New York, Jan 26, 2026, 18:44 EST — After-hours
- Walmart shares edged slightly lower following the close, showing little movement throughout the day.
- All eyes are on the Fed’s Jan. 27-28 meeting amid growing scrutiny of the central bank.
- Walmart’s upcoming catalyst is its quarterly report and outlook, due February 19.
Walmart shares slipped slightly in after-hours trading Monday, staying close to their closing price as investors zeroed in on an upcoming Federal Reserve decision that could shift rate expectations and risk sentiment.
The stock has held firm amid a market flipping between growth and defensive plays. With the Fed meeting kicking off Tuesday, even steady names like Walmart could see volatility as bond yields and sentiment shift.
Walmart ended the day down 0.07% at $117.65 and was last seen trading at $117.64 in after-hours. During the session, the shares fluctuated between $117.41 and $118.82. 1
The wider market edged higher, yet retail stocks showed weakness. Target dropped 3.83%, Costco was down 0.57%, and Amazon slipped 0.31%. This came despite the S&P 500 climbing 0.50% and the Dow adding 0.64%. 2
Markets widely expect the Fed to hold its benchmark rate steady this week, keeping it within the 3.50%-3.75% band. Yet political tensions are mounting, with fresh scrutiny on the Fed’s autonomy. Tim Duy, chief U.S. economist at SGH Macro Advisors, remarked, “Trump will need greater turnover at the Fed to fully control the institution.” 3
The meeting is set for Jan. 27-28, and Chair Jerome Powell will speak Wednesday following the decision. 4
Walmart traders have a key date to watch: earnings. The retail giant will report its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results on Feb. 19 at 7:00 a.m. Central time, with a conference call to follow. 5
Investors are tuning in to Walmart’s update on traffic and pricing as the new fiscal year begins, watching closely to see how much of its sales growth stems from trade-down shoppers versus wealthier customers.
But the setup works both ways. Should bond yields spike on hawkish signals — or if Fed drama spills into the markets — the defensive support behind big retailers could break down fast, even without any specific company news.
The immediate focus turns to Wednesday’s Fed statement and press conference. For Walmart, eyes will be on Feb. 19, when management is set to discuss demand and margins heading into spring.
