New York, Feb 19, 2026, 10:28 (EST) — Regular session.
- Shares up about 2% in morning trade after Walmart flagged a new $30 billion repurchase plan
- Holiday-quarter revenue rose 5.6%; adjusted EPS came in at $0.74
- Walmart guided for 3.5%–4.5% net sales growth in fiscal 2027 and adjusted EPS of $2.75–$2.85
Walmart shares rose 2.1% to $129.24 by 10:18 a.m. EST on Thursday after the retailer announced a fresh $30 billion share repurchase authorization. The company reported holiday-quarter revenue of $190.7 billion and adjusted earnings of 74 cents a share, and it forecast fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS of $2.75 to $2.85 on net sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5%. (SEC)
The numbers matter because Walmart is one of the clearest, fastest reads on U.S. household spending. A cautious guide from a company that sells groceries and everyday staples can reset expectations for the broader retail group in a hurry.
It is also the first big test for new CEO John Furner, with investors watching whether Walmart can keep pulling in higher-income shoppers online while lower-income customers stay tight. On the post-earnings call, Furner said “wallets are stretched” for households earning below $50,000, and Fitch analyst David Silverman said Walmart “has even more opportunities to capitalize on e-commerce growth.” (Reuters)
Under the hood, Walmart leaned again on faster delivery, store-fulfilled pickup and a push into higher-margin lines such as advertising and membership fees. That mix shift is doing some of the work that price hikes used to do, and it is a big part of why the stock has become less of a slow-and-steady defensive trade.
The company also filed the earnings release and presentation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, a filing showed. (SEC)
Competition is not sitting still. The Financial Times reported that Amazon has edged past Walmart in annual revenue, even as Walmart posted record sales for the year ending January 2026. (Financial Times)
Still, the setup has a downside if the cautious outlook turns out to be too optimistic on volumes, or if shoppers trade down harder than Walmart expects. A lot of good news is already in the stock, and retail is a business where margins can get chewed up quickly by promotions, freight costs or uneven demand.
Investors will watch how quickly Walmart uses the new buyback authorization and whether early-quarter trends match its guidance, especially in online and general merchandise.
The next clean date on the calendar is the dividend. Walmart’s board approved a fiscal 2027 annual cash dividend of $0.99 per share, paid in four quarterly installments, with the first record date set for March 20, 2026 and payable April 6, 2026; CFO John David Rainey said, “Dividends continue to be a part of our diversified capital returns approach.” (Walmart Newsroom)
