Walmart is reportedly pushing suppliers in China to reduce prices to mitigate new tariffs. The effort, the subject of a Bloomberg News report late Monday (April 1), is happening despite a recent summit between Walmart executives and the Chinese government to discuss the issue, and warnings of potential retaliation by Beijing.
Recently, Zacks.com users have been paying close attention to Walmart (WMT). This makes it worthwhile to examine what the stock has in store.
Shares of Walmart (WMT 0.53%) surged to an all-time high of $105.30 earlier this year, lifted by excitement over the company's growing advertising business, e-commerce strength, and steady retail growth. But since then, the stock has cooled off.
On Tuesday, the Conference Board reported its consumer confidence index fell for the fourth straight month, as shoppers continued to fret about inflation and the possibility of trade war with Canada, Mexico, and China. The reading—of 92.9—was the index's lowest in four years.
While the narrative of Amazon's ascendance in discretionary spending and Walmart's grip on grocery sales dominates the retail conversation, a closer examination of the latest PYMNTS Intelligence report, “Tale of Two Shoppers: Amazon for Discretionary Spending, Walmart for Groceries and Basics,” reveals nuanced shifts in consumer behavior and market share that hold implications for both
Fears of a consumer slowdown have impacted the retail sector, with Walmart shares down nearly 20% from their pre-earnings high. Despite solid Q4 results and strong eCommerce growth, WMT's valuation appears stretched, leading to a hold rating. Key risks include macroeconomic factors, consumer spending slowdown, and competitive pressures, which could impact margins and advertising revenue.
Shares of Walmart (WMT -2.96%) were pulling back today along with a broader slide in the retail sector, after the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell to a four-year-low, with future expectations hitting a 12-year low, according to the Conference Board.
Retail sales remained strong in 2024, but two companies stood out for their significant gains in market share over the last two years. Walmart (WMT 1.84%) and Costco (COST 1.85%) both saw even stronger sales growth than the rest of the industry, fueled by improvements in e-commerce and at the store level.
The state of the consumer remains a hot topic as inflation pressures persist and shoppers continue to seek value. One company that could benefit from the current economic conditions is Walmart (WMT 1.84%), a favorite retailer among price-conscious shoppers.
JPMorgan Chase and Walmart are partnering to speed up payments for merchants that sell items through the retail giant's website.
Walmart and Target are reportedly haggling with suppliers over proposed price hikes in the face of tariffs. As Reuters reported Monday (March 24), the outcome of these negotiations will decide when prices on products go up — and by how much — and could even determine which merchandise the retailers choose to keep in stock.
Walmart is reportedly expanding metaverse efforts by teaming with virtual gaming world Minecraft. The retail giant is now running a limited-time interactive gaming experience dubbed “Skyward” on a Minecraft Java server, Chain Store Age reported Friday (March 21).