Walmart's Marketplace Gains Speed: Next E-Commerce Catalyst?

Core Insights - Walmart Inc.'s marketplace business is a significant contributor to its e-commerce growth, with global marketplace sales increasing by 17% in Q2 fiscal 2026, driven by strong U.S. performance and seller engagement [1][8] - The overall e-commerce sales rose by 25% globally and 26% in the U.S., supported by enhanced store-fulfilled delivery services [2] - The expansion of third-party sellers is improving Walmart's product assortment, fulfillment speed, and profitability, with advertising revenue increasing by 46% globally [3][4] Marketplace Performance - U.S. marketplace sales grew nearly 20%, with 44% of marketplace volume now processed through Walmart Fulfillment Services, marking a 250-basis-point increase from the previous year [1][8] - The marketplace growth is enhancing Walmart's digital ecosystem, leading to a more efficient operational structure [2][4] Financial Metrics - Walmart's shares have increased by 28.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 27.2%, while competitors like Costco and Target showed minimal and negative growth, respectively [5] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Walmart is 36.63, higher than the industry average of 33.25, indicating a premium valuation compared to Target but a discount relative to Costco [6] Sales and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a year-over-year sales growth of 4% and earnings per share growth of 3.6% for the current financial year [9] - Current quarter sales are estimated at $177.01 billion, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 4.38% [10]