New York, Feb 13, 2026, 10:57 AM EST — Regular session trading in progress
- Walmart slipped roughly 0.2%, changing hands at $133.33 as the morning session got underway.
- The retailer has its fiscal Q4 results coming up on Feb. 19.
- New price targets are shifting focus back to company guidance and how consumers are faring.
Walmart Inc shares slipped 0.2% to $133.33 on Friday, after touching a range from $131.76 up to $133.64 earlier in the session.
The modest shift doesn’t tell the whole story. With Walmart’s results due next week, investors see this as one of the final big retail signals of the earnings cycle—a gauge of consumer spending habits, not just Walmart’s own performance.
The launch comes as volatility keeps investors on edge, with questions swirling over possible changes in sector leadership and lurking risks beneath the surface. “Are getting more and more extreme,” BTIG’s Jonathan Krinsky said of the wild moves in individual stocks lately. Mark Hackett over at Nationwide sees “an embedded leadership shift that’s undeniable at this point.” (Reuters)
Walmart plans to report its fourth-quarter earnings around 6 a.m. Central on Thursday, Feb. 19, followed by a conference call an hour afterward. U.S. CEO John Furner and CFO John David Rainey are slated to lead that discussion. (Business Wire)
Activity picked up across brokerage desks ahead of the print. KeyBanc hiked its Walmart target to $145 from $128, with BMO Capital moving up to $135 from $125, MT Newswires reports. Baird boosted its own target to $140 from $130. UBS, for its part, pointed to potential for earnings to beat. (MarketScreener)
Eyes will be on U.S. comparable sales — that’s sales from stores open at least a year — plus margins, e-commerce trends, and the balance between grocery and discretionary goods. Shifts in promotional messaging can sometimes move the needle just as much as top-line figures.
Peer read-through plays a role here as well. Walmart’s numbers often set the tone for what’s expected from the rest of the major retailers yet to report, even if their business models don’t match up.
The stock’s been on a tear, which isn’t without its risks. Any hint of caution in the outlook, a slip in traffic numbers, or stubborn costs—those could all knock expectations down fast, particularly if investors start shifting to a more defensive stance.
The upcoming catalyst: Walmart will post its earnings materials on Feb. 19. The release hits before a 7 a.m. Central investor call. (Walmart)
