New York, Feb 16, 2026, 11:16 EST — The market is closed.
- Walmart stock finished 0.2% higher at $133.89. U.S. markets were closed Monday for Presidents Day.
- Walmart’s market cap now sits around $1.07 trillion, driven by the stock’s 2026 rally.
- Thursday brings the next catalyst: results and guidance. Key U.S. growth and inflation data land later in the week, adding to the mix.
Walmart Inc (WMT.O) wrapped up Friday at $133.89, ticking 0.2% higher after reaching $134.64 earlier in the session. The retail giant now stands at about $1.07 trillion in market cap, adding close to $179 billion this year alone.
With U.S. cash equity markets shut Monday for Presidents Day, eyes are still on Walmart as trading resumes. Shares have climbed roughly 20% in 2026, pushing Walmart to the top spot by market cap in consumer staples. Investors have been shifting toward defensive stocks, wary of the impact from AI-related capital spending and its ripple effects.
Walmart steps up with its quarterly numbers on Thursday, right in the middle of a packed, holiday-shortened stretch. Investors are bracing for an early read on Q4 GDP, fresh consumer sentiment figures, and the PCE price index—the inflation yardstick watched by the Fed. The retail giant’s results arrive just after December retail sales stalled unexpectedly, though a robust January jobs report helped calm fears of a sudden economic downshift.
This will mark the first earnings report with John Furner at the helm—he stepped into the CEO role on Feb. 1 following Walmart’s executive shake-up and Doug McMillon’s handover. David Guggina has been tapped to lead Walmart U.S., while Seth Dallaire’s job as chief growth officer has been expanded, just a couple of the moves in a broader management overhaul. “Even the best teams need the right structure to win,” Furner said back then. Reuters
Walmart plans to post its fourth-quarter results early Thursday, with numbers dropping at 6 a.m. CST. A live conference call—set for 7 a.m. CST—will be led by Furner and CFO John David Rainey, according to the company.
Volatility’s the backdrop, and it’s not letting up. “It’s all this whack-a-mole game” when it comes to guessing which corner of the market AI might shake up next, B Riley Wealth’s chief market strategist Art Hogan wrote, weighing in on the shifting stories sweeping through different sectors. Mark Hackett, chief market strategist over at Nationwide, pointed out that this rotation away from the previous cycle’s big names “is getting embedded into the psychology of investors.” Reuters
Walmart draws focus as traders hunt for new signals on consumer demand—groceries and essentials under the microscope. Margins? Any shift there will get attention. Investors are also listening closely for management’s commentary on pricing, labor and logistics costs, plus any updates on higher-margin segments like advertising and online services.
Still, there’s risk in both directions here. Walmart’s stock climbed into the report, so anything less than a solid outlook could sting, especially for a name that’s priced assuming no missteps. If shoppers are slowing down more than headline numbers indicate, the impact probably won’t stop with Walmart; the whole sector could feel it.
Markets come back online Tuesday after the holiday. Walmart drops results Thursday; investors will weigh the retailer’s outlook with fresh GDP and PCE inflation data in the mix—numbers that could sway rate-cut bets and, in turn, trading sentiment.
