1 sales expected to rise 6.5% to $13.9 billion, and management noted that the availability of quality inventory remains strong, which is crucial for attracting customers.
See More
