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Walmart’s First Earnings Under CEO John Furner Put Guidance in Focus

Investors want evidence that its tech push can support growth at a $1 trillion valuation.

Overview

  • Walmart reports fourth-quarter results Thursday morning, with consensus calling for adjusted EPS of about $0.73 on roughly $190 billion in revenue and U.S. comparable sales up around 4.3%.
  • Analysts widely anticipate a cautious initial annual outlook under Furner, a pattern they note from prior years, with options pricing pointing to a stock move of about plus or minus 5%.
  • The retailer recently surpassed a $1 trillion market value, lifting expectations as its shares trade near highs with a price-to-earnings multiple around 45.
  • E-commerce and advertising remain key growth engines as Walmart expands its marketplace, accelerates delivery, scales Walmart+, and builds a roughly $4 billion ad business that has supported margin gains.
  • Strategy updates emphasize AI initiatives, including shopping through OpenAI’s ChatGPT and a Google Gemini tie-in, alongside leadership changes such as Amazon alumnus David Guggina taking over Walmart U.S.