Walmart's New Facilities Will Keep The Customers Out: Will 'Dark Stores' Help Beat Amazon?

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. is facing macroeconomic challenges and tariffs while aiming for continued revenue growth, with a new strategy involving "dark stores" to enhance delivery and e-commerce capabilities in competition with Amazon [1][4]. Group 1: Dark Stores Strategy - Walmart has opened its first dark store in Dallas and plans another in Bentonville, Arkansas, which are closed to the public and stock popular consumer items [2]. - These dark stores function as large warehouses to complement existing facilities, increasing the speed and range of Walmart's delivery services [2][3]. - The company may expand the number of dark stores in the future, emphasizing faster delivery as a key priority [3]. Group 2: E-commerce and Competition - Walmart's strategy to enhance e-commerce is not new, as it previously operated similar warehouses in the mid-2010s, which were mostly closed post-COVID-19 [4]. - To compete with Amazon and other digital retailers, Walmart has introduced services like pharmacy delivery and expanded its third-party marketplace offerings [5]. - Walmart anticipates achieving profitability in its online segment this year after significant investments, despite Amazon's higher revenue totals in recent quarters [5]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In fiscal year 2024, Walmart reported revenue of $681.0 billion, while Amazon's revenue was $638.0 billion, including $107.6 billion from AWS [7]. - Walmart's focus on e-commerce is expected to bolster its growth and help counter Amazon's competition [7]. - Walmart's stock is currently trading at $97.78, reflecting an 8.5% increase year-to-date in 2025 and a 44.8% rise over the past year [7].