Walmart Boosts Outlook as Food and Health Sales Drive Revenue Surge
Walmart Inc. has recently issued a positive forecast for the future after reporting impressive financial results. The company’s quarterly revenue for the three months ending October 31 reached $179.5 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations of $177 billion and marking a 6% increase from the previous year.
Key Financial Highlights
- Total sales for Walmart U.S. rose by 5.1%, hitting $120.7 billion.
- Online sales experienced a remarkable 28% growth, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of over 20% e-commerce expansion.
- Comparable store sales in the U.S. increased by 4.5%, driven by a rise in customer traffic and larger purchases.
- Transactions grew by 1.8%, with the average spending per visit increasing by 2.7%.
Walmart attributed its success to strong performances in health, grocery, and general merchandise, even amid a decline in discretionary spending. The company has successfully appealed to higher-income shoppers seeking value, showing consistent market share growth.
Looking Ahead: Fiscal Year 2026 Forecast
For fiscal year 2026, Walmart now projects a net sales growth between 4.8% and 5.1%. This is a significant adjustment from its previous forecast of 3.75% to 4.75% growth. The company also expects adjusted operating income to rise between 4.8% and 5.5%, up from an earlier range of 3.5% to 5.5%.
Adjusted earnings per share are projected to be between $2.58 and $2.63, an increase from the prior estimate of $2.52 to $2.58.
Corporate Changes and Market Movement
In a strategic move, Walmart announced the transition of its common stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq, effective December 9, where it will retain its ticker symbol “WMT.” This change reflects the company’s commitment to aligning its operations with its technology-driven retail strategy.
CFO John David Rainey emphasized that this shift supports Walmart’s efforts to enhance the customer experience through automation and AI, aiming to redefine omnichannel retail. As the company looks to the future, it continues to focus on providing value while adapting to evolving consumer needs in a challenging economic landscape.
