New York, Jan 12, 2026, 16:50 EST — After-hours
- Walmart shares climbed roughly 3% in after-hours trading as investors digested new AI shopping initiatives and drone delivery plans
- The retailer will join the Nasdaq-100 on Jan. 20, triggering index funds to add shares
- Traders have their eyes on Jan. 15 for the launch of a new drone market, with CEO succession and earnings reports slated for February
Walmart Inc. shares climbed roughly 3% in after-hours trading Monday, building on gains from the regular session. The retailer unveiled plans to integrate shopping with Google’s Gemini chatbot and expand drone deliveries through Alphabet’s Wing.
These moves carry weight now, arriving just as Walmart is set to benefit from a mechanical boost: its inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 often sparks buying by passive funds tracking the index. That alone can push demand higher, even if other factors stay flat.
They bolster the company’s argument that it can win on speed and convenience—not only price—as shoppers continue moving online and same-day delivery turns into a baseline expectation.
Walmart’s surge gave a boost to the consumer staples sector, pushing broader U.S. indexes to record closes Monday, Reuters reported. The jump in Walmart’s shares is linked to its upcoming inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 on Jan. 20. That move is expected to attract billions from index funds, the report added. 1
On Sunday, Walmart announced plans to create a shopping experience inside Gemini, where purchases will be processed through Walmart and Sam’s Club. “We aren’t just watching the shift, we are driving it,” said John Furner, Walmart U.S. chief and soon-to-be CEO of Walmart Inc. Google CEO Sundar Pichai added that customers will be able to shop “directly in the Gemini app.” 2
Walmart described the initiative as “agent-led commerce,” a term for AI tools that guide shoppers from browsing to buying. The retailer highlighted that linked accounts would enable personalized suggestions drawn from previous purchases, with delivery promised “in under three hours” and even “as fast as 30 minutes” for select local products.
Separately, Wing and Walmart announced plans to expand drone delivery to 150 more Walmart stores over the next year. Their target: more than 270 drone delivery sites by 2027. Greg Cathey, Walmart’s senior vice president, emphasized that “Drone delivery plays an important role in our ability to deliver what customers want, exactly when they want it.” Wing CEO Adam Woodworth added that the service is ideal for “even the smallest package.” 3
Walmart’s drone initiative thrusts it back into the race with Amazon and other retailers aiming to make lightning-fast delivery standard rather than an occasional gimmick. But the effort also brings real-world hurdles: securing flight approvals, dealing with neighborhood noise, unpredictable weather, and the economics of each unit, all factors that could delay broader rollout.
Nasdaq announced Walmart will take AstraZeneca’s spot in the Nasdaq-100 ahead of trading on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The U.S. markets will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to Nasdaq’s notice. 4
Walmart has just shifted its primary U.S. listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq, retaining the “WMT” ticker, according to a company filing. 5
Management is shifting. Walmart announced John Furner will take over as CEO from Doug McMillon starting Feb. 1, with McMillon stepping down on Jan. 31. 6
One risk for bulls: Monday’s jump might just reflect index positioning and headline momentum, not a solid signal on earnings strength. If costs outpace sales growth, or if drone and AI initiatives fall short, the stock could shed gains when forced buying eases.
Investors are set to focus on Wing and Walmart kicking off operations in Houston on Jan. 15, followed by the Nasdaq-100 addition scheduled for Jan. 20. Walmart’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings will arrive on Feb. 19. 7
