New York, Jan 12, 2026, 11:16 EST — Regular session
- Walmart shares jumped over 3% while broader U.S. indexes hovered close to flat
- Company doubles down on AI-driven shopping using Google’s Gemini and broadens drone delivery reach through Wing
- Next up: Nasdaq-100 inclusion on Jan. 20, followed by Walmart earnings on Feb. 19
Walmart shares jumped 3.3% to $118.36 by late morning Monday, beating a mostly flat market. Investors reacted to new news highlighting AI-powered shopping and quicker delivery options.
Walmart’s selling point is speed and stickiness. The retailer wants shoppers to stay within its checkout system, even if they find products elsewhere, and aims to deliver quickly enough that convenience feels routine rather than a one-off treat.
The timing is critical since Walmart will join the Nasdaq-100 on Jan. 20, taking AstraZeneca’s spot, the exchange operator announced Friday. The Nasdaq-100 tracks the 100 biggest non-financial companies on Nasdaq, prompting index funds to adjust their holdings when updates like this occur. (Reuters)
On Sunday, Walmart and Google announced plans to roll out a shopping experience within Google’s Gemini assistant. This feature will integrate Walmart and Sam’s Club product selections and delivery options, leveraging the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard. Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner described this move toward “agent-led commerce”—AI that can create carts and handle checkout—as “the next great evolution in retail.” Google CEO Sundar Pichai added that shoppers will soon be able to “experience everything they love about Walmart directly in the Gemini app.” (Walmart News)
This integration seeks to convert a chat directly into a sale, eliminating the need for shoppers to jump between apps and logins. It also hinges on the idea that convenience will outweigh price matching in last-minute purchases.
Wing and Walmart announced plans to roll out drone delivery to 150 more stores in the coming year. That will extend service to over 40 million Americans, aiming for more than 270 drone-enabled sites by 2027. Walmart executive Greg Cathey described current market adoption as proof this is “the future of convenience.” Wing CEO Adam Woodworth added the system is designed to fit “seamlessly” into store operations. (Wing)
Google’s ambitions go beyond just Walmart. It’s partnering with other retailers like Shopify and Wayfair to bring shopping directly into Gemini. At the National Retail Federation’s convention in New York, execs outlined how payments and checkout could soon span multiple providers. PayPal’s Mike Edmonds told the crowd he doesn’t see agentic commerce arriving “with a snap of the finger,” but cautioned retailers against sitting on their hands. (AP News)
Alphabet’s shares slipped 0.2% on Monday, hinting that traders viewed the upside as tied more to Walmart — a retail narrative cloaked in tech jargon, with a near-term boost to the index factored in.
Risks remain. Drone delivery has yet to show it can scale profitably and reliably across different markets. AI checkout brings up real concerns about payments, returns, and data-sharing policies. Plus, demand fueled by index-driven buying often fades once passive investment slows down.
Walmart will release its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Feb. 19. Investors will be watching closely for details on the company’s tech and delivery investments, along with any updates to its guidance. (Walmart News)
