Core Insights - Walmart's shares increased by 5.5% to $106.14 following better-than-expected third-quarter earnings of $0.62 per share, surpassing Zacks Consensus expectations of $0.61 per share [1] - Revenue rose by 5.8% year-over-year to $179.5 billion, exceeding estimates of $177.4 billion, and the company raised its 2026 outlook [1] Stock Performance - Walmart is experiencing its best single-session gain since April 9, with shares up 18.3% in 2025, supported by the 126-day moving average [2] - Although calls are still more prevalent than puts, there has been a faster-than-usual increase in put options over the last two weeks, with a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 0.85, ranking higher than 85% of readings from the past year [2] Options Market - Following post-earnings volatility, options are currently affordable, with Walmart's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) at 31%, indicating that near-term option traders are anticipating relatively low volatility [3]

Core Insights - Walmart reported strong quarterly results, exceeding Wall Street expectations and raising its full-year outlook for sales and adjusted EPS [1][8] Financial Performance - In Q3 of fiscal year 2026, Walmart earned an adjusted $0.62 per share, surpassing analyst consensus by 2 cents [2] - Revenue increased by 5.8% year-over-year to $179.5 billion, which is $2 billion above analyst forecasts [2] - Comparable sales rose by 4.2%, slightly above analyst estimates, while e-commerce sales surged by 27% and advertising revenue grew by 53% [2] Outlook - Walmart raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to 4.8% to 5.1%, up from a previous range of 3.75% to 4.75% [3] - Adjusted EPS is now projected to be between $2.58 and $2.63, a slight increase from the prior range of $2.52 to $2.62 [3] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Walmart shares rose by 6%, recovering from a late-October decline, and have gained nearly 15% since the beginning of the year [4] Strategic Moves - Walmart announced a transition of its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq, maintaining its "WMT" ticker, with the move expected by December 9 [7] - This strategic shift aligns with Walmart's long-term tech-powered approach, as stated by CFO John David Rainey [7] Leadership Change - CEO Doug McMillon will step down at the end of January 2024, with John Furner, the current CEO of Walmart U.S., set to take over [6] Industry Insights - As the largest retailer in the U.S., Walmart's performance offers insights into consumer spending trends, indicating that higher-income consumers are increasingly shopping at its stores [5] - Analysts from JPMorgan noted that despite some concerns, there has not been significant change in Walmart's performance trends over recent quarters [5]

So, the non-bar payrolls number coming in at 119,000. 119,000. The estimate was 50,000.Private sector jobs coming in at 97,000. The estimate was 50. Factory jobs, we saw a loss of 6,000. Government jobs, a gain of 22,000.Average work week, all private workers, 34.2% hours. Average hourly earnings annually up 3.8%. Little bit better than expected.Average hourly earnings month-to-month up2%. The unemployment rate 4.4%. The unemployment rate 4.4% the estimate was 4.3%. Again, non-farm 119,000 the estimate was ...

Hello and welcome to morning brief market sunrise. I'm Ramzan Karali live from Yahoo Finance Studios in London. It's Thursday 20th November.Coming up on the show, the Nvidia effect. Its earnings have given tech stocks a supercharge. Investor focus now turns to the latest jobs report.Will it give the green light for a rate cut. and I'll bring you the earnings live on the show from the world's biggest retailer, Walmart. So, grab your coffee and let's own the morning.It's all about Nvidia this morning. It incr ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall sales grew by 5.9% in constant currency, with adjusted operating income increasing by 8% [7][17] - E-commerce sales increased by 27%, with each segment delivering growth above 20% [7][18] - Adjusted EPS rose nearly 7% to 62 cents [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - International segment sales increased by 11.4% in constant currency, with adjusted operating income growing by 16.9% [8][22] - Walmart US comp sales grew by 4.5%, with e-commerce up by 28% [9][18] - Sam's Club US comp sales increased by 3.8%, driven by transaction counts [10][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - E-commerce sales in China grew by over 30%, reflecting strong performance in digital retail [20] - Membership income increased by 17% across the enterprise, with notable growth in international markets [23][24] - Inflation in Walmart US was reported at 1.3%, with food and general merchandise seeing low single-digit increases [11][52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging technology and AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [14][24] - Walmart is transitioning to NASDAQ to align with its tech-powered strategy [29] - The strategy emphasizes everyday low prices while enhancing convenience through physical and digital assets [17][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the holiday shopping season, indicating a strong start to Q4 [44][45] - There are concerns about spending moderation in lower-income cohorts, but overall business remains consistent [76][77] - The company is raising its guidance for full-year sales growth to between 4.8% and 5.1% [27][28] Other Important Information - The company reported a non-cash charge of approximately $700 million related to its PhonePe subsidiary [25] - Year-to-date operating cash flow reached $27 billion, up $4.5 billion compared to last year [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Will Agentic supercharge Walmart's e-commerce growth? - Management highlighted the advantages of Walmart's broad assortment and delivery speed, emphasizing the role of technology in enhancing customer experience [35][36] Question: How is the consumer expected to perform over the holiday? - Management indicated a consistent environment with optimism for holiday shopping, despite some moderation in lower-income spending [44][45] Question: What are the constraints to Walmart Plus membership growth? - Management noted that delivery speed and customer satisfaction are key drivers, with recent improvements in delivery times contributing to membership growth [47][48] Question: How has inflation impacted pricing strategies? - Management reported low inflation rates and effective inventory management, allowing for flexibility in pricing without significant markdowns [52][53] Question: How is the company managing tariffs and their impact? - Management indicated that the impact of tariffs has been less than expected, with effective inventory and pricing strategies mitigating costs [60][62]

Core Insights - Walmart reported adjusted earnings of 62 cents, a 7% increase, exceeding analysts' expectations, with revenues of $179.5 billion, up 5.8% year-over-year, also above estimates [1] - The company raised its full-year sales and earnings forecast for the second time, expecting revenue growth between 4.8% and 5.1% and earnings in the range of 258 to 263 cents [1] - US comparable store sales grew by 4.5%, surpassing the 4% estimate, marking the 45th consecutive quarter of growth, with e-commerce sales increasing by 28% in the US [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating income is projected to grow between 4.8% to 5.5%, up from a previous forecast of flat [1] - Operating income for the quarter decreased by 0.2% due to a one-time compensation charge related to the planned public offering of its phone pay business [1] - Walmart's advertising business, Walmart Connect, saw a growth of 33% in the US and 53% globally [1] Consumer Behavior - Consumers across all income levels are opting for faster delivery services, with a 70% year-over-year increase in revenue from this segment [2] - Even lower-income consumers are utilizing expedited delivery options, indicating a shift in consumer preferences towards convenience [2][3] Market Position - Walmart is gaining market share among higher-income shoppers, with notable growth across all income cohorts [3] - The company plans to move its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to NASDAQ on December 9, maintaining its ticker symbol WMT [3][4] Leadership Transition - Doug McMillan, the current CEO, will retire after nearly 12 years, with John Ferner set to take over, who has been instrumental in the company's current success [5][6] - The leadership change is seen as a strategic move to ensure continuity and retain talent within the organization [7]

Core Insights - The retailer experienced a 4.5% increase in comparable sales, driven by market share gains across various income groups as consumers sought out deals [1] Group 1 - Comparable sales rose by 4.5% [1] - Market share gains were observed across different income groups [1] - Consumer behavior indicated a preference for seeking out deals [1]

Retail Sector Overview - Target's latest results indicate shrinking customer purchases, slowing sales, and a cut in profit guidance, signaling a cautious consumer outlook [1] - Despite Target's struggles, other retail stocks have seen positive movements, particularly those forming new partnerships with ChatGPT [2] - TJX, the owner of TJ Maxx and Marshalls, exceeded expectations and raised its outlook for the year, suggesting strong performance in the discount retail segment [4] Home Improvement Sector Insights - Lowe's raised its full-year sales outlook from $84.5 billion to $86 billion, driven by sales growth to professional builders and online sales [6] - In contrast, Home Depot reported lower quarterly profits and decreased its outlook, with customers hesitant to commit to renovations due to economic uncertainty [7] Consumer Behavior Trends - The performance of discount retailers may reflect a trend of cash-strapped consumers seeking deals rather than a robust retail environment [5] - Retailers are adapting to a changing landscape where consumers increasingly use chatbots for product discovery, necessitating a shift in how retailers engage with shoppers [8][10]

Core Insights - The article discusses the CEO succession planning of Walmart and Target, highlighting the differences in their leadership transitions and performance metrics [1][6]. Company Performance - Walmart has seen a significant increase in its stock price, rising 300% under CEO Doug McMillon, while Target's stock has only increased by 60% under Brian Cornell [3]. - Target reported a 2.7% decline in comparable sales for the last quarter, whereas Walmart is expected to see a 3.8% increase in U.S. comparable sales [4]. Leadership Transition - Both CEOs, McMillon and Cornell, are leaving in February, but their succession plans differ; McMillon will remain on the board until 2026, while Cornell will take on a more powerful role as executive chair [4][5]. - Walmart's succession planning is viewed positively, with McMillon stepping down without causing investor panic, indicating strong management and a deep bench [6]. Market Perception - Wall Street analysts have expressed skepticism about Target's internal succession plan, preferring an outsider to lead the company amid its current challenges [6].

US retailer Target has reported lower third-quarter sales for the period ended 1 November 2025, and has outlined plans to increase investment in stores and digital operations in 2026. Net sales fell 1.5% to $25.27bn as the retailer works to halt three consecutive quarters of declining comparable sales. In August 2025, Target announced the appointment of Michael Fiddelke as its new CEO, effective from 1 February 2026. In October, the company moved to cut 1,800 corporate positions as part of efforts to re ...