New York, January 10, 2026, 07:15 EST — The market has closed.
- Walmart is set to take AstraZeneca’s spot in the Nasdaq-100 ahead of the market open on Jan. 20.
- Shares ended Friday roughly 1.3% higher, with investors digesting index flows alongside fresh developments in health and tech sectors.
- Coming up: U.S. CPI data drops Jan. 13, followed by Walmart’s FY2026 Q4 earnings on Feb. 19.
Walmart Inc (WMT) is set to enter the Nasdaq-100 Index before trading opens on Jan. 20, replacing Britain’s AstraZeneca, Nasdaq announced late Friday. The stock ended the day up 1.3% at $114.53, having fluctuated between $112.06 and $115.46, staying within roughly 2% of its 52-week high. U.S. markets will be closed on Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
This reshuffle has real impact since index funds, like ETFs, usually adjust by purchasing newcomers and unloading dropped stocks. Invesco’s QQQ, a major Nasdaq-100 ETF, tracks the Nasdaq-100 and tends to hold those exact stocks.
In November, Walmart announced plans to shift its listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq, a move companies typically pitch as a way to cut costs and tap into a tech-savvy investor crowd. The Nasdaq-100 index features giants like Apple and Nvidia.
Walmart introduced Better Care Services this week, an online platform linking customers to third-party urgent care and behavioral health providers, plus access to LillyDirect. The retailer also announced price cuts on over 1,000 wellness items and plans to offer a $15 discount on selected telehealth services starting Jan. 15. “Better Care Services is about making wellness simple and affordable to fit into your life,” said Kevin Host, senior vice president of health and wellness and pharmacy. Walmart News & Leadership
Walmart announced it has appointed Shishir Mehrotra, CEO of Superhuman, to its board, assigning him to the technology and eCommerce committee. Chairman Greg Penner emphasized, “Our focus remains on serving customers through a people-led, tech-powered approach.” Walmart Inc.
Shares climbed into the mid-$115 range on Friday but slipped slightly afterward, ending just below their recent high. Traders will be eyeing whether WMT breaks through that level when markets open Monday, or falls back toward the low-$112 mark.
The macro environment continues to support many consumer stocks. U.S. consumer sentiment edged higher in early January, yet households remain cautious about inflation and jobs, according to a University of Michigan survey released Friday. Survey director Joanne Hsu noted, “They remain guarded about the overall strength of business conditions and labor markets.” Reuters
Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET brings the U.S. consumer price index for December. CPI figures that deviate from expectations often jolt bond yields and shake up rate forecasts—effects that usually spill over into retail stocks.
Index-driven buying doesn’t change the underlying fundamentals, and these inflows can vanish quickly once the trade gets crowded. Should inflation concerns resurface or price wars heat up, Walmart’s margins might come under pressure despite its push into value and fresh service offerings.
Key upcoming dates include Jan. 20, when the Nasdaq-100 inclusion takes effect, and Feb. 19, when Walmart reports its FY2026 Q4 earnings. The retailer plans to release earnings materials at about 6 a.m. CT, followed by a conference call at 7 a.m. CT.
