NEW YORK, Feb 19, 2026, 09:45 (EST)
- Walmart is projecting net sales growth for FY27 in the 3.5% to 4.5% range, with adjusted earnings per share coming in between $2.75 and $2.85—numbers that landed short of what analysts were looking for.
- Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 5.6% to $190.7 billion, with adjusted EPS landing at $0.74. U.S. comparable sales excluding fuel posted a 4.6% increase.
- The retailer signed off on a fresh $30 billion buyback plan after global e-commerce sales jumped 24%.
John Furner kicked off his run as Walmart’s chief executive with a cautious full-year forecast on Thursday, despite the retailer topping expectations for the holiday quarter and rolling out a new $30 billion share repurchase. The stock was recently up around 2% in early New York trade after a volatile premarket session. Reuters
Walmart’s market cap holds above $1 trillion—a striking milestone for any retailer—and investors are combing through Furner’s debut targets as the stock hovers just shy of its all-time high.
Walmart’s outlook arrives as the U.S. consumer landscape remains divided—lower-income shoppers still feeling the squeeze, while more affluent buyers aren’t holding back on spending for convenience. Over the holidays, the retailer managed to attract a more upscale crowd, all while pushing its speedy delivery options harder. Citynews
Walmart reported a 5.6% increase in revenue to $190.7 billion for the quarter ending Jan. 31. Adjusted earnings landed at 74 cents per share; GAAP earnings came in lower, at 53 cents. The adjusted figure excludes items like investment gains and losses, while “constant currency” calculations leave out the impact of foreign-exchange moves. Sec
Walmart reported that global e-commerce net sales jumped 24%, now accounting for 23% of its total net sales, according to an earnings presentation filed with the SEC. In the U.S., e-commerce revenue grew 27%. Expedited deliveries—those completed in under three hours—made up roughly 35% of orders fulfilled from stores. Sec
Furner told analysts shoppers are still “choiceful,” pointing out that for families making less than $50,000, “wallets are stretched.” He also highlighted the company’s reputation for “ultra fast delivery times,” noting a jump of over 60% in under-three-hour delivery usage year over year.
Walmart is looking for net sales growth between 3.5% and 4.5% in constant currency for fiscal 2027, with adjusted earnings per share expected to land between $2.75 and $2.85. That’s short of what analysts wanted—LSEG had consensus closer to 5% sales growth and $2.96 per share. For the first quarter, Walmart sees adjusted EPS in a 63 to 65 cent range.
The board signed off on a fresh $30 billion stock buyback plan and bumped the annual dividend up to 99 cents per share. According to the presentation, the company repurchased $1.1 billion worth of shares last quarter, paying an average of $111.36 apiece.
Walmart sidestepped the drop in higher-priced discretionary spending that hit competitors like Target, leaning on its grocery scale and ongoing expansion into higher-margin areas. Advertising sales jumped 37% for the quarter, with the company also reporting better gross margin.
But there’s not much cushion in the outlook if tariffs hit harder or consumers pull back, risks Walmart spelled out in its forward-looking statements. “The real issue,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth, is that the stock was trading at or near an all-time high heading into results.
Furner stepped into the role of president and CEO on Feb. 1, succeeding Doug McMillon. Walmart noted that McMillon retired at January’s close and will remain on the board until the next annual shareholders’ meeting. “This is the right time to retire because the company is in such great shape,” McMillon said when announcing his decision. Walmart
Walmart reported a 4.7% jump in revenue for fiscal 2026, reaching $713.2 billion. Operating cash flow landed at $41.6 billion, and free cash flow checked in at $14.9 billion. Looking ahead, the retailer expects to dedicate about 3.5% of net sales to capital spending in fiscal 2027, with plans to pour more into stores, automation, and delivery capacity.
