NEW YORK, Jan 24, 2026, 10:07 EST — Market closed.
- Walmart shares closed Friday slightly lower, down 0.1% to $117.73.
- A filing revealed that CEO Doug McMillon offloaded 19,416 shares as part of a pre-arranged trading plan.
- All eyes are on the Fed’s decision next week and Walmart’s earnings report due Feb. 19.
Walmart shares dipped slightly in the final U.S. session, finishing down 0.08% at $117.73 on Friday. This followed a regulatory filing revealing CEO Doug McMillon sold 19,416 shares, netting roughly $2.3 million.
U.S. markets remain closed for the weekend as investors prepare for Monday, facing a packed macroeconomic schedule, a slew of major earnings reports, and heightened alertness to policy updates.
The timing is crucial for consumer-facing companies. U.S. consumer sentiment rose in January, yet “national sentiment remains more than 20% below a year ago,” said survey director Joanne Hsu, noting that households continue to wrestle with high prices and a weaker labor market. Reuters
McMillon’s sale was conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, allowing for pre-scheduled trades, the filing showed. The stock changed hands in several transactions, each roughly at $119 per share.
On Friday, Tigress Financial’s Ivan Feinseth raised his Walmart price target to $135 from $130, maintaining a “Buy” rating, per MarketBeat’s analyst actions table. The price target reflects where he expects the stock to trade within the next year. MarketBeat
Walmart trailed behind other retail giants on Friday. Amazon climbed roughly 2%, with Costco and Target also posting gains; meanwhile, the SPDR S&P Retail ETF edged down.
The Dow dropped 0.58% on Friday, according to Reuters market data. The S&P 500 eked out a small gain, and the Nasdaq climbed 0.28%, wrapping up a volatile week on a mixed note.
Retailers face ongoing cost pressures that show no sign of easing. A different S&P Global survey pointed to import tariffs as a key factor behind rising prices. Chris Williamson, the chief business economist, noted that “increased costs, widely blamed on tariffs,” continue to push prices upward. Reuters
All eyes now shift to the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting set for Jan. 27–28, with the policy statement and press conference slated for Wednesday.
Walmart faces some company-specific calendar risk as well. John Furner is set to step in as president and CEO on Feb. 1, following Doug McMillon’s planned retirement at January’s end.
Walmart’s next major event is earnings, with fiscal 2026 Q4 results set for Feb. 19. The company plans to release materials around 6 a.m. Central, followed by a conference call at 7 a.m.
