The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was down 798.40 (-1.61%) points today, currently sitting at 48,827.57. Similarly, Dow Futures (YM=F) was down 742.00 (-1.49%) points. The primary narrative driving this sharp decline was a significant "risk-off" rotation triggered by renewed concerns over stubborn inflation data and a potential hawkish shift in monetary policy. This sentiment disproportionately affected the financial and technology sectors, as investors moved capital away from growth-oriented and cred ...

Walmart has introduced a new data insights platform for its retail suppliers.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.Scintilla In-Store is an off-shoot of the company’s Scintilla platform, and is designed t ...

Core Insights - Amazon has surpassed Walmart in annual revenue for the first time in 13 years, reporting $716.9 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025, a 12% increase year over year, compared to Walmart's $713.2 billion, which grew by 4.7% [2][3] - Shein is focusing on enhancing its supplier network and manufacturing efficiency, investing over $42 million in its Supplier Community Empowerment Program (SCEP) to modernize factories and improve working conditions [4][5] - The global e-commerce market is projected to grow from $25.93 trillion in 2023 to $83.26 trillion by 2030, indicating a significant opportunity for companies that innovate and adapt to changing consumer behaviors [14] Amazon's Performance - Amazon's revenue growth has allowed it to overtake Walmart, highlighting the competitive nature of the retail industry [3] - The company is heavily investing in logistics, AI, and cloud services, with Amazon Web Services (AWS) experiencing a 24% sales increase in Q4 2025, marking the fastest growth in over three years [12][13] - Amazon plans to invest approximately $200 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, anticipating strong long-term returns [13] Shein's Strategic Initiatives - Shein's SCEP has modernized over 200 supplier factories, benefiting around 33,600 workers through improved working conditions [5] - The program has also focused on workforce training, conducting over 300 vocational sessions for more than 13,000 participants and introducing at least 180 new tools to enhance operational efficiency [7] - Shein has implemented support programs for workers and their families, including financial assistance for education and medical expenses, with over $800,000 in grants distributed in 2025 [9] Walmart's Adaptation - Walmart is modernizing its operations to remain competitive in the digital retail environment, contributing to a 24% global e-commerce growth in Q4 [10][11] - The competition between Amazon and Walmart remains fierce, with both companies leveraging their unique advantages in technology and scale [16] Industry Trends - Continuous innovation is essential for survival in the retail sector, as highlighted by Amazon's recent success [14] - The retail landscape is increasingly rewarding adaptability and technology, with companies needing to focus on customer experiences to thrive [15]

Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. delivered 4.6% comp sales growth in Q4 and FY26, excluding fuel. Growth was driven by higher traffic, ticket gains, and strength in grocery and pharmacy. Management guides 3.5%-4.5% FY27 sales growth, testing sustainability of mid-single-digit comps.Walmart Inc. (WMT) ended fiscal 2026 with solid momentum in its Walmart U.S. segment, reporting fourth-quarter comp sales growth of 4.6%, excluding fuel. Fiscal 2026 also delivered 4.6% comp growth on an excluding fuel basis, following ...

COLUMBUS, Wis., Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mounting evidence suggests the U.S. economy is entering a more fragile and bifurcated phase, as major corporations, institutional investors, and market insiders signal rising concern over consumer strength, labor market stability, and equity valuations. Walmart, a company that has benefited from high-income consumers trading down during the recent difficult economy, has now raised concerns about what it calls a “hiring recession.” The unusual corporate use o ...

Core Insights - Amazon has surpassed Walmart to become the world's largest retailer by annual revenues, achieving $716.9 billion in 2025 compared to Walmart's $713.2 billion [1][10] - The shift highlights the importance of Amazon's technology ecosystem, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), which generated nearly $129 billion in sales last year [4][10] - Amazon's advertising business has also become a significant growth driver, contributing over $60 billion annually [5][10] Investment Opportunities - Investors may find potential in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that include Amazon alongside other leading companies in retail and technology sectors [2][8] - Focusing on ETFs allows investors to mitigate company-specific risks associated with Amazon while still benefiting from its growth and market position [7][8] ETFs to Consider - Global X PureCap MSCI Consumer Discretionary ETF (GXPD) has a net asset value of $22.72 million, with Amazon holding a 33.74% weight [11] - Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) has $6.3 billion in assets, with Amazon at 23.02% weight [12] - State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) manages $22.51 billion, with Amazon at 20.91% weight [13] - ProShares Online Retail ETF (ONLN) has an average market cap of $177.12 billion, with Amazon at 23.35% weight [15] - VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) has net assets of $264.8 million, with Amazon at 17.08% weight [16]

Core Insights - A new Consumer Trends Tracker indicates a shift in U.S. household shopping habits due to tightening budgets, with mass-market retailers and dollar stores gaining popularity over traditional supermarkets [1] Group 1: Market Trends - Walmart's customer penetration reached 72% of U.S. households in December, marking the first time it has exceeded 70% since the tracker began [2] - Mass retailers have matched traditional grocers in overall penetration, highlighting a trend towards price-focused shopping [3] - Dollar stores have increased their penetration to 42%, surpassing warehouse clubs for the first time since August 2023, with Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar each gaining 4-6 percentage points year-over-year [4] Group 2: Consumer Sentiment - 57.4% of households reported they would struggle to cover an unexpected $400 expense, and 27.5% indicated they have skipped or reduced meal sizes for financial reasons, both figures showing an increase from the previous survey [5] - Consumers perceive food-at-home inflation at 19.6%, significantly higher than the official rate of 2.4%, with those earning under $50,000 estimating it at 23.6% [6] - The use of loyalty coupons has increased, with 47% of shoppers redeeming them most or all of the time, up 2.5% from August [6] Group 3: Technology Adoption - Only 15% of U.S. consumers utilized AI tools for grocery shopping in the past year, primarily for creating shopping lists or comparing prices [7]

Core Insights - Edible Garden AG Incorporated has reported its 2025 sustainability results as part of Walmart's Project Gigaton, showcasing its commitment to reducing supply chain emissions and enhancing environmental efficiency [3][4] Sustainability Performance - The company achieved significant operational efficiencies, including the avoidance of 412,537 conventional refrigerated truck miles through co-loading and backhauling [5] - A reduction of 30,734 gallons in diesel fuel demand and conservation of 694 barrels of crude oil were noted [5] - Edible Garden recycled 1,890,000 gallons of water across its facilities, with a 95% reuse rate in Grand Rapids and 75% in Belvidere [5] - The company reduced 167 metric tons of food waste through donations and operational efficiencies, alongside recycling 70 metric tons of mixed recyclables [5] Commitment to Sustainability - The CEO emphasized that sustainability is integral to the company's operations, with investments in transportation optimization, advanced water recirculation systems, and waste reduction [4][6] - Edible Garden's Zero-Waste Inspired® mission continues to drive the integration of sustainable practices into daily operations [4][6] Technological Innovations - The company utilizes proprietary GreenThumb 2.0 software to optimize greenhouse conditions and reduce food miles, along with patented Self-Watering displays to enhance plant shelf life [7] - Edible Garden holds multiple patents in advanced aquaculture technologies, indicating a strong focus on innovation within the industry [7] Industry Recognition - Edible Garden has been recognized as a FoodTech 500 firm and has received awards for its commitment to environmental performance and energy stewardship [8]

Group 1: Walmart Overview - Walmart has surpassed $1 trillion in market capitalization, becoming the 10th U.S. company to achieve this milestone [1] - Despite strong performance, Walmart's growth is not sufficient to justify its high forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 45.2, which is nearly double the S&P 500's 23.6 [3] - Expectations indicate that Walmart will underperform the S&P 500 over the next five years [4] Group 2: Competitors Analysis - ExxonMobil is expected to deliver double-digit earnings and cash flow growth through 2030, with a market cap around $620 billion, potentially joining the $1 trillion club by 2030 [7][8] - Visa is highlighted as a superior investment compared to Walmart, with a forward P/E of 24.4 and a strong business model that benefits from both transaction volume and frequency [10][12] - ASML, despite being expensive at 40.2 times forward earnings, offers better growth prospects and has shown resilience in the semiconductor industry with a 31.5% year-to-date gain [13][14]

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) has seen its shares increase by 29% over the past year and 9% year-to-date, reflecting strong market performance [1] - The company reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $190.66 billion in revenue and $0.74 in earnings per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $190.43 billion and $0.73 respectively [1] - Analysts have raised Walmart's share price target, with Rothschild Redburn increasing it to $150 from $110, maintaining a Buy rating, citing digital initiatives and AI as growth drivers [1] - Jim Cramer praised Walmart's recent quarter, highlighting significant increases in advertising and membership fees, which contributed to a premium price-to-earnings multiple [2] Financial Performance - Walmart's fiscal second-quarter revenue was $190.66 billion, exceeding expectations [1] - Earnings per share for the quarter were $0.74, also above analyst estimates [1] Analyst Ratings - Rothschild Redburn raised Walmart's price target to $150, maintaining a Buy rating [1] - Telsey reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $135 [1] Market Position - Walmart is effectively competing with Amazon in the eCommerce sector, leveraging its ability to keep prices lower for consumers [1] - Cramer expressed concerns about potential earnings misses, indicating the high stakes involved in Walmart's performance [1]