This massive consumer-facing company's stock did something that most of the market's favorite technology stocks didn't even do.Few would dispute that Walmart (WMT -0.81%) is a solid investment. But a 72% gain over the course of just one calendar year? Many of the market's most attractive growth stocks didn't even fare that well in 2024.What did the retailer do so differently? Not much, actually. The backdrop just changed, forcing investors to finally recognize how durable this company's been all along.Playi ...

Company Overview - Walmart's stock closed at $90.79, reflecting a -0.81% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.12% [1] - Over the past month, Walmart shares have decreased by 3.52%, while the Retail-Wholesale sector and S&P 500 saw losses of 4.43% and 3.45%, respectively [1] Upcoming Earnings - Walmart's earnings report is anticipated on February 20, 2025, with an expected EPS of $0.64, indicating a 6.67% growth year-over-year [2] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $179.28 billion, representing a 3.4% increase from the same period last year [2] Annual Forecast - For the full year, Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $2.47 per share and revenue of $679.45 billion, reflecting increases of +11.26% and +4.83% compared to the previous year [3] Analyst Projections - Recent shifts in analyst projections for Walmart are important, as positive estimate revisions can indicate a favorable business outlook [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently ranks Walmart at 2 (Buy) [6] Valuation Metrics - Walmart's Forward P/E ratio stands at 37, significantly higher than the industry average of 13.19, suggesting that Walmart is trading at a premium [7] - The current PEG ratio for Walmart is 4.35, compared to the average PEG ratio of 2.26 for Retail - Supermarkets stocks [8] Industry Context - The Retail - Supermarkets industry is part of the broader Retail-Wholesale sector, currently holding a Zacks Industry Rank of 215, placing it in the bottom 15% of over 250 industries [9]

Dallas, TX, Jan. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickey’s Barbecue is excited to announce the launch of Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse Bacon Cheddar Sausage, now available in Walmart stores nationwide and online at www.rancherspremium.com. Crafted by Chef Matt Burton, vice president of culinary and R&D at Dickey’s Barbecue, this new product combines the rich flavors of smoky bacon and sharp cheddar cheese, making it the perfect addition to any breakfast or dinner. Chef Matt Burton’s passion for creating unforget ...

Amazon and Walmart are each carving out new territories in response to consumer demands, but their approaches are quite different. Amazon is focusing on the automotive industry, particularly through connected vehicles, while Walmart is concentrating on expanding its health and wellness offerings. Both companies are leveraging their vast ecosystems, but where Amazon is leveraging its technology to reshape car-buying experiences, Walmart is strengthening its impact on community health through accessible servi ...

Core Viewpoint - Walmart has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system tracks earnings estimates, which are crucial for predicting stock price movements, especially for individual investors who may struggle with subjective analyst ratings [2][4]. - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Walmart's earnings outlook, likely leading to increased buying pressure and a rise in stock price [3][5]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending January 2025, Walmart is expected to earn $2.47 per share, representing an 11.3% increase from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart has risen by 1.5%, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system categorizes stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - Walmart's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SunCar Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SDA) ("SunCar" or the "Company"), an innovative leader in cloud-based B2B auto services and auto e-insurance in China, is pleased to announce the Company has secured the exclusive Contract (the "Contract") for Walmart (China) Investment Co., Ltd.'s ("Walmart China") 2025 Sam's Club Premium Membership Car Wash Project. Under this agreement, SunCar will deliver premium car wash services for Sam's Club members across 17 cities, includ ...

Dividend-growth stocks have historically proven to be market-beating investments, particularly when companies sustain distribution increases over extended periods. According to academic studies, companies that consistently boost their payouts while maintaining reasonable valuations and payout ratios below 75% tend to outperform the S&P 500, especially when their five-year dividend growth rates exceed 6%.Walmart (WMT -0.68%) stands out in this category, with its 51-year streak of dividend increases and conse ...

Walmart is doubling down on its grocery business as more consumers turn to the company for their food needs.  The nation's largest retailer reported in the prior quarter that sales at U.S. stores rose 5.3% as it continued to gain market share in the grocery and general merchandise categories. Part of the reason its seeing growth within the grocery segment, which has seen an uptick in costs from inflation, is that the company is remodeling the produce sections of its stores, and increasing the assortment of ...

Market Leaders in Consumer Defensive Stocks - Walmart leads with a market cap of $734 billion, followed by Costco at $415 billion [1] Stock Performance in 2024 - Costco shares gained over 41% in 2024 [2] - Walmart shares increased by 73% in 2024 [2] Valuation Metrics - Walmart's P/E ratio is 37.5 and P/FCF is over 43 [4] - Both companies are trading at historically high P/S ratios [6] Sales Growth Comparison - Costco's revenue grew 46% from FY2019 to FY2022 [17] - Walmart's revenue grew 14.5% over the same period [17] - Both companies have shown similar sales growth in the last two years [7] AI and Technology Adoption - Walmart is leveraging generative AI, AI, and machine learning for business operations [8] - Walmart has a customer-facing shopping assistant in beta testing since summer 2024 [8] - Costco has fewer AI projects and last mentioned AI in a financial call in spring 2023 [14] E-commerce and International Expansion - Walmart is expanding e-commerce operations in markets like Mexico [18] - E-commerce is a significant part of Costco's business plan [14] Industry Trends - Discount retail stores have enjoyed stellar market performance in 2024 [9] - Low-priced goods are in high demand due to inflation since summer 2021 [9] Investment Considerations - Walmart's stock is less expensive than Costco's across various valuation metrics [15] - Both stocks are currently more of a "hold" than a "buy" recommendation [16]

E-commerce Industry Trends - E-commerce has become a mainstream shopping method globally, but it still faces limitations compared to in-store experiences [1] - The omnichannel model, combining in-store and online shopping, is gaining traction and benefiting retailers like Walmart and Costco [8] - Amazon dominates the US e-commerce market with over 37% of all sales, maintaining a significant lead [3] Walmart's Performance and Strategy - Walmart's revenue increased 5.5% YoY in Q3 FY2025, driven by a 27% growth in online sales [11] - The company leverages its 4,600 US stores and 10,600 global stores for omnichannel operations, attracting new and affluent customers [6] - Walmart transitioned to a regional fulfillment model to enhance delivery efficiency and mimic the benefits of a physical store network [12] Costco's Performance and Strategy - Costco's e-commerce sales grew 13% YoY in Q4 FY2024, outpacing total sales growth of 7.5% [2] - The company focuses on big and bulky items for e-commerce, as the cost savings on delivery outweigh labor costs, boosting margins [2] Amazon's Performance and Strategy - Amazon reported an 11% YoY sales increase in Q3, reaching $159 billion, with online store sales up 7% and third-party sales up 10% [13][15] - The company continues to invest in logistics and robotics, cutting processing time by up to 25% and reducing peak delivery costs [14] - Amazon lacks a large physical store network, limiting its ability to offer omnichannel options, but remains focused on pure-play e-commerce [5][7] Competitive Landscape - Walmart and Costco are leveraging their physical store assets to drive digital sales, positioning themselves as key competitors to Amazon [8] - Amazon's unmatched e-commerce presence and logistics network make it difficult for competitors to catch up in the near future [10]