US Stocks Struggle as Inflation Data Fails to Boost Market
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 hours ago
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Market Weakness: Despite the latest inflation data coming in cooler than expected, the S&P 500 index still fell over 1% last week, reflecting concerns over disruptions from artificial intelligence in sectors like trucking, media, and real estate.
- Nasdaq's Losing Streak: The Nasdaq Composite slid more than 2% for its fifth consecutive week of losses, marking the longest losing streak since 2022, indicating a waning investor confidence in tech stocks and a generally bearish market sentiment.
- Jesse Jackson's Passing: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson passed away at the age of 84, prompting widespread tributes to his contributions to the civil rights movement and highlighting his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
- AI Summit Upcoming: Tech moguls are descending on India for an AI summit, with OpenAI's Sam Altman and others expected to attend, underscoring the intensifying competition in the AI sector, although Nvidia's Jensen Huang will not be present due to unforeseen circumstances.
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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: 133.890
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
Current: 133.890
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.
Walmart Investors Should Exercise Caution Ahead of Earnings Report
- Strong Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has surged approximately 20% year-to-date, reaching a split-adjusted all-time high, and has gained nearly 29% over the past 12 months, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence.
- Analyst Upgrades: Several analysts have raised Walmart's price targets, with Oppenheimer expecting fourth-quarter holiday sales to come in at the high end of Walmart's projected growth range, further boosting the stock price.
- Market Share Expansion: Walmart has successfully attracted higher-income shoppers by enhancing online and in-store pickup services, modernizing stores, and broadening brand selections, thereby increasing its competitive edge and encroaching on rival Target's market share.
- Valuation Risks Emerge: Despite Walmart reaching a $1 trillion market cap, making it the 12th company to do so, its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 45, indicating potential overvaluation, prompting investors to carefully consider their buying timing.
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Spotify's Price Increases Boost Financials Amid Market Trends
- Spotify's Pricing Strategy: Spotify has raised subscription prices twice in the U.S. over the past 18 months, achieving a record gross margin of 33.1% in Q4, exceeding analyst expectations, indicating that users are willing to pay more for quality content, thereby enhancing the company's profitability.
- User Growth and Profitability Shift: Spotify's premium subscribers grew by 10% year-over-year, with free cash flow reaching $3 billion for the entire year, demonstrating a shift from rapid growth to intelligent monetization strategies, improving overall financial health.
- Retail Sales Data Analysis: Retail sales increased by 2.4% year-over-year in 2025, falling short of the 2.7% analyst estimate, highlighting a disparity in consumer spending power, with the top 20% of earners accounting for 60% of personal outlays, while lower-income households face greater economic pressure.
- Unity Earnings Reaction: Unity's latest earnings report showed revenue and adjusted EBITDA below market expectations, leading to a 30% drop in stock price, as the market fears potential disruption from AI, despite the company's strong cash flow position, reflecting uncertainty about the future.
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Shopify's Earnings Cause Market Whiplash; Moderna's Vaccine Rejected by FDA
- Shopify Earnings Volatility: Shopify's stock surged 13% in pre-market trading before its fourth-quarter earnings report, but plummeted 6% by the end of the day after management's conference call raised concerns about future growth, particularly regarding the concept of 'agentic commerce' that unsettled investors.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company reported a 31% year-over-year revenue growth, maintaining the same rate as last year, with merchandise volume through its platform increasing by 29%, indicating ongoing expansion in the e-commerce sector; however, the missed EPS expectations led to a negative market reaction.
- Moderna Vaccine Approval Setback: The FDA's refusal to review Moderna's new flu vaccine marks the second regulatory challenge within a year, potentially jeopardizing the company's future MRNA technology developments, particularly for vaccines targeting cancer and rare diseases.
- Increased Cash Flow Pressure: Moderna faces significant cash burn, relying on revenue from COVID vaccines to fund its R&D; the FDA's rejection may force the company to reassess its development strategy in the current regulatory climate.
See More
Retail Giants Earnings Season Nears Conclusion
- Earnings Calendar: This week, several retail, energy, and tech giants are set to report earnings, with investors particularly focused on Medtronic, Energy Transfer, and HIVE, while Carvana's Q4 results are due after Wednesday's close.
- Carvana Earnings Expectations: Analysts forecast Carvana to report earnings of $1.10 per share on revenue of $5.26 billion, with strong year-over-year growth in retail units and gross profit per unit, although investor concerns linger over a recent short-seller report alleging accounting irregularities.
- Walmart Earnings Focus: Walmart is expected to report earnings on Thursday, with estimates of $0.72 per share and revenue of $190.24 billion, as investors will closely monitor the growth of high-margin segments and commentary on consumer health.
- Opendoor Earnings Outlook: Opendoor is set to release its Q4 results after Thursday's close, with investors looking for updates on its turnaround plans and progress towards profitability by 2026, particularly regarding improvements in gross margins and the success of its AI-driven “capital-light” platform.
See More
Wall Street Sentiment Dips as AI Summit Gains Attention
- Market Sentiment Dips: Despite the latest inflation data coming in slightly lower than expected, Wall Street failed to rally before the holiday weekend, with the S&P 500 dropping over 1% last week, reflecting concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on industries like trucking, media, and real estate.
- Jesse Jackson Passes Away: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84, prompting widespread tributes to his contributions to equality and justice, highlighting his significant role in the American civil rights movement.
- Pritzker Resigns: Hyatt Hotels Chairman Thomas Pritzker has stepped down due to his ties with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, expressing regret over his judgment, a move that underscores the pressure business leaders face amid scandal revelations.
- AI Summit Held: Tech moguls are gathering in India for an artificial intelligence summit, with OpenAI's Sam Altman and others expected to attend, although Nvidia's Jensen Huang has pulled out due to
See More
US Stocks Struggle as Inflation Data Fails to Boost Market
- Market Weakness: Despite the latest inflation data coming in cooler than expected, the S&P 500 index still fell over 1% last week, reflecting concerns over disruptions from artificial intelligence in sectors like trucking, media, and real estate.
- Nasdaq's Losing Streak: The Nasdaq Composite slid more than 2% for its fifth consecutive week of losses, marking the longest losing streak since 2022, indicating a waning investor confidence in tech stocks and a generally bearish market sentiment.
- Jesse Jackson's Passing: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson passed away at the age of 84, prompting widespread tributes to his contributions to the civil rights movement and highlighting his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
- AI Summit Upcoming: Tech moguls are descending on India for an AI summit, with OpenAI's Sam Altman and others expected to attend, underscoring the intensifying competition in the AI sector, although Nvidia's Jensen Huang will not be present due to unforeseen circumstances.
See More
Walmart Investors Should Exercise Caution Ahead of Earnings Report
- Strong Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has surged approximately 20% year-to-date, reaching a split-adjusted all-time high, and has gained nearly 29% over the past 12 months, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence.
- Analyst Upgrades: Several analysts have raised Walmart's price targets, with Oppenheimer expecting fourth-quarter holiday sales to come in at the high end of Walmart's projected growth range, further boosting the stock price.
- Market Share Expansion: Walmart has successfully attracted higher-income shoppers by enhancing online and in-store pickup services, modernizing stores, and broadening brand selections, thereby increasing its competitive edge and encroaching on rival Target's market share.
- Valuation Risks Emerge: Despite Walmart reaching a $1 trillion market cap, making it the 12th company to do so, its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 45, indicating potential overvaluation, prompting investors to carefully consider their buying timing.
See More
Spotify's Price Increases Boost Financials Amid Market Trends
- Spotify's Pricing Strategy: Spotify has raised subscription prices twice in the U.S. over the past 18 months, achieving a record gross margin of 33.1% in Q4, exceeding analyst expectations, indicating that users are willing to pay more for quality content, thereby enhancing the company's profitability.
- User Growth and Profitability Shift: Spotify's premium subscribers grew by 10% year-over-year, with free cash flow reaching $3 billion for the entire year, demonstrating a shift from rapid growth to intelligent monetization strategies, improving overall financial health.
- Retail Sales Data Analysis: Retail sales increased by 2.4% year-over-year in 2025, falling short of the 2.7% analyst estimate, highlighting a disparity in consumer spending power, with the top 20% of earners accounting for 60% of personal outlays, while lower-income households face greater economic pressure.
- Unity Earnings Reaction: Unity's latest earnings report showed revenue and adjusted EBITDA below market expectations, leading to a 30% drop in stock price, as the market fears potential disruption from AI, despite the company's strong cash flow position, reflecting uncertainty about the future.
See More
Shopify's Earnings Cause Market Whiplash; Moderna's Vaccine Rejected by FDA
- Shopify Earnings Volatility: Shopify's stock surged 13% in pre-market trading before its fourth-quarter earnings report, but plummeted 6% by the end of the day after management's conference call raised concerns about future growth, particularly regarding the concept of 'agentic commerce' that unsettled investors.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company reported a 31% year-over-year revenue growth, maintaining the same rate as last year, with merchandise volume through its platform increasing by 29%, indicating ongoing expansion in the e-commerce sector; however, the missed EPS expectations led to a negative market reaction.
- Moderna Vaccine Approval Setback: The FDA's refusal to review Moderna's new flu vaccine marks the second regulatory challenge within a year, potentially jeopardizing the company's future MRNA technology developments, particularly for vaccines targeting cancer and rare diseases.
- Increased Cash Flow Pressure: Moderna faces significant cash burn, relying on revenue from COVID vaccines to fund its R&D; the FDA's rejection may force the company to reassess its development strategy in the current regulatory climate.
See More
Retail Giants Earnings Season Nears Conclusion
- Earnings Calendar: This week, several retail, energy, and tech giants are set to report earnings, with investors particularly focused on Medtronic, Energy Transfer, and HIVE, while Carvana's Q4 results are due after Wednesday's close.
- Carvana Earnings Expectations: Analysts forecast Carvana to report earnings of $1.10 per share on revenue of $5.26 billion, with strong year-over-year growth in retail units and gross profit per unit, although investor concerns linger over a recent short-seller report alleging accounting irregularities.
- Walmart Earnings Focus: Walmart is expected to report earnings on Thursday, with estimates of $0.72 per share and revenue of $190.24 billion, as investors will closely monitor the growth of high-margin segments and commentary on consumer health.
- Opendoor Earnings Outlook: Opendoor is set to release its Q4 results after Thursday's close, with investors looking for updates on its turnaround plans and progress towards profitability by 2026, particularly regarding improvements in gross margins and the success of its AI-driven “capital-light” platform.
See More
Wall Street Sentiment Dips as AI Summit Gains Attention
- Market Sentiment Dips: Despite the latest inflation data coming in slightly lower than expected, Wall Street failed to rally before the holiday weekend, with the S&P 500 dropping over 1% last week, reflecting concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on industries like trucking, media, and real estate.
- Jesse Jackson Passes Away: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84, prompting widespread tributes to his contributions to equality and justice, highlighting his significant role in the American civil rights movement.
- Pritzker Resigns: Hyatt Hotels Chairman Thomas Pritzker has stepped down due to his ties with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, expressing regret over his judgment, a move that underscores the pressure business leaders face amid scandal revelations.
- AI Summit Held: Tech moguls are gathering in India for an artificial intelligence summit, with OpenAI's Sam Altman and others expected to attend, although Nvidia's Jensen Huang has pulled out due to
See More
US Stocks Struggle as Inflation Data Fails to Boost Market
- Market Weakness: Despite the latest inflation data coming in cooler than expected, the S&P 500 index still fell over 1% last week, reflecting concerns over disruptions from artificial intelligence in sectors like trucking, media, and real estate.
- Nasdaq's Losing Streak: The Nasdaq Composite slid more than 2% for its fifth consecutive week of losses, marking the longest losing streak since 2022, indicating a waning investor confidence in tech stocks and a generally bearish market sentiment.
- Jesse Jackson's Passing: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson passed away at the age of 84, prompting widespread tributes to his contributions to the civil rights movement and highlighting his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
- AI Summit Upcoming: Tech moguls are descending on India for an AI summit, with OpenAI's Sam Altman and others expected to attend, underscoring the intensifying competition in the AI sector, although Nvidia's Jensen Huang will not be present due to unforeseen circumstances.
See More
