Walmart(US:WMT) ZACKSยท2025-11-10 15:17Core Insights - Walmart Inc.'s second-quarter fiscal 2026 results highlight the impact of its digital transformation on growth, with global e-commerce sales increasing by 25% and U.S. e-commerce sales rising by 26%, contributing approximately 420 basis points to comparable sales and driving total revenues to $177.4 billion [1][10]. Digital Transformation and E-commerce Growth - The growth in e-commerce is attributed to enhancements in delivery speed and marketplace expansion, with store deliveries increasing by nearly 50%, one-third of orders fulfilled within three hours, and about 20% arriving in under 30 minutes [2]. - The financial benefits of Walmart's digital ecosystem are evident, with global advertising revenues surging by 46% and Walmart Connect in the U.S. segment advancing by about 31% [3]. Profitability and Revenue Streams - Higher-margin revenue streams, such as advertising and membership income from Walmart+, supported adjusted operating income, with adjusted EPS at 68 cents, reflecting a 1.5% year-over-year increase [4]. - Improved net delivery costs and shifts in service mix are beginning to enhance profitability [4]. Competitive Landscape - Kroger reported a 16% e-commerce sales growth in fiscal 2025, driven by strong delivery demand and improved profitability, with two-hour delivery available from 97% of its stores [6]. - Target's digital comparable sales rose by 4.3% in fiscal 2025, supported by over 25% growth in same-day delivery, and the deployment of 10,000 new AI licenses to enhance operations [7]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Walmart's stock has increased by 13.5% year to date, slightly outperforming the industry growth of 13.3% [8]. - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 35.95, higher than the industry average of 32.81 [11]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart's fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 3.6% and 12.5%, respectively [14].