Walmart's Steady Growth and E-Commerce Surge
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy WMT?
Source: Fool
- Strong Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has surged 179% over the past three years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 77% gain, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence in the retail giant.
- E-Commerce Sales Growth: In the third quarter, Walmart's global e-commerce sales increased by 27% year-over-year, driving a 5.8% rise in total sales, as the company utilizes its stores as distribution hubs to enhance delivery efficiency and customer flexibility.
- Advertising Business Expansion: Walmart's advertising revenue grew by 53% in the third quarter, not only bolstering its revenue streams but also attracting a more affluent consumer base, thereby broadening its market reach.
- Stable Dividend Policy: As a Dividend King, Walmart has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, with expectations for a 53rd increase; despite a current yield of 0.7%, its reliability and growth potential appeal to long-term investors.
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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: 128.770
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
Current: 128.770
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 to Release Q4 Earnings on February 19, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Walmart is set to announce its fourth quarter earnings on February 19, 2026, at 6 a.m. CST, followed by a live investor conference call at 7 a.m. CST, where CEO John Furner and CFO John David Rainey will discuss the results and answer questions.
- Company Overview: As a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer, Walmart serves approximately 270 million customers weekly across more than 10,750 stores and various eCommerce platforms, emphasizing its commitment to saving money and improving lives.
- Financial Performance: In fiscal year 2025, Walmart reported revenues of $681 billion, underscoring its robust market position in the retail sector, while employing around 2.1 million associates globally, highlighting its role in job creation.
- Sustainability Leadership: Walmart continues to lead in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunities, demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility and further solidifying its influence in the global retail market.
See More
Walmart's Steady Growth and E-Commerce Surge
- Strong Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has surged 179% over the past three years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 77% gain, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence in the retail giant.
- E-Commerce Sales Growth: In the third quarter, Walmart's global e-commerce sales increased by 27% year-over-year, driving a 5.8% rise in total sales, as the company utilizes its stores as distribution hubs to enhance delivery efficiency and customer flexibility.
- Advertising Business Expansion: Walmart's advertising revenue grew by 53% in the third quarter, not only bolstering its revenue streams but also attracting a more affluent consumer base, thereby broadening its market reach.
- Stable Dividend Policy: As a Dividend King, Walmart has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, with expectations for a 53rd increase; despite a current yield of 0.7%, its reliability and growth potential appeal to long-term investors.
See More
Walmart Leverages E-Commerce for Growth
- Significant E-Commerce Growth: Walmart's global sales increased by 27% year-over-year in Q3, driving a 5.8% rise in total sales, showcasing a robust recovery in its e-commerce segment and further solidifying its market position.
- Supply Chain Optimization: By utilizing stores as distribution hubs, Walmart not only accelerated delivery times but also reduced costs, maintaining competitiveness amid changing tariff environments and enhancing overall profitability.
- Surge in Advertising Revenue: Walmart's advertising revenue soared by 53% in Q3, indicating success in diversifying income sources and broadening its customer base to attract more affluent consumers.
- Stable Dividend Growth: As a Dividend King, Walmart has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, with expectations for a 53rd increase; despite a current yield of 0.7%, its reliability and stability make it a preferred choice for long-term investors.
See More
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See More
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- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 78.6 million shares, about 70% above the three-month average of 46.3 million shares, indicating heightened market attention and anxiety regarding Amazon's future developments.
- Analyst Target Downgrade: Daiwa Securities cut Amazon's stock price target from $300 to $280, primarily due to concerns over execution risks, which could affect investor confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
- Historical Context: Since its IPO in 1997, Amazon's stock has grown 203,746%, and despite facing similar spending concerns in the past, the company's previous investment returns have earned it market trust, suggesting that the current stock slide may present a good buying opportunity for investors.
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- Disclosure Details: The trades were executed by McGuire's spouse through an IRA, with a maximum disclosed trade size of $15,000, suggesting he may not have been directly involved in the transactions, which raises questions about transparency.
- Market Reaction Analysis: Microsoft shares traded between $438.68 and $452.69 at purchase and fell to $426.45 to $439.60 at sale, indicating a potential loss of 5.8%, highlighting the risks associated with his investment decisions.
- Historical Trading Context: Since joining Congress in 2025, McGuire has had minimal trading activity, with previous trades also drawing scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest in the healthcare sector, intensifying public scrutiny of his trading behavior.
See More
Walmart to Release Q4 Earnings on February 19, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Walmart is set to announce its fourth quarter earnings on February 19, 2026, at 6 a.m. CST, followed by a live investor conference call at 7 a.m. CST, where CEO John Furner and CFO John David Rainey will discuss the results and answer questions.
- Company Overview: As a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer, Walmart serves approximately 270 million customers weekly across more than 10,750 stores and various eCommerce platforms, emphasizing its commitment to saving money and improving lives.
- Financial Performance: In fiscal year 2025, Walmart reported revenues of $681 billion, underscoring its robust market position in the retail sector, while employing around 2.1 million associates globally, highlighting its role in job creation.
- Sustainability Leadership: Walmart continues to lead in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunities, demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility and further solidifying its influence in the global retail market.
See More
Walmart's Steady Growth and E-Commerce Surge
- Strong Stock Performance: Walmart's stock has surged 179% over the past three years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 77% gain, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence in the retail giant.
- E-Commerce Sales Growth: In the third quarter, Walmart's global e-commerce sales increased by 27% year-over-year, driving a 5.8% rise in total sales, as the company utilizes its stores as distribution hubs to enhance delivery efficiency and customer flexibility.
- Advertising Business Expansion: Walmart's advertising revenue grew by 53% in the third quarter, not only bolstering its revenue streams but also attracting a more affluent consumer base, thereby broadening its market reach.
- Stable Dividend Policy: As a Dividend King, Walmart has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, with expectations for a 53rd increase; despite a current yield of 0.7%, its reliability and growth potential appeal to long-term investors.
See More
Walmart Leverages E-Commerce for Growth
- Significant E-Commerce Growth: Walmart's global sales increased by 27% year-over-year in Q3, driving a 5.8% rise in total sales, showcasing a robust recovery in its e-commerce segment and further solidifying its market position.
- Supply Chain Optimization: By utilizing stores as distribution hubs, Walmart not only accelerated delivery times but also reduced costs, maintaining competitiveness amid changing tariff environments and enhancing overall profitability.
- Surge in Advertising Revenue: Walmart's advertising revenue soared by 53% in Q3, indicating success in diversifying income sources and broadening its customer base to attract more affluent consumers.
- Stable Dividend Growth: As a Dividend King, Walmart has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, with expectations for a 53rd increase; despite a current yield of 0.7%, its reliability and stability make it a preferred choice for long-term investors.
See More
Market Update: S&P 500 Declines and Upcoming CPI Data
- CPI Expectations: The consumer price index, set to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, is expected to show a month-over-month increase of 0.3% and a year-over-year rise of 2.5%, which could significantly influence market sentiment and lead investors to reassess their risk appetite.
- Moderna Stock Fluctuations: Moderna's shares have surged 50% over the past three months, closing at $40.11 on Thursday, although this remains significantly lower than the pandemic peak of $497, indicating ongoing volatility in biotech stocks that investors are closely monitoring.
- Wendy's Stock Decline: Wendy's shares fell 7.7% on Thursday, down 55% from their 52-week high, highlighting the persistent pressures facing the fast-food industry, which may impact its future market performance.
- Retail Sector Dynamics: The Amplify Online Retail ETF dropped nearly 4% on Thursday, now down 19.5% from its September high, reflecting weakness in the retail market, especially after experiencing five consecutive weeks of declines, which could negatively affect overall consumer confidence.
See More
Amazon Stock Drops Amid AI Spending Concerns
- Stock Decline: Amazon (AMZN) closed at $199.6 on Thursday, down 2.20%, reflecting investor concerns over the company's $200 billion AI infrastructure spending plan, which may impact future profitability.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 78.6 million shares, about 70% above the three-month average of 46.3 million shares, indicating heightened market attention and anxiety regarding Amazon's future developments.
- Analyst Target Downgrade: Daiwa Securities cut Amazon's stock price target from $300 to $280, primarily due to concerns over execution risks, which could affect investor confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
- Historical Context: Since its IPO in 1997, Amazon's stock has grown 203,746%, and despite facing similar spending concerns in the past, the company's previous investment returns have earned it market trust, suggesting that the current stock slide may present a good buying opportunity for investors.
See More
Congressman’s Rapid Microsoft Trade Raises Eyebrows
- Questionable Timing: Congressman John McGuire's rapid buying and selling of Microsoft stock within just 10 days raises concerns about the unusual nature of his trading activities, particularly given his role on the Armed Services Committee, which may present potential conflicts of interest.
- Disclosure Details: The trades were executed by McGuire's spouse through an IRA, with a maximum disclosed trade size of $15,000, suggesting he may not have been directly involved in the transactions, which raises questions about transparency.
- Market Reaction Analysis: Microsoft shares traded between $438.68 and $452.69 at purchase and fell to $426.45 to $439.60 at sale, indicating a potential loss of 5.8%, highlighting the risks associated with his investment decisions.
- Historical Trading Context: Since joining Congress in 2025, McGuire has had minimal trading activity, with previous trades also drawing scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest in the healthcare sector, intensifying public scrutiny of his trading behavior.
See More
