Walmart, BNPL Were Black Friday's Big Winners

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's been several days since Black Friday and just hours past Cyber Monday. The consensus for retailers is that it was a good, if not great, start to the end-of-the-year holiday shopping season that culminates on Christmas Eve.

The big picture included a record $9.12 billion in online sales on Black Friday, 2.3% higher than a year ago and $120 million higher than the projections heading into the big day, according to data from Adobe Analytics. Unfortunately, with inflation exceeding 7%, sale growth continues to lag behind rising prices.

For investors, it all depends on your expectations.

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Two big winners on Black Friday were Walmart (WMT) and the Buy Now, Pay Later companies. Here's why:

Walmart gains on its rivals

Walmart outdueled Amazon (AMZN) this year, getting the most online searches for Black Friday discounts, up 386% from last year. As a result, Amazon fell to fourth place this year, also behind Target (TGT) and Kohl's (KSS).

Walmart went into Black Friday on a roll after delivering strong quarterly results in mid-November that included a 9.8% increase in revenue (excluding currency) to $152.8 billion, and a 4.6% increase in its adjusted operating income, to $6.1 billion.

The discount chain's U.S. same-store sales were 8.2% higher in Q3 2023 and 17.4% higher over Q3 2021. In addition, its e-commerce sales grew 16% over Q3 2022 and 24% higher than Q3 2021.

The third quarter's most significant highlight was the company's admission that it gained market share in grocery.

"Walmart U.S. continued to gain market share in grocery, helped by unit growth in our food business. We significantly improved our inventory position in Q3, and we'll continue to make progress as we end the year," stated CEO Doug McMillon in its Q3 2022 press release.

As a result of its strong showing, Walmart raised its full-year outlook for fiscal 2023.

It now expects net sales growth of 6.5% in 2023, with foreign exchange affecting revenue by $4.1 billion. Its Walmart U.S. same-store sales should grow 5.5%, excluding fuel. Previous guidance projected a 10% decline in adjusted operating income at the midpoint of its outlook. It now expects the drop to be 7% at the midpoint and 6% excluding divestitures.

At the same time Walmart reported good results, Target delivered less-than-stellar earnings. As a result, Walmart stock is up nearly 8% over the past month, while Target's share price has fallen by more than 1%.

Walmart's reference to taking market share in grocery was likely at the expense of Target. Walmart's grocery business accounts for 56% of its overall revenue, while the same number for Target is 20%, though Target is expanding its new stores.

Walmart's rollbacks appear to be working in these inflationary times. For example, early data suggests Walmart was a big beneficiary of the shift in consumer spending on Black Friday.

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Consumers still like Buy Now, Paying Later

According to the latest data from Adobe Analytics, inflation appears to have caught up to consumers. From Nov. 19 through Nov. 25 (Black Friday), orders and revenue from Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services jumped 78% and 81%, respectively.

"As Black Friday hit record spending online, we're also seeing more prominent signs of a budget-conscious consumer this year," Vivek Pandya, Adobe Digital Insights lead analyst, said in a statement. "Shoppers are embracing the Buy Now Pay Later payment method more this year to be able to buy desired gifts for family and friends."

Adobe Analytics says Cyber Monday online sales hit $11.3 billion, 5.8% higher than Cyber Monday 2021. This makes Cyber Monday a record and the biggest online sales day in 2022.

The entire Cyber Week -- Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday -- saw consumers spend $35.27 billion, 4% higher than in 2021. BNPL orders and revenues were 85% and 88% higher than in 2021.

While the increased use of BNPL is good for companies such as Block's (SQ) Afterpay, Affirm Holdings (AFRM), and PayPal (PYPL), it's a sign that the average consumer is getting stretched from this extended period of inflation. Also, their share prices may have steadied following the huge sales week, but remain subdued after huge declines in the sector starting in 2021.

Meanwhile, Walmart and its shareholders are enjoying the start of the holiday shopping season.

Will has written professionally for investment and finance publications in both the U.S. and Canada since 2004. A native of Toronto, Canada, his sole objective is to help people become better and more informed investors. Fascinated by how companies make money, he's a keen student of business history. Married and now living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he's also got an interest in equity and debt crowdfunding.