New York, February 7, 2026, 05:18 EST — The session wrapped up with the market closed.
- Walmart shares climbed on Friday, capping a turbulent week for U.S. equities.
- Attention shifts to U.S. inflation figures and Walmart’s upcoming quarterly results.
- After its rally earlier in February, the retailer now has less wiggle room when it comes to guidance.
Walmart Inc (WMT) shares finished Friday at $131.18, up 3.3% on the day, with trades spanning $127.05 to $131.70. Since closing at $119.14 back on Jan. 30, the stock’s now roughly 10% higher.
U.S. markets are closed Saturday, leaving traders waiting for Monday to see if the rally has legs. Walmart looms large, with its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results due Feb. 19. The retailer plans to drop its earnings release at about 6 a.m. CT, followed by a 7 a.m. CT call.
It was a risk-on tape Friday, with the Dow punching through 50,000 for the first time and the S&P 500 tacking on almost 2%. But Amazon shares dropped 5.6% after the company warned of capital expenditures soaring more than 50%—that’s spending on things like facilities and gear—rekindling arguments about the pace of returns from heavy AI investment.
Walmart cracked the $1 trillion market cap mark earlier this week, a move that’s thrown a spotlight on its automation drive and digital investments. The retailer’s knack for pulling in higher-income shoppers—without losing its traditional customer base—hasn’t gone unnoticed, according to a Reuters piece. “It really is a remarkable accomplishment,” said Charles Sizemore, who owns shares. Louis Navellier at Navellier & Associates expects Walmart’s expansion to continue as it pours more into tech.
Up next: a simpler measure—how the company is closing out the year, plus any hints from management on demand moving forward. Investors are keyed in on U.S. comparable sales, those all-important figures for stores open at least a year, and whether the lift from e-commerce and advertising is giving profits enough of a boost.
Guidance could end up driving the bulk of the action. While Walmart’s seen gains as consumers chase value, rising labor costs, deeper discounts, or an uptick in delivery expenses have the potential to squeeze margins fast.
First up: a macro test before earnings hit. The Labor Department drops January’s consumer price figures on Feb. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET—a release that can shift the outlook for household spending and push retailers to rethink pricing on everyday goods.
Here’s the risk: If the outlook sours, margins slip, or management drops any hints about softness in discretionary demand, shares could snap back quickly. That’s after the rapid run-up they saw in early February.
Competition remains unpredictable. Amazon isn’t letting up—still pouring money into faster delivery and ramping up its AI efforts. Clubs and discounters? They’re relentless on price and convenience, so there’s barely any margin for error on execution.
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