Walmart(US:WMT) Benzinga·2025-11-21 06:28Core Insights - Walmart Inc. reported a strong third-quarter performance, exceeding Wall Street expectations and raising its full-year guidance [1][6] - Executives noted that while grocery prices are stabilizing, tariffs could still impact household item costs [1][2] Financial Performance - Walmart's quarterly sales reached $179.5 billion, marking a 5.8% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by upper-income households seeking value [6] - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 62 cents, surpassing the expected 60 cents [6] - Walmart raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to a range of $2.58 to $2.63 per share [6] Tariff and Inflation Insights - Overall inflation for Walmart is currently in the "low-1% range," indicating a cooling from previous highs [2] - Imported non-food goods remain vulnerable to trade-related cost pressures, while grocery prices have shown relief, particularly in key food categories [2][3] - The primary exception in grocery prices is beef, attributed to commodity cycles rather than trade policies [4] Supply Chain Management - Walmart is focusing on supply chain discipline to mitigate potential price hikes from tariffs, effectively managing inventory levels and product mix [4][5] - Inventory closed the quarter up 2.6%, which is about half the rate of sales growth, allowing the company to maintain margins without fully passing tariff costs to consumers [5] Stock Performance - Walmart shares increased by 19.01% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 index, which rose by 11.42% [7] - The stock closed at $107.11, up 6.46% on Thursday, with an overall increase of 21.18% over the year [7]