DALLAS, Texas — Walmart on Wednesday pulled its outlook for operating income in the first quarter, citing uncertainty about the potential impact of sweeping tariffs on China, Vietnam and other key sources of goods across the globe. In a news release, the discounter said it wants to "maintain flexibility to invest in price as tariffs are implemented." It did not provide a new range for first-quarter operating income. It had projected an increase of 0.5% to 2.0% to adjusted operating income in the fiscal firs ...

沃尔玛公司预计第一季度销售额增长3-4%。 ...

智通财经4月9日电，沃尔玛公司预计第一季度销售额增长3-4%。 ...

Walmart Inc.’s (WMT) shares recently pulled back, dropping 8.7% in the past three months. This downturn can be attributed to a slowdown in sales growth, influenced by an ever-changing retail landscape and unpredictable consumer behavior. Supply chain disruptions, coupled with rising concerns over trade wars and rising tariffs, are fueling investor apprehension. These issues are particularly concerning for Walmart, which depends heavily on global supply chains, resulting in increased caution among investors. ...

As tariffs roil the U.S. economy, Walmart may find safety in a new part of its business that's driving more store traffic and online sales: Its membership program, Walmart+.Customers who belong to the subscription-based service accounted for nearly 50% of spending across Walmart's website and app in the U.S. in the most recent full fiscal year, which ended in late January, the company told CNBC. On average, Walmart+ members shop twice as much and spend nearly three times as much as Walmart customers who are ...

Walmart (WMT -4.77%) investors have had an incredible run since the pandemic started roughly five years ago. The retailer's share prices have more than doubled since mid-June 2022, tripling the broader market's comparable performance. Shareholders also arguably endured relatively low risk holding a stock with a consumer staples focus, a massive global sales base, and a sturdy annual profit performance. Toss in reinvested dividends, and the total return from holding Walmart stock over the past five years was ...

Core Viewpoint - Walmart's recent $2.3 billion investment in Vizio is a significant move that investors should monitor closely, especially given the mixed results of past acquisitions like Jet.com [1][4][10] Group 1: Previous Acquisitions - Walmart's acquisition of Jet.com for approximately $3.3 billion in 2016 aimed to enhance its online presence and compete with Amazon, but ultimately led to the closure of Jet.com just four years later [2][3] - The Jet.com acquisition was initially touted as a way to improve Walmart's e-commerce capabilities, but it did not yield the expected returns [3] Group 2: Vizio Acquisition - The acquisition of Vizio is part of Walmart's new growth initiative in advertising technology, which aligns with its strategy to enhance customer engagement and advertising capabilities [4][5] - Walmart's CFO highlighted the potential of Vizio's SmartCast operating system to improve customer shopping experiences and provide new advertising opportunities [5][6] - Despite the excitement around Vizio's software, there is a lack of detailed plans on how Walmart intends to utilize it effectively, raising concerns about the strategic fit of this acquisition [8] Group 3: Financial Implications - With a market capitalization exceeding $700 billion, the $2.3 billion investment in Vizio is not a substantial financial burden for Walmart, but it raises questions about the company's ability to find effective growth investments [4][10] - The company has the capacity to absorb potential losses from the Vizio acquisition, but there are concerns about the efficient use of shareholder funds and the direction of future investments [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration's new tariff policies, which impose a 10% tariff on all imports and higher rates on countries with significant trade deficits, are expected to impact Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer, leading to potential price increases for consumers [1][3]. Group 1: Tariff Impact on Walmart - Walmart has significant exposure to tariffs, with approximately one-third of its U.S. sales coming from imported goods [3]. - About 60% of Walmart's imported goods are sourced from China, India, and Vietnam, all of which face high reciprocal tariff rates of 34%, 26%, and 46% respectively [4][5]. - As tariffs are implemented, Walmart may need to raise prices on essential goods such as clothing, shoes, and electronics [5]. Group 2: Competitive Positioning - Walmart's size and cost leadership may allow it to manage tariff impacts better than other retailers, maintaining its competitive edge in pricing despite potential cost increases [7]. - The core business of Walmart is grocery sales, which accounted for $264 billion in 2024, representing about 60% of total sales. Essential items like food and medicine are less likely to see reduced consumer spending compared to discretionary items [8]. Group 3: Investor Considerations - Analysts project Walmart's earnings to grow nearly 8% annually in the long term, although estimates have been revised downward due to a worsening economic outlook [10]. - The current price-to-earnings ratio of Walmart is 35, approximately 25% above its decade average, indicating that the stock may be overvalued [11]. - A significant price decline may be necessary for the stock to become an attractive buy for investors [12].

Group 1: Walmart's Strategic Moves - Walmart is leveraging its purchasing power to negotiate better prices from suppliers, aiming to maintain low prices despite global tariffs [1][4] - The company is lobbying suppliers in China to cut prices by up to 10% per tariff round to preserve its reputation for low prices [4][5] - Walmart has partnered with Klarna, a buy now, pay later service, to enhance customer experience and broaden its financial ecosystem, offering $15 million in warrants as part of the deal [6][7] Group 2: Amazon's Technological Innovations - Amazon is focusing on AI advancements, including an AI-driven agent that autonomously shops and places orders, enhancing the customer journey through predictive analytics [8] - The company has resolved a global patent dispute with Nokia, allowing it to enhance its streaming services [9] - Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to provide low-latency broadband internet through satellites, responding to the demand for high-speed internet in underserved regions [10][11] Group 3: Industry Trends and Competitive Landscape - The strategic moves by Walmart and Amazon reflect a broader industry trend of adapting to changing market conditions through innovation and collaboration [2][15] - Both companies are reshaping their strategies to maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly complex global marketplace [3][15] - Walmart's focus on cost competitiveness and Amazon's technological diversification signal a shift in the retail landscape, with both companies seeking to expand their influence [14][15]

Core Viewpoint - The new tariffs announced by the US president are expected to create significant challenges for the hardlines retail sector, complicating supply chains, pricing strategies, and consumer demand [1][2]. Tariff Impact - The tariffs, effective in early April, impose higher import duties on a range of products from key trading partners, including Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, and India [2]. - Unlike previous tariffs that primarily affected Chinese imports, the broader scope of the current policy limits retailers' options for production and sourcing diversification [3]. Retailer Adjustments - Retailers will likely need to adjust product specifications and pass costs onto consumers through price increases, particularly those with significant exposure to low-cost imports, such as Five Below and Dollar Tree [4]. - Larger retailers like Walmart and Costco, along with those with stronger pricing power, are expected to manage the impact better due to their negotiating leverage and supply chain efficiencies [5]. Price Changes and Consumer Demand - Price changes are anticipated to become visible within one to three months, influenced by consumer demand elasticity [6]. - Essential goods are expected to maintain steadier demand, while discretionary items may experience a slowdown [6][7]. Earnings Outlook - Retailers will need to employ various strategies to mitigate tariff impacts, with larger-scale retailers having greater leverage in negotiations [8]. - Retailers with exposure to consumable products, particularly grocers, are expected to have a more resilient earnings outlook due to domestic sourcing [9]. Long-term Implications - The persistence of tariffs may drive further consolidation in the retail sector [11].