Walmart E-Commerce Soars 25% Globally: How Big Can Digital Get?

Core Insights - Walmart Inc.'s second-quarter fiscal 2026 results demonstrate significant growth in its digital ecosystem, with global e-commerce sales increasing by 25% [1][9] - The company's strategic focus on fulfillment speed and convenience has driven this growth, particularly in the U.S. market [2][3] - Walmart's e-commerce business is becoming a central growth engine, raising questions about its future scale [5] E-commerce Performance - E-commerce sales in the U.S. rose by 26%, supported by rapid delivery options and a growing advertising business, Walmart Connect, which increased by 31% [3][4] - Sam's Club U.S. also reported a 26% increase in e-commerce sales, while international operations achieved 22% growth, particularly in markets like China and Flipkart [3][4] Fulfillment and Marketplace Growth - Store-fulfilled delivery in the U.S. surged nearly 50%, with one-third of deliveries completed in under three hours and 20% within 30 minutes [2][9] - Marketplace sales grew by approximately 20%, with 44% of marketplace volume now utilizing Walmart Fulfillment Services, enhancing operational efficiency and third-party seller appeal [4][9] Advertising and Membership Revenue - Walmart's global advertising business experienced a remarkable 46% growth, while membership income rose by 15.3%, contributing to the overall digital revenue mix [4][9] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a year-over-year sales growth of 4% for Walmart's current financial year, with expected sales of $708.01 billion [8][10] - Earnings per share (EPS) estimates indicate a year-over-year growth of 3.98% for the current year, with an EPS of $2.61 [11][10] Stock Performance and Valuation - Walmart's shares have increased by 27.7% over the past year, closely aligning with the industry growth of 27.4% [12] - The company's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 34.79, higher than the industry's 32.03, indicating a moderate valuation [12]