NEW YORK, Feb 16, 2026, 16:54 EST — Market closed
Walmart Inc (WMT.O) shares ended Friday at $133.89, up 0.2%, after trading between $131.76 and $134.64. The retailer heads into a holiday-shortened week with quarterly results due later.
U.S. stock and bond markets were shut on Monday for Presidents Day, leaving futures to trade in thin conditions. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures gained 0.1% and 0.2%, and investors are bracing for a rush of data later this week, including the advance U.S. GDP reading for the fourth quarter. “Our economists expect (U.S.) real GDP growth to slow to 2.5% for Q4, a meaningful step down from the prior quarter’s 4.4% pace,” Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid said in a note. (Reuters)
The set-up matters because markets have been whipping around on worries that heavy AI spending will not translate into near-term returns, pushing some investors toward steadier companies with clearer cash flows. Walmart has added about $179 billion in market value since the start of 2026, taking its valuation to roughly $1.07 trillion, Reuters calculations showed. (Reuters)
Strategists have described the backdrop as jittery. Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth, called it a “whack-a-mole” game figuring out what AI will disrupt next. BTIG’s Jonathan Krinsky said the winner-and-loser moves “are getting more and more extreme,” and Nationwide’s Mark Hackett said a leadership shift is “getting embedded into the psychology of investors.” Walmart’s report is also seen as a read on consumer demand after U.S. retail sales were unexpectedly unchanged in December, with the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index — the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge — also due. (Reuters)
For Walmart, the focus is likely to be less on the headline numbers and more on the tone of guidance. Investors will listen for any change in the company’s view of spending across groceries and discretionary goods, and whether price investments are tightening margins.
Traders will also parse commentary on traffic and mix. A shift toward staples can steady sales but squeeze profit per item, while a pickup in higher-margin categories can do the opposite.
Competition is another moving part. Big-box rivals and supermarkets have been leaning harder on promotions, and any hint that Walmart has to spend more to defend share could change the near-term story.
But the downside case is simple: expectations are now high after a strong run. If management strikes a cautious note on demand, wages or pricing, the stock could give back ground when cash trading resumes.
Walmart is scheduled to release fiscal fourth-quarter results on Feb. 19, with earnings materials expected around 6 a.m. CT and a conference call at 7 a.m. CT, the company said. (Walmart News & Leadership)
