NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 18:40 ET — Market closed
- Walmart shares last closed up 1.2% at $112.76; they dipped 0.05% after-hours.
- A Jan. 9 U.S. jobs report and Jan. 13 CPI print are the next big macro catalysts for rate-cut bets.
- Walmart’s next company milestones are a Feb. 1 CEO transition and Feb. 19 quarterly results.
Walmart Inc. shares last closed up 1.2% at $112.76 on Friday, the first trading day of 2026. The stock eased 0.05% in after-hours trading to $112.70. It sits below a 52-week high of $117.45 and trades at about 39 times trailing earnings — a price-to-earnings multiple that shows how much investors pay for $1 of profit. 1
With U.S. markets shut for the weekend, the stock heads into Monday’s open with investors trying to pin down the next leg for rates and consumer demand. For a retailer that leans heavily on groceries, shifts in inflation and employment can quickly change the tone around household budgets.
Traders are bracing for the Dec. U.S. employment report on Jan. 9 and the consumer price index on Jan. 13. A Reuters poll forecasts payroll growth of 55,000 and unemployment at 4.6%, while Fed funds futures — derivatives that reflect rate-cut bets — suggest little chance of a cut at the Fed’s late-January meeting and nearly 50% odds of a quarter-point reduction in March. “The market is looking for direction,” said Matthew Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. 2
In the broader market on Friday, the Dow rose 0.66% and the S&P 500 gained 0.19%, while the Nasdaq finished nearly flat. 3
Retail peers were mixed: Target rose 2.82% while Amazon slipped 1.87%, with Walmart’s move landing between the two, according to MarketWatch data. 4
Walmart’s next scheduled catalyst is its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings release on Feb. 19. The company said earnings materials will be available around 6 a.m. CT, followed by a live conference call at 7 a.m. CT. 5
Investors are also tracking a leadership change set for Feb. 1, when John Furner takes over as CEO and Doug McMillon retires on Jan. 31, the company said. 6
The earnings call will be watched for guidance on pricing, discretionary demand and profit margins as 2026 begins. Commentary on e-commerce, advertising and fulfillment investments is likely to draw extra scrutiny with a new CEO stepping in.
But the setup carries risks for a stock trading near its highs: a hotter inflation print could push yields up and pressure richly valued defensives, while a weak jobs report could revive recession fears and hit retail spending expectations. Trade-policy uncertainty is another swing factor for retailers’ cost outlook.
For now, the next market-moving readout is the Jan. 9 payrolls report, followed by CPI on Jan. 13. Walmart’s next company-specific catalyst is its Feb. 19 earnings release.
