CNBC·2026-02-19 18:59Core Insights - Walmart's fourth-quarter earnings were positively impacted by digital advertising and its third-party marketplace, highlighting its focus on higher-margin businesses beyond traditional retail [1] - Walmart's market value recently surpassed $1 trillion, a significant milestone achieved through a 21% increase over the past year, positioning itself similarly to tech companies like Amazon [2] - Walmart's revenue for the most recent fiscal year was reported at $713.2 billion, just shy of Amazon's $716.9 billion, marking a shift in the competitive landscape as Amazon overtook Walmart in annual revenue for the first time [6] Digital Strategy and AI Integration - Walmart's digital business grew by 27% in the U.S. during the fiscal fourth quarter, benefiting from its extensive store network of over 4,600 Walmart stores and approximately 600 Sam's Club locations [3] - The retailer is actively expanding its third-party marketplace in response to Amazon's dominance, while also exploring new frontiers in AI to enhance efficiency and customer appeal [7] - Walmart has partnered with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to improve product discoverability, and has introduced its own AI shopping assistant, Sparky, which has led to a 35% increase in average order value for users [8][9] Competitive Landscape - The rivalry between Walmart and Amazon is intensifying as both companies adapt to changing consumer preferences and the rise of AI in retail [5] - Amazon's diverse revenue streams, including cloud computing and advertising, have contributed to its growth, with third-party seller services accounting for 24% of its total sales in 2025 [4] - Amazon has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, planning to spend up to $200 billion this year on AI initiatives, while also developing its own shopping assistant, Rufus, which has generated nearly $12 billion in incremental annualized sales [15][16]