Walmart Inc. (WMT)
Walmart is the world's largest retailer, helping millions of shoppers save money on groceries and everyday essentials through its massive network of stores.
Is Walmart Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Walmart is the world's largest retailer, helping millions of shoppers save money on groceries and everyday essentials through its massive network of stores.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in the grocery and pharmacy sectors
Long-term shift away from physical retail stores
What does Walmart Inc. do?
Walmart makes its money by selling a huge variety of goods at low prices, relying on high volume to keep the business ticking over. While it started as a traditional shop-floor retailer, it is now heavily focused on growing its online delivery and digital services to compete with tech-savvy rivals. The real test is how well they manage their thin profit margins while keeping prices low enough to keep customers coming back during tougher economic times.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on income and growth, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.9% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 7% over the year
- !High P/E of 39 - big growth is already priced in
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 24%)
- Massive scale provides significant bargaining power with suppliers
- Essential nature of goods makes it resilient during economic downturns
- Strong and growing presence in online shopping and delivery
- Value screens low (29/100)
- Intense competition from global e-commerce giants
- Rising labour and supply chain costs
- Changes in consumer behaviour towards smaller, local shopping
What do Walmart Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Walmart Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Walmart Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - Walmart Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 0.9% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Walmart Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Walmart Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-20 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-21 | $0.66 | $0.66 | In line |
| 2026-02-19 | $0.73 | $0.74 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-11-20 | $0.60 | $0.62 | Beat +3% |
| 2025-08-21 | $0.74 | $0.68 | Missed -8% |
| 2025-05-15 | $0.58 | $0.61 | Beat +6% |
| 2025-02-20 | $0.65 | $0.66 | Beat +2% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Walmart Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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PepsiCo, Inc.What are the scenarios for Walmart Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Walmart Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Massive scale provides significant bargaining power with suppliers
- Essential nature of goods makes it resilient during economic downturns
- Strong and growing presence in online shopping and delivery
- Very thin profit margins leave little room for error
- High valuation compared to historical averages
- Heavy reliance on physical infrastructure and logistics
- Intense competition from global e-commerce giants
- Rising labour and supply chain costs
- Changes in consumer behaviour towards smaller, local shopping
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, significant drop in quarterly revenue growth
- A major failure in their digital transformation strategy
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.