Michael Fiddelke succeeded Brian Cornell as Target's (NYSE: TGT) new CEO on Feb. 2. Fiddelke has been with the retailer for over 20 years, and he was most recently its COO. Fiddelke is taking over Target after its stock stumbled nearly 40% over the past five years amid slowing sales growth, declining margins, and politically driven boycotts. Let's see what happened to Target -- and how Fiddelke plans to stabilize its business. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report ...

New Walmart CEO John Furner took on the company’s hallowed role of greeter Thursday (or “customer host” as they’re now called) on his first earnings call as top boss. So fresh in the job that he updated his LinkedIn page a couple of weeks ago (CEOs, they’re just like us!), Furner had good news: US same-store sales rose a better-than-expected 4.6% in the latest quarter, the last of Walmart’s fiscal 2026. But the retailer’s stock fell 1.4% as the new boss carried on a company tradition: a cautious, conserva ...

Amazon's market cap surpassed that of Walmart's a long time ago, but only now have Amazon's sales overall surpassed that of Walmart. Really, over the past few years, we've moved away from comparing Walmart to Target and we've moved toward comparing Walmart to Amazon. And this is just another example.So many on both Main Street and Wall Street discussing this crossover this morning with Amazon surpassing $717 billion in sales in 2025, whereas Walmart posted annual sales of 713.2% billion for 2025. And it goe ...

Key Takeaways Shoppers who use Sparky, Walmart's AI chatbot, spend an average of 35% more than others, Walmart executives said Thursday. The retailer plans to further develop Sparky, while also collaborating with AI bots from tech specialists, such as Gemini and ChatGPT. Sparky is cranking up sales at a massive retailer. Walmart's AI chatbot—named for the company's yellow logo—is bolstering its shoppers' spending, company executives said Thursday. About half of Walmart (WMT) app users have tried th ...

Core Insights - Walmart's e-commerce operations achieved profitability in 2025, surpassing breakeven levels, with a positive outlook for future growth [1] - The company reported a 4.7% increase in overall sales to $713.2 billion, with e-commerce sales rising nearly 25% to over $150 billion [2] - Walmart's physical presence, with 5,200 locations, enhances its ability to deliver customer experiences, particularly in grocery and everyday essentials [4] E-commerce Growth - High-income households, particularly those earning over $100,000, have significantly contributed to Walmart's share gains in e-commerce [2] - The expansion of product categories, including fashion, has attracted new shoppers, with fashion leading sales growth in general merchandise [5][6] - Walmart's in-house shopping assistant, Sparky, has resulted in 35% larger transaction totals among app users [7] Competitive Landscape - Despite Walmart's growth, Amazon remains the largest company by revenue, with $716.9 billion, but Walmart's e-commerce progress poses a competitive threat [3][8] - Walmart's strategy to leverage its physical stores for e-commerce fulfillment gives it an edge in rapid delivery services compared to Amazon [4]

We have a decent amount of grist for the stock market mill this morning, with key earnings reports joining key economic news. Pre-market indexes have slid into the red from early-morning highs, but are leveling off currently: the Dow is -133 points, -0.27%, the S&P 500 -19, -0.28%, the Nasdaq -92, -0.37% and the small-cap Russell 2000 -10, -0.39%.Jobless Claims Remain Historically LowThursday morning Weekly Jobless Claims are out again ahead of today’s open, with an Initial Jobless Claims headline of 206K b ...

Investors are dealing with a bout of Walmart (WMT) jitters. Shares of Walmart (WMT) seesawed on Thursday following below-consensus outlooks for the first quarter and full year. The company's stock dropped in early trading before reversing losses. The company checked a lot of boxes for the bulls. Operating profits grew faster than sales at all of Walmart's business segments. E-commerce sales rose by double-digit percentages at Walmart US and Sam's Club. And the retail behemoth uncorked a new $30 billion ...

Core Insights - Walmart's quarterly earnings slightly exceeded Wall Street estimates, marking the first report under new CEO John Furner [1] - The retailer's market capitalization recently surpassed $1 trillion for the first time [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 were reported at $0.74, slightly above the forecast of $0.73 [1] - Revenue for the quarter increased by 5.6% to $190.7 billion, aligning closely with Wall Street's expectations of $190.6 billion [2] - For fiscal year 2026, Walmart's total revenue reached $715.9 billion, slightly above estimates, with adjusted earnings per share at $2.64, a cent higher than expected [3] Stock Performance - Walmart's shares rose by 1% in premarket trading and have increased over 13% year to date [4] Future Guidance - For the first quarter, Walmart anticipates revenue growth of 3.5-4.5% and adjusted earnings per share of $0.63-$0.65, which is below Wall Street's expectations of 5% growth and earnings of $0.69 [4] - For fiscal year 2027, the company expects revenue growth of 3.5%-4.5% and adjusted earnings of $2.75-$2.85, also conservative compared to Wall Street's forecast of nearly 5% growth and earnings of $2.97 [5] - CFO John David Rainey indicated a cautious approach due to an unstable economic backdrop, despite no significant changes in consumer behavior [5] Operational Highlights - Quarterly same-store sales in the US grew by 4.6%, surpassing estimates of 4.3%, driven by e-commerce strength and a 2.6% increase in transactions [6]

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Q4 2026 Earnings call February 19, 2026 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsChris Nicholas - EVP and COODavid Guggina - EVP and Chief eCommerce OfficerJoe Feldman - Senior Managing Director, Assistant Director of Research, and Founding MemberJohn David Rainey - CFOJohn Furner - CEOLatriece Watkins - EVP and Chief Merchandising OfficerSteph Wissink - SVP of Investor RelationsConference Call ParticipantsChristopher Horvers - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystChuck Grom - Manag ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the fourth quarter increased by 4.9% in constant currency, with e-commerce growth at 24% [4][14] - Adjusted operating income grew by 10.5%, outpacing sales growth [4][14] - For the full year, total revenue exceeded $700 billion for the first time, with a 5% increase in constant currency [14] - Adjusted operating income for the full year grew by 5.4%, despite a 300 basis point headwind from increased claims expenses [14][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Walmart U.S. comp sales rose by 4.6%, with e-commerce sales growing by 27% [14][15] - International segment operating income increased by over 26%, driven by improved e-commerce economics [15] - Advertising income globally increased by 37%, with Walmart Connect in the U.S. up by 41% [16][35] - Membership income grew by over 15%, reflecting strength in Sam's Club in China and the U.S. [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - E-commerce sales in China grew by 28%, representing more than 50% of the sales mix in that market [15] - Fast delivery services in the U.S. saw a growth of over 60% year-over-year [9][15] - The majority of share gains in the U.S. came from households earning over $100,000, while lower-income households are managing spending carefully [5][6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on an omnichannel strategy, leveraging technology and automation to enhance customer experience and delivery speed [4][9] - Investments in AI and technology are aimed at improving inventory management and customer engagement through tools like Sparky [10][11] - The strategy includes capital allocation based on return on investment, with a focus on maintaining a strong value proposition for customers [7][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's momentum and the ability to navigate complex operating conditions [13][41] - The outlook for the upcoming fiscal year includes sales growth expectations of 3.5% to 4.5% and operating income growth of 6% to 8% [21][22] - Management remains cautious about potential economic headwinds but is optimistic about the company's ability to outperform guidance [41][42] Other Important Information - The company authorized a $30 billion share repurchase program, its largest to date, reflecting confidence in cash flow generation [23] - Capital expenditure levels for FY 2027 are expected to be approximately 3.5% of sales, with a focus on supply chain automation and store remodels [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: On agentic commerce and its impact on customer traffic and advertising - Management highlighted that agentic commerce is part of the omnichannel strategy, enhancing customer intent understanding and driving higher average order values [28][29][32] Question: Regarding unexpected costs and outlook for the year - Management noted a measured approach to guidance, considering potential economic indicators while maintaining flexibility [37][41] Question: On disinflation and its impact on pricing - Management indicated that inflation trends are expected to remain stable, with some pressures from legislation affecting drug prices [44][45] Question: About e-commerce profitability and competition - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining share momentum through effective inventory management and leveraging technology [84]