Walmart is getting packages to shoppers’ doors at a frenzied pace. According to new CEO John Furner, “a large number” of e-commerce orders are now delivered in less than 30 minutes. More from Sourcing Journal “We’re averaging under an hour in our Express Delivery when customers choose that,” said Furner in a fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday. Furner had noted in November that sub-one-hour delivery was Walmart’s fastest growing channel across the delivery options it offers. Walmart’s Express Deli ...

Key Takeaways Walmart beat Q4 estimates, with 24% e-commerce growth and 37% rise in global ad revenues.WMT posted 12.1% EPS growth, with operating income up 10.5% on a constant-currency basis. Walmart issued FY27 EPS outlook of $2.75-$2.85 and approved a new $30B buyback plan. Walmart Inc. (WMT) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines exceeded the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. Growth was supported by sustained e-commerce momentum, advertising expansion, membersh ...

Core Insights - Walmart's stock experienced volatility following a conservative outlook for Q1 and the full fiscal year, with shares initially dropping before recovering [1] - The company announced a $30 billion stock buyback plan, indicating confidence in its financial health despite a cautious outlook [2] Financial Performance - Net sales reached $190.7 billion, reflecting a 5.6% increase from the previous year, slightly above the $190.6 billion estimate [6] - Adjusted earnings per share were reported at $0.74, a 12.1% increase year-over-year, surpassing the $0.73 estimate [6] - Comparable sales growth for Walmart US was +4.2%, slightly below the +4.3% estimate, while e-commerce sales grew by 27%, exceeding the 19.8% estimate [6] - Sam's Club US comparable sales growth was +4%, also below the +4.4% estimate, with e-commerce sales growth at 23%, surpassing the 15% estimate [6] Forward Guidance - Q1 earnings per share guidance is projected between $0.63 and $0.65, below the $0.69 estimate [6] - Full fiscal year guidance anticipates net sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5% and diluted earnings per share between $2.75 and $2.85, lower than the $2.97 estimate [6] Market Trends - The CFO noted signs of cooling inflation, particularly in food prices, which could lead to stronger sales trends as consumers receive tax refunds [2] - The company highlighted that fresh produce purchases significantly increase basket sizes, which is crucial for overall sales performance [3]

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets are experiencing volatility due to disappointing corporate guidance, geopolitical tensions, and mixed economic data affecting interest rate outlooks [1][3] - Major indexes have softened after a strong performance led by technology gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 121 points (0.24%) to 49,542, S&P 500 down 13 points (0.19%) to 6,868, and Nasdaq Composite down 43 points (0.18%) to 22,712 [2] Economic Data - The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index rose to 16.3 in February, significantly above the consensus estimate of 7.7, indicating continued expansion in regional manufacturing [4] - Initial jobless claims fell more than expected, highlighting the strength of the U.S. labor market [4] - Federal Reserve officials remain cautious about cutting interest rates too soon, with some suggesting potential rate hikes if inflation persists [5] Corporate News - Walmart reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings but issued a cautious profit forecast for 2026, leading to a more than 3% drop in shares [6] - Nvidia is in focus due to a partnership with Meta Platforms for AI chips, although its stock has moderated ahead of its earnings report [7] - Robinhood Markets shares fell 11% after revenue missed forecasts and high expense outlooks were provided [8] - Moderna's stock rose 6% following FDA review news for its flu vaccine candidate [8] - Exxon Mobil shares increased by 2.9% as crude oil prices rose amid geopolitical tensions [8] - Carvana's stock plummeted over 20% after reporting significant profitability loss in Q4 [8] - Smurfit Westrock shares surged 12% after an encouraging five-year financial forecast despite an earnings miss [8] Upcoming Events - Investors are monitoring "Fedspeak" from officials for monetary policy clues, with a primary focus on the upcoming PCE inflation data [9] - Geopolitical developments in the Middle East are influencing oil prices and the global inflation outlook [9]

Amazon has surpassed Walmart as the world’s largest company, measured by sales, breaking Walmart’s 13-year streak at the top of the list. https://t.co/lUk4uIhCWl https://t.co/whlG5K71ds ...

Key Takeaways New Jobless Claims Sink to Early 2026 LevelsTrade Deficit Sinks to -$70B, Inventories FlatWalmart, Deere & Etsy All Beat Earnings Ahead of the OpenThursday, February 19th, 2026We have a decent amount of grist for the stock market mill this morning, with key earnings reports joining key economic news. Pre-market indexes have slid into the red from early-morning highs, but are leveling off currently: the Dow is -133 points, -0.27%, the S&P 500 -19, -0.28%, the Nasdaq -92, -0.37% and the small-ca ...

Core Insights - Walmart reported revenue of $190.66 billion for the quarter ended January 2026, reflecting a 5.6% increase year-over-year and a surprise of +0.32% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $190.05 billion [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.74, up from $0.66 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of +1.37% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.73 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - U.S. comparable store sales for Walmart U.S. (excluding fuel impact) increased by 4.6%, surpassing the average estimate of 4.2% [4] - U.S. comparable store sales for Sam's Club (excluding fuel impact) were 4%, slightly below the average estimate of 4.1% [4] - Walmart International reported a sales growth of 11.5%, exceeding the six-analyst average estimate of 10.1% [4] - Net sales for Walmart U.S. reached $129.22 billion, compared to the average estimate of $129.01 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.6% [4] - Total revenues for Walmart were $188.91 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $188.52 billion, representing a 5.6% year-over-year change [4] - Net sales for Walmart International were $35.93 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $35.61 billion, with a year-over-year increase of 11.6% [4] - Net sales for Sam's Club were $23.76 billion, below the average estimate of $24.08 billion, reflecting a year-over-year change of +2.9% [4] Stock Performance - Walmart shares have returned +6.1% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has seen a decline of -0.8% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Walmart is investing in its workforce by providing free AI training to its 1.6 million employees, contrasting with other companies that have used AI as a reason for job cuts [1][2] - The training includes an eight-hour course on AI fundamentals, developed in partnership with Google's AI Professional Certification, aimed at both frontline and corporate staff in the U.S. and Canada [2] - Only 5% of workers are considered "AI fluent," highlighting a significant skills gap, with only 40% of U.S. workers currently using AI in their jobs [3] Group 1: Training Initiative - Walmart's initiative aims to equip employees with AI skills to prepare them for a future that is increasingly automated and digitized [4] - The training is part of a broader trend among major employers, including Verizon and Deloitte, to provide access to AI education [2] - The goal is not just productivity but also talent retention, as employees with AI skills may qualify for higher-paying roles [5] Group 2: Industry Context - The widening skills gap represents both a risk and a responsibility for employers, as stated by Walmart's chief people officer [4] - Corporate leaders acknowledge AI's disruptive potential, with Walmart executives believing that while AI will change every job, it will not necessarily eliminate them [6] - Workers who are AI fluent are found to be 4.5 times more likely to receive higher wages, emphasizing the importance of bridging the skills gap [3]

Market Overview - Stocks initially moved to the downside but regained some ground during the trading day, with the Nasdaq briefly reaching positive territory. Currently, major averages are posting modest losses: Dow down 194.05 points (0.4%) at 49,468.61, S&P 500 down 17.09 points (0.3%) at 6,864.22, and Nasdaq down 41.09 points (0.2%) at 22,712.54 [1] Company News - Walmart reported fourth quarter results that exceeded analyst estimates but provided weaker than expected earnings guidance for the current year. Despite notable pre-market weakness, Walmart's stock increased by 1.3% during regular trading [2] Economic Indicators - The Labor Department reported that first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits fell significantly to 206,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's revised level of 229,000, which was better than the expected drop to 225,000 [4] - A report from the Commerce Department indicated that the U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly widened in December due to a surge in imports and a slump in exports [5] Sector Performance - Airline stocks experienced a substantial decline, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index dropping by 3.6%. Biotechnology stocks also showed weakness, reflected by a 1.7% loss in the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index. Conversely, computer hardware stocks performed well, driving the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index up by 2.4% [6] - Gold stocks performed strongly, resulting in a 1.9% increase in the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index [7] International Markets - In overseas trading, stocks in the Asia-Pacific region mostly moved higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index climbing by 0.6% and South Korea's Kospi surging by 3.1%. However, major European markets moved to the downside, with the German DAX Index down by 0.9%, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index down by 0.6%, and the French CAC 40 Index down by 0.5% [8]

Core Insights - The article highlights that Walmart is experiencing growth among higher-income shoppers, particularly those earning over $100,000, while lower-income households are struggling with rising costs [2][5]. Economic Context - The current economic situation is described as a K-shaped economy, where wealthier individuals benefit from stock market gains and higher wages, leading to increased consumer spending [2]. - Lower-income households, however, are facing challenges as their earnings do not keep pace with rising costs of essentials like food, housing, and childcare [3]. Labor Market and Inflation - Recent labor market data indicates minimal job growth in 2025, raising concerns about future employment trends [4]. - Inflation rates have shown a 2.4% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing the Federal Reserve's target but slowing down compared to earlier months [4]. Retail Sector Trends - Walmart is viewed as a bellwether for the U.S. economy, with executives noting a hiring recession and lower consumer sentiment as factors for caution [5]. - Other retailers, such as Dollar Tree and Aldi, are also seeing an influx of higher-income shoppers, indicating a shift in consumer demographics [6]. Tariff Impact - Price increases on goods have been attributed to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, with consumers and businesses bearing nearly 90% of the costs [7]. - Walmart's CFO stated that tariff-driven inflation may have peaked, contrasting with Amazon's CEO's comments about ongoing price impacts from tariffs [8]. Financial Performance - Walmart reported a 4.6% increase in same-store sales for its U.S. business for the quarter ending January 31, exceeding analyst expectations, although its profit forecast fell short of Wall Street estimates [8]. - The company recently achieved a market valuation of $1 trillion, becoming the first traditional retailer to do so, but lost its title as the largest global company by revenue to Amazon [9]. Technological Advancements - Walmart is positioning itself as a tech-forward competitor to Amazon, having switched to the Nasdaq and investing in artificial intelligence to reduce costs and improve efficiency [10]. - The company aims to leverage technology to enhance customer solutions and streamline operations while maintaining customer trust [11].