New York, Jan 14, 2026, 11:01 a.m. EST — Regular session
- Walmart shares slipped roughly 1% in early trading following a recent surge
- Investors are focused on the Nasdaq-100 addition coming January 20 and Walmart’s AI-driven shopping collaboration with Google
- Upcoming catalysts: Nasdaq-100 rebalancing next week and Walmart’s earnings report on Feb. 19
Walmart Inc shares dipped on Wednesday, retreating from earlier gains as U.S. stocks pulled back. The retailer’s shares fell roughly 1% to $119.17 in morning trading, with investors eyeing a packed lineup of upcoming catalysts.
Why it matters now: Walmart will enter the Nasdaq-100 on Jan. 20, prompting passive index funds to buy shares to keep up with their benchmarks. The stock surged 3% Monday following the announcement. Its recent switch to listing on Nasdaq has smoothed the path for this shift in investor flows.
Walmart is ramping up its focus on “agentic” shopping—AI chat tools designed to guide customers from search straight to purchase—via a planned integration within Google’s Gemini chatbot. Incoming CEO John Furner told attendees at the National Retail Federation’s annual show that “everything else we are willing to change” as the retailer evolves its approach to selling and serving customers. Google CEO Sundar Pichai added that the company aims to help retailers “shape this next chapter of retail.” Retail Dive
Analyst attention remains fixed on Walmart’s tech ambitions. TD Cowen stuck with a “buy” rating and lifted its price target to $136, dubbing Walmart its “Best Idea for 2026.” The firm highlighted AI initiatives aimed at boosting personalization and streamlining online shopping. Investing.com
Walmart is set to ramp up drone delivery in 2026 with Wing, targeting 150 stores by next year and more than 270 locations in 2027, according to SupplyChainBrain. The retailer plans to kick off drone deliveries in the Houston metro area on Jan. 15, with additional rollouts in Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, and Charlotte by June.
The broader market offered no relief Wednesday. Wall Street’s key indexes dropped again, as investors digested earnings from top banks alongside new U.S. data on retail sales and producer prices. Expectations for rate cuts remained largely unchanged.
Risks linger with the rally trade. Index-driven buying often loses steam after rebalancing wraps up, and those AI and drone projects have yet to prove themselves in sales, service, and costs—not just in demos and headlines.
Next up, investors are set to watch the Nasdaq-100 update on Jan. 20 before turning to Walmart’s quarterly report. The retail giant will release its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 19, followed by a live call at 7 a.m. Central.
