NEW YORK, Feb 17, 2026, 11:14 (EST) — Regular session
- Walmart shares fall about 2.6% in late morning trade, underperforming most retail peers
- Evercore ISI expects a cautious first look at full-year guidance when Walmart reports later this week
- Investors are watching Thursday’s results for signals on U.S. consumer spending and margins
Walmart Inc. shares slid about 2.6% on Tuesday after Evercore ISI raised the risk that the retailer’s full-year outlook could come in cautious when it reports later this week. The stock was down $3.55 at $130.34 in late morning trade.
The move matters because Walmart has been one of the market’s big winners in early 2026, pulling in investors looking for steadier earnings as tech swings have rattled sentiment. Its stock is up about 20% so far this year, lifting its market value above $1 trillion and making it the biggest name in the consumer staples sector, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
Walmart is due to post results before the U.S. market opens on Thursday, with its earnings materials expected around 6 a.m. Central time and a conference call set for 7 a.m. Central, according to the company’s events schedule. (Walmart News & Leadership)
The drop came as Wall Street’s main indexes traded lower in a choppy session led by tech, with investors still fretting about AI-driven disruption. “You are seeing a rebalance… it’s natural,” said Stash Graham, chief investment officer at Graham Capital Wealth Management. (Reuters)
Evercore ISI’s analysts expect Walmart to deliver “solid” fourth-quarter results but warned its initial full-year guidance could look conservative, a note said. They pegged annual earnings guidance at roughly $2.80 to $2.90 a share, about “3%-5%” below analysts’ midpoint projections, and put the stock on their short-term underperform list ahead of the report. (Investing)
The pullback left Walmart lagging some peers on the day. Costco Wholesale was down about 0.5%, Target slipped about 0.6% and Kroger fell about 1.4%, while Amazon.com rose about 0.8% in late morning trading.
Thursday’s results will also land early in CEO John Furner’s tenure after Walmart’s leadership changes took effect on Feb. 1, the company and Reuters have reported. (Reuters)
The risk for bulls is straightforward: expectations are high after the run-up, and a conservative forecast — or any hint of margin pressure from discounting, wages or logistics — can hit a stock that investors have treated as a safe place to hide. Competition for grocery and everyday essentials remains intense, and any wobble in discretionary demand would show up fast.
Next up is Walmart’s Thursday report and guidance, with investors focused on the company’s view of demand into the new fiscal year and whether it can keep growing profit while holding price.
