FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES
Walmart

Walmart

$WMT
NYSEConsumer Staples

161 stories mentioning WalmartUpdated 2d ago

Trading within a mixed consumer sector, where the Consumer Staples SPDR (XLP) slipped while the Consumer Discretionary SPDR (XLY) rose.

What are analysts saying about Walmart?

Recent broker actions mentioned in FINWIRES coverage. Compiled from wire headlines; not investment advice.

What's the latest news on Walmart?

Japan

US Equity Indexes Fall as Oil Prices Increase After Trump Vows Economic Warfare Against Iran

US equity indexes fell ahead of the close on Thursday as bond yields and oil prices surged after President Donald Trump warned of extreme economic actions against Iran and any country that supports or conducts business with the Middle East nation.Bond yields continued to rise despite Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating that the buyback of long-dated government debt, which was announced yesterday, could exceed $4 billion, CNBC reported Thursday, citing an interview with the official.Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump's warning in an X post, describing it as a diversion from America's challenges of "unprecedented debt & surging interest costs." US debt surpassed $40 trillion, having more than doubled in less than a decade.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.9% to 26,074.8, and the S&P 500 declined 0.7% to 7,654.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1.1% to 52,849.6. Real estate and energy sectors led the gainers, while consumer staples and health led the decliners.The yield on 30-year Treasuries rose 3.9 basis points to 5.23%, while the 10-year yield gained 3.9 basis points to 4.69%.Gold futures gained 0.9% to $4,584.80 per ounce, and silver futures rose 3.6% to $68.96.In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of leading indicators rose by 0.2% in July, a larger gain than the 0.1% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, and following a 0.1% decrease in June.According to the Labor Department, US initial jobless claims fell to 206,000 in the week ended Aug. 15, from an upwardly revised 212,000 in the week earlier, and were lower than the 210,000 expected in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.US natural gas stocks rose by 16 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 14, higher than the 15 billion gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 36 billion cubic feet in the week prior.The US West Texas Intermediate crude oil contract rose 2.7% to $88.15 per barrel.In company news, SpaceX (SPCX) approached Cognition AI for a potential acquisition, but there are currently no active deal talks between the companies. SpaceX and the AI coding startup are also exploring a collaboration, Bloomberg reported late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. SpaceX shares were down 5%.Walmart (WMT) shares fell 9.7% in Thursday trading after its fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance missed analyst expectations. The company reported fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share, up from $0.68 a year earlier and above the FactSet estimate of $0.74. Revenue was $187.94 billion, up from $177.40 billion a year ago and above the FactSet estimate of $186.62 billion. For fiscal 2027, Walmart expects adjusted EPS of $2.80 to $2.87, up from $2.75 to $2.85 earlier, but below the FactSet estimate of $2.90.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$SPCX$WMT
Update: Equities Fall Intraday as Yields Rise Despite Treasury Buyback Plan
US Markets

Update: Equities Fall Intraday as Yields Rise Despite Treasury Buyback Plan

(Updates with latest market prices and developments.)US benchmark equity indexes fell intraday as bond yields rose, a day after the Treasury Department announced an accelerated debt buyback program.The Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.9% each after midday Thursday, at 26,104.1 and 52,973.6, respectively. The S&P 500 lost 0.5% to 7,668.6. The indexes ended Wednesday in the green following a three-day slump.Most sectors were in the red intraday Thursday, led by consumer discretionary, while energy gained the most.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year yield up 4.9 basis points at 4.7% and the two-year yield rising 1.5 basis points to 4.19%. The 30-year rate advanced 4.7 basis points to 5.24%.The Treasury Department said Wednesday it will at least double the size of its buybacks for longer-dated Treasuries, to $4 billion per operation. The announcement eased pressure on long-term yields on Wednesday.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that the buybacks could be worth more than $4 billion per issue."The $4 billion size of the buybacks is vanishingly small relative to the size of the US treasury market but is a loud symbolic signal that the Treasury does not want higher yields," Saxo Bank said in a report Thursday. "Shaping the yield curve and buying treasuries is normally a policy area for the (Federal Reserve), so it sets up an interesting tension with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who will speak at next week's Fed symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming."US government debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time, multiple outlets reported Wednesday, citing Treasury Department data.West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 2.3% to $87.80 a barrel, while Brent rose 1.8% to $93.31. The benchmarks were on track for their fifth straight day of gains.US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened "economic warfare" against Iran, announcing economic consequences for countries that seek to provide any form of support to Tehran.A 60-day ceasefire between the two countries expired Monday.In corporate news, Walmart (WMT) shares fell 8.7% intraday, the worst performer on the Dow and the second-biggest fall on the S&P 500, after the retail giant issued third-quarter earnings guidance below analysts' expectations.Deere's (DE) shares jumped 8%, the biggest gain on the S&P 500, after the company raised the lower ends of its net income and cash flow guidance ranges, citing a strong fourth-quarter order book.Nordson (NDSN) climbed 7.1%, the third-best performer on the S&P 500, after lifting its fiscal 2026 outlook.Shares of Moderna (MRNA) slid 25%, the steepest drop on the S&P 500, following a 177% jump at the close of the previous trading session. The drugmaker and Merck (MRK) announced positive topline results from a late-stage trial of an experimental skin cancer treatment on Wednesday.Spot gold ticked down 0.2% to $4,508.62 per troy ounce, while silver rose 3.7% to $69.04 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$DE$MRK$MRNA$NDSN$WMT
Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Fall as Oil Prices Rise After Trump's 'Economic D-Day' Warning to Iran

US equity indexes fell after midday trading on Thursday as bond yields and oil prices surged after President Donald Trump threatened the "most crushing economic operation" on Iran, while also warning of consequences for countries that support or conduct business with Iran.The bond yield reversal comes a day after the US Treasury decided to boost repurchases of long-dated government debt to $4 billion per operation from September. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the buyback program could exceed $4 billion, and US plans to mount economic pressure on Iran will likely negate the need for further military action, CNBC reported Thursday, citing an interview with the official.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.9% to 26,093.6, the S&P 500 declined 0.5% to 7,667.7, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.9% to 52,955.2. The energy and real estate sectors led the gainers, while consumer discretionary and consumer staples led the decliners.The yield on 30-year Treasuries rose 5.4 basis points to 5.248%, while the 10-year yield gained 4.9 basis points to 4.702%.Gold futures gained 0.4% to $4,565.2 per ounce, and silver futures rose 3.6% to $68.24.In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of leading indicators rose by 0.2% in July, a larger gain than the 0.1% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, and following a 0.1% decrease in June.The Conference Board highlighted that economic growth is likely to be driven by investments in AI, while consumer spending is forecast to slow down due to the higher living costs.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 47.4 in August, compared with 41.4 in July and an anticipated decrease to a 24.1 print in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.According to the Labor Department, US initial jobless claims fell to 206,000 in the week ended Aug. 15 from an upwardly revised 212,000 in the week earlier, and lower than the 210,000 expected in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.US natural gas stocks rose by 16 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 14, higher than the 15 billion gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 36 billion cubic feet in the week prior.The US West Texas Intermediate crude oil contract rose 1.9% to $87.52 per barrel.In company news, SpaceX (SPCX) approached Cognition AI about a potential acquisition, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. There are currently no active deal talks between SpaceX and the AI coding startup, but they continue to discuss a potential collaboration, per the report. SpaceX shares were down 5.9%.Walmart (WMT) shares fell 8.8% on Thursday after its fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance fell short of analysts' expectations. The company reported fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share, up from $0.68 a year earlier and above the FactSet estimate of $0.74. Revenue was $187.94 billion, up from $177.40 billion a year ago and above the FactSet estimate of $186.62 billion. For fiscal 2027, Walmart expects adjusted EPS of $2.80 to $2.87, up from $2.75 to $2.85 earlier, but below the FactSet estimate of $2.90.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$SPCX$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Fall in Afternoon Trading

Consumer stocks were lower Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) decreasing 0.8% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) falling 1.5%.In corporate news, Walmart's (WMT) fiscal Q2 US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind, while the retail giant issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing three-month period. Its shares fell 9%.Advance Auto Parts' (AAP) fiscal Q2 comparable sales unexpectedly declined amid weakness in the do-it-yourself channel, although the auto parts retailer lifted its full-year earnings outlook. Advance Auto shares fell past 27%.Starbucks (SBUX) has shed 104 jobs as part of a restructuring effort that includes roles in the team that oversees its store design and construction, Bloomberg reported, citing a filing with Washington state regulators. Starbucks shares were down 1.3%.

$AAP$SBUX$WMT
Wire

Wells Fargo Lowers Price Target on Walmart to $120 From $140

Walmart (WMT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $139.78, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $104.18, Change: $-10.12, Percent Change: -8.85%

$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer

Consumer stocks were lower Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) decreasing 0.8% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) falling 1.4%.In corporate news, Walmart's (WMT) fiscal Q2 US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind, while the retail giant issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing three-month period. Its shares fell about 8.8%.

$WMT
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Treasury Yields Back on the Rise; Walmart Shares Fall After Full-Year EPS Guidance Undershoots Estimates

All three major US stock indexes were down in late-morning trading Thursday, as yields on Treasury bonds reversed course from their Wednesday drop following the Treasury's debt buyback announcement.In company news, Walmart (WMT) reported fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings Thursday of $0.81 per share, up from $0.68 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $0.74. Fiscal Q2 revenue was $187.94 billion, up from $177.40 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $186.62 billion. For fiscal Q3, the company expects adjusted EPS of $0.62 to $0.64, below the FactSet consensus of $0.68. For fiscal 2027, Walmart expects adjusted EPS of $2.80 to $2.87, up from its prior outlook of $2.75 to $2.85 but below the FactSet consensus of $2.90. Full-year net sales are expected to grow 4% to 5%, compared with previous guidance of 3.5% to 4.5%. Walmart shares were down 9.4% around midday.Virtu Financial (VIRT) is exploring a potential sale of its brokerage and technology unit in a deal that could be worth up to $3.5 billion to $4 billion, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a person familiar with the matter. Sale talks are in early stages, and Virtu may decide to keep the division, the sources said. Virtu shares were down 0.6%.Meta Platforms (META) has become one of Microsoft's (MSFT) largest artificial intelligence customers, as the social media company is spending hundreds of millions of dollars per year to access AI models through Microsoft's Azure cloud service, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a person familiar with the matter. Meta shares were down 0.4%, while Microsoft shares were down 0.7%.Alibaba Group (BABA) reported fiscal Q1 non-GAAP earnings Thursday of 8.52 Chinese renminbi ($1.26) per diluted American depositary share, down from 14.75 renminbi a year earlier and below the FactSet consensus of 10.14 renminbi. Fiscal Q1 revenue was 268.95 billion renminbi, up from 247.65 billion renminbi a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of 268.48 billion renminbi. Alibaba shares were down 2.1%.SpaceX (SPCX) approached Cognition AI about a potential acquisition, Bloomberg reported late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. There are currently no active deal talks between SpaceX and the AI coding startup, but they continue to discuss a potential collaboration, the report said. SpaceX shares were down 5.3%.Micron Technology (MU) on Thursday unveiled Micron Research Labs, a research institution in Boise, Idaho, backed by a planned $10 billion investment over the next decade. The facility will focus on critical memory technologies, advanced memory and compute architectures, packaging and future semiconductor manufacturing, Micron said, adding that it plans to begin construction in 2027. Micron shares were up 2.2%.Price: $103.61, Change: $-10.69, Percent Change: -9.35%

$BABA$META$MSFT$MU$SPCX$VIRT$WMT
Walmart Quarterly US Comparable Sales Miss Views; Retailer Gives Weak Earnings Outlook
US Markets

Walmart Quarterly US Comparable Sales Miss Views; Retailer Gives Weak Earnings Outlook

Walmart's (WMT) fiscal second-quarter US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind, while the retail giant issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing three-month period.US comparable sales excluding fuel rose 2.6% in the quarter ended July, slowing down from the prior-year period's gain of 4.6%. The FactSet-polled consensus had called for an increase of 3.9%.The stock slid 9.1% in Thursday trade.The metric was "slightly below" the company's initial expectation due to lower health and wellness sales, which were impacted by a 125-basis-point headwind related to changes in regulation around maximum fare pricing around certain drugs, Chief Financial Officer John Rainey said during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript.The fair pricing regulation's drag on US same-store sales growth was larger than Truist Securities' expectation, it said in an emailed client note. Last week, Deutsche Bank and RBC Capital Markets separately said that they expected Walmart to miss second-quarter comparable sales estimates.The retailer said it anticipates adjusted earnings of $0.62 to $0.64 for the third quarter, while the Street is looking for $0.68. Sales are pegged to rise by 3% to 3.75% on a constant currency basis, compared with the average analyst estimate for reported sales growth of 4.8%.The company is projecting a sales headwind of more than 100 basis points in the current period due to a timing shift of its Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart's Big Billion Days event between the third and fourth quarters, Rainey said in the earnings release.Second-quarter adjusted earnings rose to $0.81 a share from $0.68 a year earlier, topping the consensus on FactSet for $0.74. Total revenue, which includes membership and other income, improved 5.9% to $187.94 billion, ahead of the market's forecast of $186.62 billion.The company has so far received "substantially all" of the roughly $2.9 billion of tariff refunds it was eligible for, and aims to reinvest that into pricing and merchandise, Rainey told analysts.Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose certain tariffs, paving the way for refunds to companies that had paid the duties.Target (TGT) lifted its full-year outlook on Wednesday as tariff refunds helped double the retailer's fiscal second-quarter earnings year over year.For fiscal 2027, Walmart now expects adjusted EPS between $2.80 and $2.87, up from its prior guidance of $2.75 to $2.85. Sales are anticipated to rise by 4% to 5% at constant currency terms, compared with 3.5% to 4.5% previously expected. The Street is looking for non-GAAP EPS of $2.90 and a reported sales gain of 5.5%."We're raising our full-year guidance to reflect confidence in our ability to sustain growth and share gains," Rainey said on the call. "Importantly, we're raising in the face of more than $2 billion of incremental cost, tied to higher fuel prices and arguably a softer consumer environment than in February when we introduced our initial outlook. As such, we feel it's prudent to remain cautious by only raising the guide modestly."Price: $104.00, Change: $-10.30, Percent Change: -9.01%

$TGT$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Lean Lower Premarket Thursday

Consumer stocks were leaning lower premarket Thursday, with the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) down 1.1% and the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) declining by 1.3%.Walmart (WMT) shares were down more than 7% after the company issued fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings per share outlook below analysts' expectations, while its updated fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance still undershot consensus.Alibaba Group (BABA) stock was down more than 5% after the company posted a decline in fiscal Q1 non-GAAP earnings, also missing analysts' consensus.Youdao (DAO) shares were up more than 5% after the company reported higher Q2 non-GAAP net income and net revenue.

$BABA$DAO$WMT$XLP$XLY
Commodities

Exchange-Traded Funds Lower, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Thursday Amid Renewed Inflation Concerns

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.5% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) retreated 0.6% in Thursday's premarket activity as rising bond yields and a jump in oil prices renewed inflation concerns.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.03%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 4.9%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 4.8% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 8.3%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 3.8%.US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 206,000 in the employment survey week ended Aug. 15 from an upwardly revised 212,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a level of 210,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 47.4 in August after advancing to 41.4 in July, compared with expectations for a decrease to a reading of 24.8 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Leading indicators data for July will be released at 10 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks at 10:30 am ET.St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem is scheduled to speak Thursday.Power Play:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.7%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.8% higher.Strategy (MSTR) stock was up more than 10%, Coinbase Global (COIN) shares were up more than 6%, and Circle Internet Group (CRCL) was up 4% as Bitcoin rose above $71,000, continuing its advance from the previous day.Winners and Losers:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 0.4%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.6%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) gained 0.9%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.9% lower.Moderna (MRNA) shares were down 7% following a 177% rise at the prior close as a late-stage trial for a skin cancer treatment being developed in partnership with Merck (MRK) yielded positive topline results. Merck was 1% lower after a 13% rise at Wednesday's close.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 1.2%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 1.1% lower, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) retreated 0.04%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) declined 1.5%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) fell 1.4%.Walmart (WMT) shares were down more than 6% pre-bell after the company's fiscal Q3 guidance trailed analyst expectations.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.7%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.1% lower, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) retreated 1.1%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell more than 1%.Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares were down more than 2% in premarket activity after a 3.8% fall at the prior close. The company and NTT DATA said they have signed a multiyear alliance targeting $1 billion in joint business by the end of 2029 to support organizations' adoption of artificial intelligence and modernization of cybersecurity.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.5%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.1%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Navios Maritime Partners (NMM) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained 0.5%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 1%.ExxonMobil (XOM) stock was up more than 1% before market open. Bloomberg reported, citing a company presentation, that ExxonMobil warned that Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field is nearing peak production and that output will fall sharply over the coming decade.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 3.7% to $89 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down 2% at $2.76 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased 3.5%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.6% lower.Gold futures for November were down by 0.7% at $4,514.70 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures gained 0.7% to reach $67.03 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) declined 1%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.1% lower.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BETH$BITO$COIN$CRCL$EEM$EETH$EXI$FAS$FAZ$GLD$IBB$IGM$IGV$IPK$IVV$IWM$IYE$IYH$IYJ$IYK$IYW$MRK$MRNA$MSTR$NMM$PANW$PMR$QQQ$RTH$SLV$SOXX$SPY$UNG$USO$VDC$VHT$VIS$WMT$XLE$XLF$XLI$XLK$XLP$XLV$XLY$XOM$XRT$XSD
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer

Consumer stocks were flat to lower premarket Thursday, with the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) inactive and the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) declining by 1.3%.Walmart (WMT) shares were down more than 7% after the company issued fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings per share outlook below analysts' expectations, while its updated fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance still undershot consensus.

$WMT
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Futures Fall Pre-Bell as US Threatens Iran's Trade Partners

(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Thursday as traders monitored the situation in the Middle East, with the US announcing further economic pressure on Iran and threatening its trade partners.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.7% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.8% lower.President Donald Trump said that Iran will be subject to economic warfare "on an unprecedented scale," while also threatening economic consequences on any country that assists or does business with the Middle Eastern nation. "Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies - It all needs to stop NOW," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in a post on X dismissed Trump's threat, calling it a diversion from America's challenges of "unprecedented debt & surging interest costs."Traders assessed the latest round of earnings, with Walmart (WMT) posting higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 3% at $94.33 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 3.5% higher at $87.35 per barrel.Initial jobless claims fell to 206,000 in the week ended Aug. 15 from 212,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for a decrease to 210,000. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 47.4 in August from 41.4 in July, compared with expectations for a drop to a reading of 24.8.July's leading indicators data is scheduled to be released 10 am ET.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.4% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.8% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.2% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.5%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.6% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, SK hynix (SKHY) stock was up 1.8% after The Korea Herald reported that the company and its labor union reached a tentative agreement to pay 60% of the chipmaker's profit-sharing bonuses in company shares. Shares of Exxon Mobil (XOM), Shell (SHEL), and TotalEnergies (TTE) were on the upswing as oil prices jumped. Exxon Mobil stock was up 1.8%, Shell shares rose 1.5%, and TotalEnergies stock was 2.3% higher.On the losing side, Walmart shares fell 6.6% after the company's fiscal Q3 adjusted EPS outlook fell short of analysts' consensus. Alibaba Group (BABA) stock was down 5.8% after the company reported lower-than-expected fiscal Q1 non-GAAP earnings. CrowdStrike (CRWD) shares were 3% lower after the company's global Chief Technology Officer Elia Zaitsev said in a LinkedIn post that he has stepped down from his role to launch an early-stage venture capital fund focused on cybersecurity.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BABA$CRWD$SHEL$SKHY$TTE$WMT$XOM
Japan

US Equity Futures Fall Pre-Bell as US Threatens Iran's Trade Partners

US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Thursday as traders monitored the situation in the Middle East, with the US announcing further economic pressure on Iran and threatening its trade partners.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.4% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% lower.President Donald Trump said that Iran will be subject to economic warfare "on an unprecedented scale," while also threatening economic consequences on any country that assists or does business with the Middle Eastern nation. "Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies - It all needs to stop NOW," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in a post on X dismissed Trump's threat, calling it a diversion from America's challenges of "unprecedented debt & surging interest costs."Traders assessed the latest round of earnings, with Walmart (WMT) posting higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 2.9% at $94.26 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 3.2% higher at $87.11 per barrel.The weekly jobless claims bulletin, slated for 8:30 am ET, is expected to show 210,000 new unemployment claims for the week ended Aug. 15, up from 209,000 in the prior week, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The Philadelphia Fed's regional manufacturing index for August is seen coming in at 24.8, down from 41.4 posted previously.July's leading indicators data is scheduled to be released 10 am ET.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$WMT
Target Raises Full-Year Outlook as Tariff Refunds Boost Second-Quarter Earnings
US Markets

Target Raises Full-Year Outlook as Tariff Refunds Boost Second-Quarter Earnings

Target (TGT) lifted its full-year outlook on Wednesday as tariff refunds helped double the retailer's fiscal second-quarter earnings year over year.Adjusted earnings are now anticipated to range from $9.90 to $10.90 per share for fiscal 2026, including tariff refunds that buoyed the second quarter by $1.65, the company said. It previously projected the metric in a range of $7.50 to $8.50.Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose certain tariffs, paving the way for refunds to companies that had paid the duties.Sales are pegged to grow by about 5% for the ongoing fiscal year, one percentage point higher than Target's previous guidance. The Street is looking for sales of $109.02 billion, reflecting an annual increase of 4%.For the three months through Aug. 1, Target's adjusted EPS jumped 100% to $4.11, exceeding the average analyst estimate of $2.35. The topline improved 5.3% to $26.54 billion in the second quarter, ahead of the Street's view for $26.13 billion.Shares of the company rose 5.2% in Wednesday trade, taking their year-to-date gain to 64%."We saw broad-based growth across multiple dimensions of our business and importantly, the strength on the top-line translated into strong underlying profit performance as well," Chief Financial Officer Jim Lee said during an earnings call with analysts, according to a FactSet transcript.Comparable sales rose 3.8%, more than the market's forecast for a gain of 2.4%, as traffic rebounded.Truist Securities said the improvement in comparable sales and transactions underscore Target's investments in price and merchandise, among other areas.The retailer cut prices on more than 10,000 "frequently purchased items" over the past year, Target Chief Executive Michael Fiddelke said in a statement.Last week, Deutsche Bank and RBC Capital Markets said they expected Target to top consensus estimates for second-quarter comparable sales amid demand strength.On Wednesday, off-price retailer TJX (TJX) raised its fiscal 2027 earnings outlook, while home-improvement retailer Lowe's (LOW) lowered its full-year guidance to the bottom end of its previously issued forecast.Retail giant Walmart (WMT) is scheduled to release its latest results on Thursday, while department store operator Kohl's (KSS) financials are due next week. Warehouse chain Costco Wholesale (COST) is slated to publish its report next month.Price: $160.59, Change: $+8.11, Percent Change: +5.32%

$COST$KSS$LOW$TGT$TJX$WMT
Update: Equities Fall, Oil Rallies as US-Iran Ceasefire Expires
US Markets

Update: Equities Fall, Oil Rallies as US-Iran Ceasefire Expires

(Updates with market moves at the end of the day, and other changes, if any.)Stocks on Wall Street fell Monday and oil prices advanced as a ceasefire between the US and Iran expired, with both sides showing no interest in an extension.The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.5% each to close at 7,745.06 and 53,459.78, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3% to 26,644.91. Except energy, all sectors were in the red, led by communication services and consumer staples.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 2.4% at $84.41 a barrel in Monday late-afternoon trade, while Brent rose 2.4% to $90.64.In June, the US and Iran agreed to a memorandum of understanding to end their war and negotiate a final deal. However, the truce apparently collapsed as tensions over the control of the Strait of Hormuz escalated.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei ruled out extending the memorandum of understanding, according to a CNBC report that cited state news agency Tasnim.President Donald Trump warned that the US could attack Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with the blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an interview with Fox News.On Saturday, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon left at least 11 people dead, Reuters reported, citing the Lebanese health ministry. Traffic through the strategic waterway slowed as three vessels operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. were attacked in transit last week."Prices remained supported by renewed fighting in Lebanon and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over regional supply disruptions and complicating prospects for a US-Iran deal," ING Bank said in a report Monday.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year rate up 3.2 basis points at 4.73% and the two-year rate rising 1.3 basis points to 4.18%.In company news, JetBlue Airways (JBLU) shares slumped 7.3%, as Seaport Research Partners downgraded its rating on the air carrier's stock. JetBlue's balance sheet woes could worsen as the Strait of Hormuz appears unlikely to reopen anytime soon, potentially prolonging jet fuel volatility, Seaport said in a note.Shares of American Airlines Group (AAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), United Airlines (UAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) were also in the red.Retail giant Walmart (WMT) is scheduled to release its latest financial results later this week, along with Home Depot (HD), TJX (TJX), Lowe's (LOW), Target (TGT), Ross Stores (ROST) and BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ).S&P 500 companies' annual growth in second-quarter earnings and revenue largely held steady week over week, Oppenheimer Asset Management said Monday.The Federal Reserve is scheduled to post minutes of its July policy meeting Wednesday, which will be assessed for fresh insight on the central bank's monetary policy. At the meeting, policymakers left interest rates unchanged in a divided decision, with three regional presidents calling for policy tightening.In economic news, homebuilder confidence in the US unexpectedly ticked higher this month, though builders continued to deal with rising construction costs amid a renewed surge in gas and diesel prices, the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said.Gold was up 0.9% at $4,475.40 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 1.7% to $66.20 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$BJ$DAL$HD$JBLU$LOW$LUV$ROST$TGT$TJX$UAL$WMT
Walmart Delivering Continued Strong E-Commerce Growth Would Reinforce Upbeat Bottom-Line Views, Tigress Says
US Markets

Walmart Delivering Continued Strong E-Commerce Growth Would Reinforce Upbeat Bottom-Line Views, Tigress Says

Walmart (WMT) delivering continued strong e-commerce growth and robust advertising momentum would reinforce a view that the retail giant can grow earnings "materially faster" than retail sales, Tigress Financial Partners said Monday.In May, Walmart reported 26% growth in global e-commerce sales for its fiscal first quarter. Its global advertising business surged 37%.The company's partnerships with Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google and OpenAI, as well as "greater automation" are improving efficiency in product discovery, personalization, conversion, and fulfillment, Tigress Chief Market Strategist Ivan Feinseth said in a note to clients Monday. Advertising is becoming "an increasingly important" driver of profit for Walmart, according to Feinseth."Continued (20%-plus) e-commerce growth, strong advertising momentum, and higher (fiscal 2027) guidance would reinforce my view that Walmart can grow earnings materially faster than retail sales, increasingly positioning the company as a high-return technology-enabled consumer platform and supporting a compelling long-term investment opportunity," Feinseth wrote.Walmart is scheduled to release second-quarter results Thursday. Analysts polled by FactSet are looking for non-GAAP earnings of $0.74 a share on revenue of $186.62 billion.Further proof that higher-margin digital businesses are driving operating income growth faster than sales will be a "more important catalyst" for the company, Feinseth said."The combination of Walmart Connect, VIZIO, and Vibe.co creates a differentiated commerce-media ecosystem linking first-party purchase data, (artificial intelligence-powered) targeting, CTV inventory, and closed-loop measurement," Feinseth wrote. "Together, these initiatives create a powerful AI-commerce-media flywheel that should improve customer engagement, monetization, margins, and operating leverage."Walmart shares were down 1.1% in Monday late-afternoon trade. The stock has increased 2.6% so far this year.Walmart's ongoing transformation into an AI-enabled commerce, advertising, and media platform continues to back Feinseth's positive investment outlook for the company, supporting further upside in its bottom-line and stock price, according to the note.Earlier this month, RBC Capital Markets said major US retailers such as Walmart will likely miss consensus expectations for second-quarter comparable sales. Separately, Deutsche Bank said the retail giant is expected to miss second-quarter comparable sales estimates as high gas prices pressure low-income households.Price: $114.25, Change: $-1.02, Percent Change: -0.89%

$GOOG$GOOGL$WMT
Update: Equity Markets Fall Intraday, Oil Rises Amid Middle East Tensions
US Markets

Update: Equity Markets Fall Intraday, Oil Rises Amid Middle East Tensions

(Updates with latest market prices and developments.)US benchmark equity indexes were lower intraday, while oil prices rose as a ceasefire between Washington and Iran expired, with no indications of near-term engagement prospects.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.5% at 53,484.5 after midday Monday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.4% to 7,756.7. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.3% to 26,647.9. Among sectors, communication services saw the steepest decline, while energy led the gainers.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1.3% at $83.44 a barrel, while Brent rose 1.4% to $89.77.In June, the US and Iran agreed to a memorandum of understanding to end their war and negotiate a final deal. However, the truce apparently collapsed as tensions over the control of the Strait of Hormuz escalated.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei ruled out extending the memorandum of understanding, according to a CNBC report that cited state news agency Tasnim.President Donald Trump warned that the US could attack Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with the blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an interview with Fox News.On Saturday, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon left at least 11 people dead, Reuters reported, citing the Lebanese health ministry. Traffic through the strategic waterway slowed as three vessels operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. were attacked in transit last week."Prices remained supported by renewed fighting in Lebanon and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over regional supply disruptions and complicating prospects for a US-Iran deal," ING Bank said in a report Monday.US Treasury yields were mixed intraday, with the 10-year rate up 2.4 basis points at 4.72% and the two-year rate little changed at 4.17%.In company news, JetBlue Airways (JBLU) shares were down 6.4%, as Seaport Research Partners downgraded its rating on the air carrier's stock. JetBlue's balance sheet woes could worsen as the Strait of Hormuz appears unlikely to reopen anytime soon, potentially prolonging jet fuel volatility, Seaport said in a note.Shares of American Airlines Group (AAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), United Airlines (UAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) were also in the red intraday.Retail giant Walmart (WMT) is scheduled to release its latest financial results later this week, along with Home Depot (HD), TJX (TJX), Lowe's (LOW), Target (TGT), Ross Stores (ROST) and BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ).The Federal Reserve is scheduled to post minutes of its July policy meeting Wednesday, which will be assessed for fresh insight on the central bank's monetary policy. At the meeting, policymakers left interest rates unchanged in a divided decision, with three regional presidents calling for policy tightening.In economic news, homebuilder confidence in the US unexpectedly ticked higher this month, though builders continued to deal with rising construction costs amid a renewed surge in gas and diesel prices, the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said.Gold was up 0.9% at $4,475.40 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 1.7% to $66.20.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$BJ$DAL$HD$JBLU$LOW$LUV$ROST$TGT$TJX$UAL$WMT
S&P 500 Annual Earnings Growth Holds Steady From Last Week, Oppenheimer Says
US Markets

S&P 500 Annual Earnings Growth Holds Steady From Last Week, Oppenheimer Says

S&P 500 companies' quarterly earnings and revenue growth largely held steady week over week as eight of the 11 sectors reported earnings growth in double digits or higher, Oppenheimer Asset Management said Monday.Results from 455 companies, representing 91% of the total, show year-over-year profit growth unchanged at 51% from financials reported up until last week. Revenue growth ticked up to 14.7% from 14.6%.Energy led all sectors with earnings surging 147%, unchanged from last week, while healthcare was the only decliner, according to the report. Consumer discretionary and communication services soared more than 110% each, Oppenheimer said Monday.Energy retained its top spot on the revenue growth chart, at 42%. Technology saw 28% revenue growth compared with 27% a week earlier."Continued strong results reported for (second-quarter) earnings season along with economic data that showed inflation surprising to the downside, lent support for the (Federal Reserve) to remain 'on hold,'" Oppenheimer Asset Management Chief Investment Strategist John Stoltzfus said in a note to clients.Last week, official data showed that US annual consumer inflation slowed to a four-month low in July.S&P 500 earnings upside are "pumping air into arguments predicting stormy weather ahead," the note added."In our view, intermediate- and longer-term investors should not be surprised if with the (Chicago Board Options Exchange's Volatility Index) currently at its lower levels that any negative news item could create a spate of indigestion for the markets," Stoltzfus wrote.The Volatility Index, or VIX, measures S&P 500 implied volatility over the next 30 days.Some 12 S&P 500 companies report quarterly results this week, including retail heavyweights Walmart (WMT) and Home Depot (HD), along with Analog Devices (ADI).Price: $114.48, Change: $-0.79, Percent Change: -0.69%

$ADI$HD$WMT
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell as 60-Day US-Iran Ceasefire Expires

(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)US equity futures were mixed pre-bell Monday as the ceasefire between the US and Iran reaches its expiration date after 60 days, with the two countries still locked in a stalemate.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.3% lower, S&P 500 futures were up 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.4% higher.Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz dropped over the weekend at five ships compared with 31 in the previous weekend, according to a Reuters report that cited data from analytics firm Kpler.Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the country has not yet decided to restart talks with the US, according to multiple reports. President Donald Trump reiterated in a post on Truth Social that Iran "cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon."Companies expected to report financial results this week include Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), Analog Devices (ADI), Alibaba Group (BABA), TJX (TJX), and Lowe's (LOW).Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.7% at $89.14 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.7% higher at $82.05 per barrel.The New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index increased to 20.6 in August versus 15.6 in July, compared with expectations for a decline to a reading of 10.0 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.The August US housing market index, slated for 10 am ET, is expected at 33, compared with 34 from the prior month.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.7% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.3% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.4% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index was flat in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, stocks of Micron Technology (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK) shares were up 2.8% and 3.6%, respectively, after regulatory filings on Friday showed that AI-focused hedge fund Situational Awareness increased its stakes in the companies. Alibaba Group shares were up 1.7% after a Bloomberg report that Qwen artificial intelligence models have exceeded 3 billion in downloads globally over the last six months, topping that of Meta Platforms (META) and Alphabet's (GOOG,GOOGL) Google.On the losing side, L3Harris Technologies (LHX) stock was down 2.7% after the company said it appointed Sam Mehta as CEO to replace Christopher Kubasik, who stepped down as chairman and CEO following an investigation into his conduct the company said was inconsistent with its Code of Conduct. Dynatrace (DT) shares were 1.4% lower after the company said its unit Dynatrace LLC is planning a $1.25 billion private placement of exchangeable senior unsecured notes due Sept. 1, 2031.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$ADI$BABA$DT$GOOG$GOOGL$HD$LHX$LOW$META$MU$SNDK$TJX$WMT
Japan

US Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell as 60-Day US-Iran Ceasefire Expires

US equity futures were mixed pre-bell Monday as the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran reaches its expiration date after 60 days, with the two nations still locked in a stalemate.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.2% lower, S&P 500 futures were up 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% higher.Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz dropped over the weekend at five ships compared with 31 in the previous weekend, according to a Reuters report that cited data from analytics firm Kpler.Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the nation has not yet decided to restart talks with the US, according to multiple reports. President Donald Trump reiterated in a post on Truth Social that Iran "cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon."Expected to report financial results this week are Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), Analog Devices (ADI), Alibaba Group (BABA), The TJX Companies (TJX), and Lowe's (LOW).Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 1.9% at $62.12 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 2% lower at $58.28 per barrel.The August Empire State manufacturing index, slated for release at 8:30 a.m. ET, is seen coming in at 10.0 versus 15.6 previously, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The August US housing market index, slated for 10 am ET, is expected at 33, compared with 34 from the prior month.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$ADI$BABA$HD$LOW$TJX$WMT

Showing 41-60 of 161

Track with the FINWIRES app suite

FolioX
FolioX
Track Walmart in your portfolio
WheelAI
WheelAI
Analyze Walmart options with the wheel strategy
StockInsider
StockInsider
See market sentiment on Walmart