Walmart Achieves $1 Trillion Market Capitalization
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Should l Buy WMT?
Source: Fool
- Milestone Achievement: On February 3, 2026, Walmart's market capitalization reached $1 trillion, making it the first traditional retailer to achieve this milestone, showcasing its successful transformation through investments in e-commerce and artificial intelligence, thereby solidifying its market leadership.
- Stock Price Surge: In 2026, Walmart's share price increased by approximately 15%, primarily driven by the growth of its e-commerce segment and investments in AI, indicating the company's enhanced adaptability in a rapidly changing retail environment.
- Historical Perspective: Since its IPO in 1969, Walmart's stock price has surged by 591,400%, reflecting its sustained expansion and profitability in the retail sector, despite facing challenges from e-commerce competition between 2000 and 2013.
- Investment Returns: A $100 investment at Walmart's IPO would now be worth approximately $4,766,208 after accounting for 12 stock splits, highlighting the immense potential for long-term returns and reinforcing Walmart's status as a 'Dividend King'.
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Analyst Views on WMT
Wall Street analysts forecast WMT stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WMT is 125.75 USD with a low forecast of 119.00 USD and a high forecast of 136.00 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.
26 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 126.940
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
Current: 126.940
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's Long-Term Investment Value
- Significant Sales Growth: In Q3 of fiscal 2026, Walmart reported net sales of $177 billion, a 5.8% increase, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in uncertain economic conditions, further solidifying its position as the world's largest retailer.
- Strong E-commerce Performance: Global e-commerce sales surged by 27%, indicating Walmart's successful transformation and market share gains in digital retail, enhancing its competitive edge and driving future growth potential.
- Substantial Shareholder Returns: An investment of $16.50 at Walmart's IPO would be worth $786,432 today, illustrating the immense benefits of long-term holding and underscoring the importance of patient investing.
- Outstanding Market Performance: Over the past decade, Walmart's stock has delivered a 480% return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 260%, reflecting not only the company's successful transformation in the retail sector but also the trust it has built among investors.
See More
Walmart's Path to Long-Term Investment Success
- Significant Sales Growth: In Q3 of fiscal 2026, Walmart reported net sales of $177 billion, a 5.8% increase, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of economic uncertainty.
- Strong E-commerce Performance: Global e-commerce sales surged by 27%, indicating Walmart's successful digital transformation and further solidifying its market share, enhancing future growth potential.
- Substantial Shareholder Returns: Early investors who purchased Walmart stock at $16.50 during its IPO would now hold shares worth $786,432, illustrating the immense potential of long-term holding.
- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: Despite experiencing stock price fluctuations exceeding 30%, Walmart has successfully maintained its position as the world's largest retailer through multiple strategic pivots and innovations, showcasing its leadership in the retail sector.
See More
Walmart Achieves $1 Trillion Market Capitalization
- Milestone Achievement: On February 3, 2026, Walmart's market capitalization reached $1 trillion, making it the first traditional retailer to achieve this milestone, showcasing its successful transformation through investments in e-commerce and artificial intelligence, thereby solidifying its market leadership.
- Stock Price Surge: In 2026, Walmart's share price increased by approximately 15%, primarily driven by the growth of its e-commerce segment and investments in AI, indicating the company's enhanced adaptability in a rapidly changing retail environment.
- Historical Perspective: Since its IPO in 1969, Walmart's stock price has surged by 591,400%, reflecting its sustained expansion and profitability in the retail sector, despite facing challenges from e-commerce competition between 2000 and 2013.
- Investment Returns: A $100 investment at Walmart's IPO would now be worth approximately $4,766,208 after accounting for 12 stock splits, highlighting the immense potential for long-term returns and reinforcing Walmart's status as a 'Dividend King'.
See More
JPMorgan: Costco to Benefit Most from Tax Season
- Tax Season Gains: JPMorgan analysts highlight that Costco is poised to benefit the most in the upcoming tax season, as consumers are expected to receive larger refunds, particularly compared to BJ's Wholesale and Walmart's Sam's Club.
- Market Performance Insight: Costco's stock has risen about 15% year-to-date in 2026, recovering from a 6% decline in 2025, indicating strong potential for recovery driven by tax stimulus.
- Consumer Demographic Advantage: With a membership base skewed towards mid- to high-end consumers, analysts believe Costco is well-positioned to attract shoppers during the tax season, especially with its strong performance in big-ticket merchandise.
- Overall Retail Impact: JPMorgan estimates that last year's tax law changes could lead to over a 1% increase in core retail sales in 2026, with the impact being particularly pronounced during the tax refund season, further solidifying Costco's market position.
See More
Affirm Shares Decline Post-Earnings, Analysts Consider It Unjustified.
- Stock Performance: Affirm Holdings' stock declined on Friday despite reporting strong fiscal second-quarter earnings.
- Analyst Opinions: Some analysts believe the market reaction to the earnings report is unjustified.
See More
Walmart Joins the Trillion-Dollar Club as Market Leader
- Walmart's Trillion Valuation: As of February 3, Walmart officially surpassed the $1 trillion market cap, becoming the latest member of Wall Street's trillion-dollar club; despite fierce competition in retail, its size provides a sustainable competitive edge, allowing it to attract more consumers through lower prices.
- E-commerce Sales Surge: Walmart's global e-commerce sales soared by 27% in the fiscal third quarter of 2023, driven by the success of its online shopping initiatives and Walmart+ subscription service, further solidifying its market position and boosting revenue growth.
- Potential of JPMorgan and Visa: JPMorgan Chase and Visa are seen as the next candidates for the trillion-dollar club, with JPMorgan's market cap nearing $864 billion and Visa at $636 billion; while both face economic cycle challenges, their stability and growth potential continue to attract investor interest.
- Economic Cycle Risks: Despite Walmart's impressive success, the cyclical nature of the financial sector means that JPMorgan and Visa may encounter challenges during economic slowdowns, prompting investors to carefully assess future market conditions to mitigate potential risks.
See More
Walmart's Long-Term Investment Value
- Significant Sales Growth: In Q3 of fiscal 2026, Walmart reported net sales of $177 billion, a 5.8% increase, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in uncertain economic conditions, further solidifying its position as the world's largest retailer.
- Strong E-commerce Performance: Global e-commerce sales surged by 27%, indicating Walmart's successful transformation and market share gains in digital retail, enhancing its competitive edge and driving future growth potential.
- Substantial Shareholder Returns: An investment of $16.50 at Walmart's IPO would be worth $786,432 today, illustrating the immense benefits of long-term holding and underscoring the importance of patient investing.
- Outstanding Market Performance: Over the past decade, Walmart's stock has delivered a 480% return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 260%, reflecting not only the company's successful transformation in the retail sector but also the trust it has built among investors.
See More
Walmart's Path to Long-Term Investment Success
- Significant Sales Growth: In Q3 of fiscal 2026, Walmart reported net sales of $177 billion, a 5.8% increase, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of economic uncertainty.
- Strong E-commerce Performance: Global e-commerce sales surged by 27%, indicating Walmart's successful digital transformation and further solidifying its market share, enhancing future growth potential.
- Substantial Shareholder Returns: Early investors who purchased Walmart stock at $16.50 during its IPO would now hold shares worth $786,432, illustrating the immense potential of long-term holding.
- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: Despite experiencing stock price fluctuations exceeding 30%, Walmart has successfully maintained its position as the world's largest retailer through multiple strategic pivots and innovations, showcasing its leadership in the retail sector.
See More
Walmart Achieves $1 Trillion Market Capitalization
- Milestone Achievement: On February 3, 2026, Walmart's market capitalization reached $1 trillion, making it the first traditional retailer to achieve this milestone, showcasing its successful transformation through investments in e-commerce and artificial intelligence, thereby solidifying its market leadership.
- Stock Price Surge: In 2026, Walmart's share price increased by approximately 15%, primarily driven by the growth of its e-commerce segment and investments in AI, indicating the company's enhanced adaptability in a rapidly changing retail environment.
- Historical Perspective: Since its IPO in 1969, Walmart's stock price has surged by 591,400%, reflecting its sustained expansion and profitability in the retail sector, despite facing challenges from e-commerce competition between 2000 and 2013.
- Investment Returns: A $100 investment at Walmart's IPO would now be worth approximately $4,766,208 after accounting for 12 stock splits, highlighting the immense potential for long-term returns and reinforcing Walmart's status as a 'Dividend King'.
See More
JPMorgan: Costco to Benefit Most from Tax Season
- Tax Season Gains: JPMorgan analysts highlight that Costco is poised to benefit the most in the upcoming tax season, as consumers are expected to receive larger refunds, particularly compared to BJ's Wholesale and Walmart's Sam's Club.
- Market Performance Insight: Costco's stock has risen about 15% year-to-date in 2026, recovering from a 6% decline in 2025, indicating strong potential for recovery driven by tax stimulus.
- Consumer Demographic Advantage: With a membership base skewed towards mid- to high-end consumers, analysts believe Costco is well-positioned to attract shoppers during the tax season, especially with its strong performance in big-ticket merchandise.
- Overall Retail Impact: JPMorgan estimates that last year's tax law changes could lead to over a 1% increase in core retail sales in 2026, with the impact being particularly pronounced during the tax refund season, further solidifying Costco's market position.
See More
Affirm Shares Decline Post-Earnings, Analysts Consider It Unjustified.
- Stock Performance: Affirm Holdings' stock declined on Friday despite reporting strong fiscal second-quarter earnings.
- Analyst Opinions: Some analysts believe the market reaction to the earnings report is unjustified.
See More
Walmart Joins the Trillion-Dollar Club as Market Leader
- Walmart's Trillion Valuation: As of February 3, Walmart officially surpassed the $1 trillion market cap, becoming the latest member of Wall Street's trillion-dollar club; despite fierce competition in retail, its size provides a sustainable competitive edge, allowing it to attract more consumers through lower prices.
- E-commerce Sales Surge: Walmart's global e-commerce sales soared by 27% in the fiscal third quarter of 2023, driven by the success of its online shopping initiatives and Walmart+ subscription service, further solidifying its market position and boosting revenue growth.
- Potential of JPMorgan and Visa: JPMorgan Chase and Visa are seen as the next candidates for the trillion-dollar club, with JPMorgan's market cap nearing $864 billion and Visa at $636 billion; while both face economic cycle challenges, their stability and growth potential continue to attract investor interest.
- Economic Cycle Risks: Despite Walmart's impressive success, the cyclical nature of the financial sector means that JPMorgan and Visa may encounter challenges during economic slowdowns, prompting investors to carefully assess future market conditions to mitigate potential risks.
See More
