Should You Buy Walmart Stock With $1,000 and Hold Forever?

Core Insights - Walmart is a leading retail giant with nearly 11,000 stores globally and a market cap of $748 billion, generating $181 billion in revenue for Q4 2025 [1][2] - The company has shown strong stock performance, increasing 112% over the past five years and 56% in the last 12 months, outperforming the S&P 500 index [1][2] - Despite facing downward pressure with an 11% drop from its peak, Walmart's consistent demand trends and same-store sales growth indicate resilience [2][3] Financial Performance - In Q4 2025, Walmart's same-store sales in the U.S. rose by 4.6% year over year, marking at least the 24th consecutive quarter of positive growth [3] - Advertising revenue surged by 27% to $4.4 billion, while membership revenue from Walmart+ and Sam's Club increased by 17% in the same quarter [4][5] Competitive Landscape - Walmart faces competition from Amazon, particularly in online shopping and digital advertising, but has significant growth potential due to its lower starting base [6] - The company's scale provides a competitive advantage, allowing for cost efficiencies and strong negotiating leverage with suppliers [7] Shareholder Value - Walmart's current P/E ratio stands at 38.7, which is higher than its trailing five-year and ten-year averages, indicating potential challenges for future investment returns [9] - The company has a strong track record of returning value to shareholders, having raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years and reduced its diluted outstanding share count by 6% over the past five years [10]