Walmart(US:WMT) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-11-21 03:56Core Insights - The upcoming Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S. is expected to see a record number of shoppers, contradicting pessimistic views from some Wall Street analysts regarding consumer spending and economic outlook [1] - The NRF's forecast indicates a strong holiday shopping season, which could significantly boost the U.S. economy in Q4 and 2026, as consumer spending accounts for 60%-70% of GDP [1] - The "Goldilocks" economic scenario suggests moderate growth and stable inflation, with expectations of a downward trajectory for interest rates [2] Retail Performance - Walmart reported a Q3 revenue increase of 5.8% to $179.496 billion, exceeding market expectations, and has raised its full-year guidance for 2026 [2] - The company anticipates a net sales growth of 4.8%-5.1% for the fiscal year 2026, up from a previous estimate of 3.75%-4.75% [2] Shopping Trends - A record 186.9 million people are expected to shop from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, an increase of 3 million from last year [3] - Black Friday remains the most popular shopping day, with 70% of surveyed consumers planning to shop on that day [3] Consumer Spending - NRF predicts that U.S. consumers will spend over $1 trillion during the Thanksgiving holiday shopping season, with an average budget of $890 per person [4] - Digital payment methods are increasingly popular, with 59% of shoppers expected to use digital wallets and apps [4] Gift Preferences - Families with children are expected to increase their gift budgets by approximately $33, with popular gifts including Legos, Barbie dolls, and Hot Wheels [5] - Gift cards and toys remain popular, with consumers projected to spend about $29.1 billion on gift cards, reflecting a 1.7% increase from last year [5] - There is a growing trend towards purchasing second-hand gifts, with over half of respondents considering this option to manage holiday budgets [5]