Walmart (WMT) stock is one of the best Dow Jones stocks Thursday after the retail giant beat top- and bottom-line expectations for its fiscal second quarter and raised its full-year outlook.
In the three months ended July 31, Walmart's revenue increased 4.8% year-over-year to $169.3 billion, thanks in part to a 21% spike in global e-commerce sales. Its earnings per share (EPS) improved 9.8% from the year-ago period to 67 cents. At Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club, same-store sales were up 4.2% and 5.2%, respectively, excluding fuel.
"Our team delivered another strong quarter," said Walmart CEO Doug McMillon in a statement. "Each part of our business is growing – store and club sales are up, e-commerce is compounding as we layer on pickup and even faster growth in delivery as our speed improves. Our newer businesses like marketplace, advertising, and membership, are also contributing, diversifying our profits and reinforcing the resilience of our business model."
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The results topped analysts' expectations. Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $168.5 billion and earnings of 65 cents per share, according to Yahoo Finance.
As a result of its strong first half, Walmart raised its full-year outlook. The company now expects fiscal 2025 revenue growth in the range of 3.75% to 4.75% and earnings per share to arrive between $2.35 to $2.43, up from its previous forecast of revenue growth between 3% to 4% and EPS of $2.23 to $2.37.
Walmart also provided guidance for its fiscal third quarter, calling for revenue to grow between 3.25% to 4.25% and earnings per share of 51 cents to 52 cents.
Is Walmart stock a buy, sell or hold?
Walmart has been the best Dow stock so far in 2024, up nearly 40% including today's pop. Unsurprisingly, Wall Street is overwhelmingly bullish on the blue chip stock.
For one, the consensus recommendation among the 40 analysts following WMT tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence is a Buy and with strong conviction to boot. However, analysts have had a hard time keeping up with Walmart's impressive rally. Indeed, the average price target of $73.94 is right around where the stock is trading today. Price-target hikes could come down the pike after the positive earnings reaction.
"Those who have been following our work know that we have declared Walmart the poster child of our investing theme: Companies who have pivoted to digitization, robotics, the cloud and generative AI (and the suppliers of the picks and shovels)," said Nancy Tengler, CEO and chief investment officer of Laffer Tengler Investments, in a statement.
Tengler adds that Walmart is the investment firm's biggest holding among large-cap stocks in the consumer staples sector.
Related Content
-
$425 Million Google Class Action Lawsuit: Do You Qualify for a Payout?Google was found liable for violating the privacy of 98 million users in a class action lawsuit. Are you one of them?
-
Kiplinger News Quiz, September 5, 2025Quiz 401(k)s, Google's Alphabet and tariffs on luxury goods all made Kiplinger headlines this week — but why? Test your knowledge of this week's financial news.
-
Dismal August Jobs Report Offers Rate-Cut Relief: What the Experts Are SayingThe August jobs report came in much lower than expected, lifting the odds that several rate cuts will come through by year's end.
-
Greed, Fear and Market Volatility: A Financial Adviser's Guide to Keeping Emotions Out of Investment DecisionsDon't panic! And don't be so confident in the stock market that you overlook risk. Instead, be logical. Your retirement security could depend on it.
-
Want a Financial Adviser Who Shares Your Faith? Look for One With a CKA DesignationFinancial professionals with a Certified Kingdom Advisor certification are committed to integrating biblical principles with sound financial advice.
-
S&P 500 Hits New High on Jobs Friday Eve: Stock Market TodayThe S&P 500 hit a new all-time closing high and most of the stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up the day before a critical jobs report.
-
SPACs, SMRs and How to Invest in the Nuclear InsurgencyBig nuclear deployments are in process, but small modular reactors could be a better way to meet rapidly rising electric power demand.
-
10 Ways to Stay Safe From Grandparent Scams and Other Fraud, Courtesy of a Financial PlannerScams are increasingly hard to detect, and anyone can be fooled, from older people to educated professionals. Here are 10 ways to avoid becoming a victim.
-
This Is How the Student Loan Bubble Is Primed to Pop, From a Student Funding ExpertFueled by easy money, inflated tuition and high default rates, the student loan bubble mirrors the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. We could be headed for a potential financial collapse. What can we do?
-
Big Tech Names Rise Above Broad Weakness: Stock Market TodaySome familiar names enjoyed solid rallies on the resolution of outstanding questions, but macro uncertainty hangs over the broader market.
