NEW YORK, Jan 13, 2026, 10:46 EST — Regular session
- Walmart shares ticked up as investors brace for the Nasdaq-100 reshuffle set for later this month.
- The retailer’s newest tech effort features a Google Gemini shopping partnership and an expanded drone-delivery program with Wing.
- Traders are weighing near-term index-fund flows, but the tougher question remains: will any of this actually boost demand and margins?
Walmart Inc (WMT) shares gained 1.3%, hitting $119.54 in mid-morning trading Tuesday. The stock had closed at $117.97 the day before, opened today at $117.81, and climbed to a session high of $119.69.
Walmart remains in the spotlight as buying ramps up ahead of its Jan. 20 inclusion in the Nasdaq-100, part of a reshuffle that will see AstraZeneca dropped, Nasdaq confirmed. U.S. markets will be closed on Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 1
Index moves can trigger short-term shifts since large funds tracking the Nasdaq-100 need to buy new additions during rebalancing, causing demand spikes. Walmart shares jumped 3% Monday, with Reuters noting the change “could draw in billions of dollars” from passive funds. Traders are also eyeing Tuesday’s U.S. consumer price index release and the kickoff of major banks’ quarterly earnings. 2
Walmart and Google announced plans to roll out a shopping experience within Google’s Gemini chatbot, leveraging the Universal Commerce Protocol—an open standard that links an AI “agent” directly to checkout. John Furner, Walmart U.S. chief and soon-to-be CEO, dubbed this move toward “agent-led commerce” as “the next great evolution in retail.” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized AI’s potential to enhance “every step” from discovery to delivery. Walmart added that customers who connect their accounts could receive tailored recommendations, highlighting delivery times under three hours in many locations. 3
Walmart is ramping up drone deliveries through Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary operating around Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta. The two plan to add 150 Walmart stores to the service over the next year and expand to over 270 locations by 2027. That could cover upwards of 40 million Americans. Houston is scheduled to launch drone drops on Jan. 15. “This is the future of convenience,” said Walmart senior VP Greg Cathey. Wing CEO Adam Woodworth described the service as a way to get everyday essentials delivered within minutes. 4
Since moving its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq last December, Walmart has pushed its tech credentials hard, pitching the change as a fit for its focus on digital operations and automation. The switch was also a notable win for Nasdaq in its ongoing battle with the NYSE, according to Reuters. 5
A leadership shift is imminent. Walmart announced its board chose John Furner to replace Doug McMillon, who plans to retire on Jan. 31. Furner steps in as president and CEO starting Feb. 1. 6
But the market rewards results, not buzzwords. Rallies tied to index inclusion often lose steam after the initial surge of forced buying. Drone delivery makes up only a tiny fraction of Walmart’s fulfillment system, especially given tight airspace regulations. As for the Gemini shopping platform, it hinges on customers changing their routines—a shift that rarely happens overnight.
Walmart shares are set for a boost on Jan. 20, when the retailer joins the Nasdaq-100. Investors want proof that the AI-shopping partnership and expanded drone presence actually drive sales, not just generate buzz.
