Industry Overview - Global retail e-commerce sales are projected to reach approximately $6 trillion in 2024 and are expected to increase to nearly $8 trillion by 2028, representing a 31% growth over the next few years [1] - Online shopping is anticipated to account for over 23% of all retail purchases by 2025, with this share expected to continue rising throughout the decade [1] Company Performance - Walmart has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing a $1 trillion market capitalization, joining a select group of companies primarily composed of Big Tech firms [2] - Walmart's e-commerce sales have seen a robust growth of over 27%, contributing to its overall sales strength, while its extensive store network supports efficient fulfillment and reliable delivery [3] - Over the past 52 weeks, Walmart's stock has increased by approximately 28%, with a year-to-date rise of 15% [5] Financial Metrics - In fiscal Q3, Walmart reported revenue of $179.5 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.8% [9] - Global e-commerce sales grew by 27%, driven by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery services, as well as marketplace gains [9] - The global advertising business surged by 53%, with Walmart Connect in the U.S. increasing by 33% [9] - Membership and other income rose by 9%, including a notable 16.7% growth in membership income [9] Valuation Insights - Walmart's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at approximately 42x, significantly higher than the sector average of around 16x, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for consistent earnings growth [8]

Core Insights - Walmart's new CEO John Furner is characterized as a risk-taker, potentially leading the company into a more innovative and risk-oriented era than ever before [1][4] Leadership and Strategy - Furner plans to engage directly with employees in stores and facilities, asking them to identify obstacles in their work, which indicates a commitment to improving operations through innovation [2] - Furner has a history with Walmart, having served as president and CEO of Walmart U.S. and previously at Sam's Club, which positions him well for the role [3] - His leadership style is noted for humility and vision, with a higher risk appetite compared to former CEO Doug McMillon, which is essential in a technology-driven retail environment [4] Executive Changes - Latriece Watkins has been appointed as president and CEO of Sam's Club U.S., recognized for her contributions to Walmart's assortment strategy and operational excellence [5] - David Guggina has taken over as CEO of Walmart U.S., reflecting the calculated risk-taking approach that Furner embodies [7] Competitive Landscape - Walmart maintains a dominant position in the grocery sector, with over 4,500 locations, but faces increasing competition from Amazon, which is expanding its grocery and pharmacy services [7][9] - Amazon's recent decision to close its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations in favor of expanding Whole Foods indicates a strategic shift that could impact Walmart's market share [8] - Walmart is enhancing its pharmacy services by focusing on personalized patient care and expanding roles within its pharmacy operations [11]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Walmart's newest Supercenter in Jacksonville, located at 10000 Omni Dr. in the growing Oakleaf community, officially opened with a community celebration that recognized long-term and new associates, as well as several organizations making a difference in the region. The Jacksonville Supercenter closely follows the opening of a new Supercenter in Apollo Beach and a Neighborhood Market in Ocala last month. The new store represents another milestone in W. ...

Core Insights - Walmart has shifted its stock listing to the Nasdaq Global Select Market, emphasizing its focus on e-commerce and technology [1] - The stock joined the Nasdaq 100 Index in January, becoming the ninth-largest holding in the Invesco QQQ Trust and Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF, accounting for 3.18% of their portfolios [1] - Walmart has achieved a market cap of $1 trillion, joining an exclusive group of companies, which reflects its ambitions and growth strategies [1] Company Strategy - Walmart aims to grow profits faster than sales by expanding its third-party marketplace and advertising businesses, which offer higher margins compared to traditional operations [1] - The recent appointment of John Furner as CEO is seen positively by investors, as he has overseen key initiatives that contributed to Walmart's growth, such as curbside pickup and improved private-label brands [1] Market Impact - The inclusion of Walmart in tech-heavy ETFs like QQQ and QQQM may provide stability during market volatility, especially as the retailer prepares to report its fourth-quarter results [1] - Positive forward-looking guidance in the upcoming earnings report could act as a catalyst for the stock [1]

New York, NY, Feb. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kosterina, a modern Mediterranean wellness brand known for its premium extra virgin olive oils and food-first philosophy, has launched its Crushed Fruit Vinegars and Balsamic Vinegars at Walmart. The rollout spans approximately 4,300 Walmart stores, marking a significant expansion for the brand into mass retail. Kosterina Crushed Fruit Vinegars are made with just three clean ingredients and contain no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors. Brig ...

Core Viewpoint - Walmart (WMT) has become the first traditional retailer to reach a market capitalization of $1 trillion, driven by growth in e-commerce, advertising, and AI initiatives [1][2]. Group 1 - Walmart's stock experienced a slight decline on Wednesday morning, but its market value remains above $1 trillion [1][2]. - The company has joined an elite club of firms, primarily dominated by technology companies, that have achieved a market capitalization of $1 trillion [1][2].

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. (WMT) achieved a market capitalization of $1 trillion on February 3, with shares increasing nearly 3%, marking a new 52-week high and placing the company in a valuation bracket typically occupied by technology leaders [1][8] - The milestone reflects growing investor confidence in Walmart's ability to adapt and execute beyond its traditional big-box retail model [1][6] Omnichannel Growth - Walmart's expanding omnichannel ecosystem is a primary growth driver, with enhanced e-commerce capabilities supported by faster delivery, improved fulfillment efficiency, and disciplined inventory management [2] - The company leverages its extensive store network to fulfill digital orders, enabling online growth while maintaining operational efficiency [2] Higher-Margin Businesses - Growth in higher-margin businesses, such as advertising and membership operations, is increasingly contributing to profitability, outpacing core retail sales and helping to mitigate pressure on traditional merchandise margins [3] - These segments provide recurring and services-led revenues, enhancing earnings visibility over time [3] Investments in Technology - Walmart's ongoing investments in automation, data, and artificial intelligence are aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer experience [4] - These initiatives are expected to facilitate more personalized and seamless shopping experiences in the future [4] International Operations - Walmart's international operations are becoming more significant in its investment appeal, with steady constant-currency growth and improved profitability in various markets [5] - Digital adoption is accelerating in regions like India and China, supporting top-line growth and offering opportunities for scaling digital innovation [5] Market Performance - Over the past year, Walmart's shares have increased by 24.6%, outperforming the industry growth of 19.8%, while competitors Costco and Target have seen declines of 6.2% and 17.7%, respectively [7] - Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 48.44, higher than the industry's 37.92, and it trades at a premium compared to Target (15.25) and Costco (46.7) [9] Financial Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart's current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 4.6% and 4.8%, respectively [10] - Projections for the next fiscal year suggest sales and EPS growth of 4.5% and 12.3%, respectively [10]

Core Insights - Walmart has become the first retailer to achieve a market capitalization of $1 trillion, marking a successful transformation over the past decade [1][4] - The company's online business became profitable for the first time last year, with projected annual e-commerce sales reaching approximately $140 billion [1][4] - Walmart is heavily investing in AI, allocating billions for supply chain automation to enhance fresh product quality, speed up delivery, and optimize inventory forecasting [1][5] Market Capitalization - On Tuesday, Walmart's stock rose by 2.9% to $127.71, resulting in a market cap of $1.018 trillion [4] - Over the past year, Walmart's stock has increased by nearly 26%, joining the exclusive club of companies with a market cap exceeding $1 trillion, previously dominated by tech giants [4] - Walmart and Berkshire Hathaway are the only non-tech companies in the U.S. with a market cap over $1 trillion, while the remaining are tech firms [4] E-commerce Growth - In the past five years, Walmart's online marketplace has expanded to over 500 million products, introduced one-hour delivery services, and launched the Walmart+ membership program to compete with Amazon Prime [5] - Walmart's U.S. e-commerce sales grew by 28% due to online orders and advertising business, with annual revenue expected to exceed $700 billion [5][6] AI Investments - Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to introduce an "instant checkout" feature and is integrating Google's Gemini AI chatbot into its shopping process [5][6] - The company is transitioning from traditional web or app searches to AI-driven shopping experiences, reflecting changing consumer behaviors [6] Leadership Transition - The recent leadership change with CEO John Furner, a strong advocate for AI investment, signifies a shift towards a decade-long transformation focused on AI and digitalization [8][9] - Walmart plans to maintain its global workforce of approximately 2.1 million employees over the next three years, despite significant changes in job roles due to AI technology [9]

Economic Indicators - Private sector employment in the U.S. increased by 22,000 jobs in January, significantly below the expected growth of 45,000 jobs, following a downwardly revised increase of 37,000 jobs in December [25][26] - The modest increase was primarily driven by a jump in employment in the education and services sector, which added 74,000 jobs [26] Stock Market Performance - Major U.S. index futures indicate a flat open, with stocks lacking direction after a weak previous session [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq experienced a notable decline, dropping 336.92 points or 1.4 percent to 23,255.19, while the S&P 500 fell 58.63 points or 0.8 percent to 6,917.81, and the Dow decreased by 166.67 points or 0.3 percent to 49,240.99 [5] - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) saw a significant drop of 10.1 percent in pre-market trading after disappointing first-quarter guidance, despite reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter results [2][3] - Conversely, Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares surged by 9.5 percent in pre-market trading after exceeding fiscal second-quarter estimates and raising its full-year revenue forecast [3] Sector Performance - Software stocks performed poorly, with the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index declining by 3.5 percent, marking its lowest closing level in over nine months [6] - Semiconductor stocks also faced substantial weakness, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index tumbling by 2.1 percent, and NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) shares dropping by 4.5 percent despite exceeding analyst estimates [7] - Retail giant Walmart (WMT) benefited from the rotation out of tech, surging by 2.9 percent and surpassing a $1 trillion market capitalization [7][8] - Gold stocks experienced a rebound, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index spiking by 4.4 percent amid rising gold prices [9] International Markets - Asian stocks ended mixed, with software stocks declining due to fears over AI impacting future growth [12] - The Eurozone's inflation rate dropped to 1.7 percent in January, below the 2 percent target, influenced by falling energy prices and a stronger euro [18] - The Eurozone private sector recorded its slowest growth in January, with a composite output index of 51.3, indicating expansion for the thirteenth consecutive month [20]

Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty Images Good morning! Here's the latest in trending:Tech earnings: AMD (AMD) shares are falling despite results and outlook topping estimates. Alphabet (GOOGL) and Qualcomm (QCOM) due later today.On the Hill: The House passed legislation to fund most of the government for the rest of the fiscal year, ending the four-day partial shutdown.Tensions simmer: The U.S. Navy shot down an ...