Walmart continues to bask in the glow of tech

Core Insights - Walmart's third-quarter earnings report showed strong performance with a revenue increase of 5.8% year over year to $179.5 billion, and U.S. comparable sales excluding fuel rose by 5.3% [2][3] - The company raised its sales guidance for the second time this year, now projecting net sales growth of 4.8% to 5.1% [3] Financial Performance - Revenue for the third quarter reached $179.5 billion, marking a 5.8% increase year over year [2] - U.S. comparable sales excluding fuel increased by 5.3%, with transactions up by 3.1% and average ticket size rising by 2.1% [2] - At Sam's Club, net sales excluding fuel increased by 4.4% compared to Q3 2024, with comparable sales rising by 7% [3] E-commerce Growth - E-commerce sales grew by 28%, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of growth above 20% [2] - Sam's Club's e-commerce also saw a growth of 22% [3] Technology and Innovation - Walmart announced a partnership with OpenAI to enhance the e-commerce experience through ChatGPT, allowing customers to purchase items directly [5] - The company is testing an AI-driven ordering program in Chile, which currently represents 20% of e-commerce business in that region [6] Membership and Customer Engagement - Walmart+ membership program continued to grow at a double-digit rate, offering benefits like free store delivery and online shipping [7] - The company has about 7,400 active price rollbacks in the U.S., with a significant portion in grocery [4] Leadership Transition - Outgoing CEO Doug McMillon's retirement was noted, with U.S. Walmart CEO John Furner set to take over [1]