Dec. 25, 2025 — Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) isn’t seeing a traditional “after-the-bell” move today because U.S. equity markets are closed for Christmas Day. The next actionable read for investors is what happened in the holiday-shortened session on Wednesday, Dec. 24, plus any late headlines that could shape sentiment before the market reopens Friday, Dec. 26. [1]
Below is a detailed recap of Walmart stock’s latest trading, the key news that hit on Dec. 25, and the catalysts that matter most going into the next opening print.
Is Walmart stock trading today (Dec. 25)? Here’s the holiday reality
On Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025), U.S. stock markets—including Nasdaq, where Walmart now lists—are closed. The market reopens Friday, Dec. 26 for a full session. [2]
It’s also worth noting the calendar nuance that shaped liquidity this week:
- Dec. 24, 2025: U.S. markets held an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET. [3]
- Dec. 25, 2025:Closed. [4]
- Dec. 26, 2025: Back to normal hours. [5]
For Walmart shareholders, that means there’s no fresh “closing bell” print today—only the Dec. 24 close and limited extended-hours activity from that shortened session.
Walmart stock price: where WMT ended the last session and what after-hours looked like
Walmart’s last official close came on Dec. 24 (shortened session):
- Close:$111.61
- Day change:+0.64%
- Open / High / Low:$110.90 / $111.71 / $110.55
- Volume: about 9.01 million shares (notably light versus typical days) [6]
After-hours (from Dec. 24, last update around 4:58 p.m. ET):
- After-hours price:$111.61 (flat)
- After-hours volume: about 237K shares [7]
Two quick takeaways for traders watching the reopen:
- The “after-hours” tape didn’t signal a new direction—WMT was essentially unchanged in extended trading. [8]
- With holiday-thin liquidity, small orders can create outsized wiggles—so price action into Friday’s open may be noisier than usual even without major new fundamentals. (That broader low-volume dynamic was visible market-wide on Dec. 24.) [9]
Where WMT sits in its recent range
Nasdaq’s data shows Walmart’s 52-week range at roughly $79.81 to $117.45, placing the latest $111 handle closer to the top of the band than the bottom—an important context point for “valuation vs. momentum” debates heading into 2026. [10]
The macro backdrop: “Santa rally” tone and why it matters for a mega-retailer
Walmart doesn’t trade in a vacuum, especially in late December when index flows and rate expectations can drive broad risk appetite.
In the most recent session (Dec. 24), U.S. stocks finished at record highs in a shortened day, with optimism tied to resilient economic signals and expectations around Fed policy in 2026. [11]
For Walmart, that macro setup matters in a few specific ways:
- Rates and consumer credit: Lower expected rates can ease pressure on consumers and support discretionary categories, while also affecting valuation multiples across “quality” large caps.
- Defensive + growth hybrid narrative: Walmart often behaves like a defensive consumer-staples anchor, but recent investor narratives increasingly emphasize its tech-enabled growth levers (delivery, marketplace, ads).
The key point going into Friday: if the market reopens with a continued “risk-on” feel (or a sudden pivot), WMT may move with the tape even in the absence of company-specific news.
The biggest Walmart news story published today: NYC e-commerce surge
While today is a market holiday, company narratives still evolve—and the most notable Walmart headline dated Dec. 25 came from the Financial Times, which reported that Walmart is expanding its footprint in New York City through online commerce despite longstanding opposition to physical Walmart stores in the city. [12]
Highlights from the report that investors may care about:
- Walmart’s online sales activity in NYC has surged, with Manhattan online sales more than doubling since 2019, and other boroughs seeing large gains over five years. [13]
- The story points to Walmart’s delivery expansion (including same-day grocery delivery in parts of NYC) and its broader push to win urban demand without building supercenters. [14]
- Competitive framing: Walmart’s digital push lands as some rivals’ grocery ambitions appear more uneven—supporting the thesis that Walmart can take share via convenience + price even in dense, high-cost markets. [15]
Why this can matter for Friday’s open: It reinforces the investment narrative that Walmart is not “just a big-box grocer,” but a logistics-and-digital platform scaling into hard-to-penetrate markets—an angle that can support premium multiples when the market is rewarding durable execution.
Walmart’s market identity changed in December: now trading on Nasdaq
One structural detail many casual investors still miss: Walmart completed its exchange transfer and now trades on Nasdaq under the same ticker, WMT. [16]
The shift—completed earlier this month—has been widely interpreted as symbolic alignment with a more tech-heavy ecosystem, even though Walmart’s fundamentals (and ticker) remain the real drivers of valuation. [17]
This matters mainly for:
- Index/venue mechanics (where and how some participants route orders),
- Perception (Walmart increasingly discussed alongside tech-enabled retail models).
Forecasts and analyst expectations: what Wall Street is looking at now
Analyst outlooks remain broadly constructive, though targets vary depending on the dataset and timing.
- Benzinga’s compilation shows a consensus price target around the high teens, with a recent high target of $130 (Wells Fargo, dated Dec. 19, 2025). [18]
- MarketBeat’s consensus snapshot shows an average target around $120.54 (about mid-single-digit to high-single-digit upside from the $111 area, depending on the exact reference price used). [19]
How to read this going into Dec. 26:
When a stock is already in the upper portion of its 52-week range, incremental upside calls tend to depend on one of two things:
- Evidence that higher-margin engines (ads, marketplace, fulfillment) are scaling faster, lifting operating leverage; or
- A macro tailwind (rates, consumer confidence) that supports a higher multiple even if growth remains steady.
The next big catalyst: Walmart earnings date is set for February
The most important scheduled event on the forward calendar is Walmart’s next earnings report. Yahoo Finance’s earnings calendar lists Walmart’s next report for Feb. 19, 2026 (before market open). [20]
Zacks also points to Feb. 19, 2026 as the next expected release date. [21]
Why that matters tomorrow: If the market reopens with higher volatility, investors often gravitate toward “next catalyst” names. With Walmart’s next earnings still weeks away, near-term trading may lean more on macro tone and narrative headlines than on imminent fundamental disclosures—unless a surprise update hits.
Dividend watch: a payment is coming in early January
Walmart’s dividend calendar is also relevant for positioning into the first trading days after Christmas.
Walmart previously announced its dividend schedule showing a record date of Dec. 12, 2025 and a payable date of Jan. 5, 2026 for the next quarterly payout. [22]
Two practical implications:
- If you purchased WMT after the record/ex-div window, you generally won’t receive the upcoming payment (brokers and settlement timing apply).
- Dividend timing can sometimes affect short-term flows, but it’s usually not a dominant driver for WMT unless markets are unusually factor-driven.
Risks and headlines to keep on the radar before Friday’s open
Even on a quiet holiday, professional investors maintain a checklist of non-earnings risks that can reprice sentiment quickly.
Legal overhangs
Reuters reported earlier this month that PepsiCo and Walmart faced a consumer class action alleging a long-running price-fixing scheme related to Pepsi soft drink pricing. Walmart has not been found liable by virtue of an allegation; the case is a developing legal matter—but it is a headline risk worth tracking. [23]
Management transition in early 2026
Walmart has also disclosed a CEO transition plan: Walmart U.S. chief John Furner is set to become CEO on Feb. 1, 2026, succeeding Doug McMillon. Leadership changes can influence valuation narratives—especially if investors anticipate strategic acceleration (or a shift in capital allocation). [24]
Recent insider/SEC activity (context, not a signal by itself)
Walmart’s investor relations site shows recent SEC filing activity in December (including Forms 4 and 144 posted on dates like Dec. 23). These filings are common for large issuers and executives (selling plans, tax-withholding transactions, etc.), but they can still trigger headline churn around “insider selling” even when routine. [25]
What to watch before the market opens Friday (Dec. 26): a practical checklist
If you’re preparing for the reopen, here are the most relevant items for Walmart stock specifically:
- Pre-market tone and liquidity
- Holiday reopens can bring wider spreads and choppy prints, especially in the first 15–30 minutes.
- Any follow-through from today’s narrative headlines
- The Financial Times’ NYC e-commerce story reinforces the “Walmart as a digital winner” theme—watch whether that framing shows up in Friday morning commentary and flows. [26]
- Key reference prices
- $111.61 is the latest close and also the latest widely cited after-hours print from Dec. 24. [27]
- Keep an eye on whether WMT holds above the $110–$111 zone early (a psychological area, not a guarantee of technical support).
- Broader market direction
- Stocks left off at record highs in the final session before Christmas; if the “Santa rally” mood continues, Walmart can participate even if it lags higher-beta names. [28]
- Near-term calendar
Bottom line: what Walmart investors should take away tonight
Because the market is closed on Dec. 25, there is no fresh “after the bell” move to interpret for Walmart stock. The most relevant data remains the Dec. 24 early-close session, where WMT finished at $111.61, and the after-hours tape was essentially flat. [32]
The most meaningful company-specific development dated today is the Financial Times report highlighting Walmart’s expanding NYC e-commerce presence, reinforcing the idea that Walmart’s growth story increasingly runs through delivery, digital penetration, and logistics scale—themes that can matter when the market reopens on Friday, Dec. 26. [33]
This article is informational and reflects publicly available reporting; it is not investment advice.
References
1. www.nasdaq.com, 2. www.nasdaq.com, 3. www.nasdaq.com, 4. www.nasdaq.com, 5. www.marketwatch.com, 6. www.investing.com, 7. www.marketwatch.com, 8. www.marketwatch.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.nasdaq.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.ft.com, 13. www.ft.com, 14. www.ft.com, 15. www.ft.com, 16. www.nasdaq.com, 17. www.nasdaq.com, 18. www.benzinga.com, 19. www.marketbeat.com, 20. finance.yahoo.com, 21. www.zacks.com, 22. corporate.walmart.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.marketwatch.com, 25. stock.walmart.com, 26. www.ft.com, 27. www.marketwatch.com, 28. www.reuters.com, 29. finance.yahoo.com, 30. corporate.walmart.com, 31. www.marketwatch.com, 32. www.investing.com, 33. www.ft.com
