NEW YORK, Jan 10, 2026, 10:06 EST — Market closed
- Nasdaq announced Walmart will take AstraZeneca’s spot in the Nasdaq-100 ahead of trading on Jan. 20.
- Shares climbed 1.3% on Friday as traders eyed potential index rebalancing moves.
- Walmart is set to report its fiscal Q4 earnings on Feb. 19.
Walmart Inc will enter the Nasdaq-100 Index on Jan. 20, taking the spot of AstraZeneca, Nasdaq announced Friday. This shift comes after the retail giant switched its listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq. Shares of Walmart climbed 1.3% on Friday, closing at $114.53, with intraday trading ranging from $112.06 to $115.46.
The Nasdaq-100, which covers 100 of the largest non-financial firms listed on Nasdaq, often prompts index-tracking funds—including ETFs—to rebalance their portfolios when changes occur. Nasdaq announced that Walmart will join the Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted and Nasdaq-100 Ex-Tech Sector indexes ahead of trading on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Note that U.S. markets will be closed the day before, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Jefferies Financial Group analysts projected in December that Walmart’s addition might trigger roughly $19 billion in inflows, as index funds and other tracking products adjust their holdings, Bloomberg News reported. Such demand often shifts prices during the rebalance period, even without fresh insights on sales or profit margins.
Walmart announced new corporate updates on Jan. 8, naming Shishir Mehrotra, CEO of Superhuman, to its board. Chairman Greg Penner emphasized the company’s commitment to being “people-led” and “tech-powered.” Walmart News & Leadership
An 8-K filing revealed Mehrotra’s addition to the board’s compensation and technology committees, noting there’s no deal linked to his appointment.
Walmart unveiled “Better Care Services” on the same day, a digital health platform linking customers to third-party urgent care and behavioral health providers, along with access to Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect. The retailer also announced it’s cutting prices on over 1,000 wellness products and will introduce a $15 discount on select telehealth services starting Jan. 15. Walmart News & Leadership
The Wall Street Journal reported that this rollout extends Walmart’s health strategy, combining new services with price cuts on select health products. The retailer is banking on convenience and value to drive repeat visits.
Setting aside individual company news, the coming days will deliver key macro data that could ripple through consumer stocks. Investors are eyeing Tuesday’s December U.S. Consumer Price Index release and the kickoff of quarterly bank earnings, Reuters noted.
Walmart is gearing up for a key date on Feb. 19, when it will report fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results and hold a morning conference call. Investors are set to focus on holiday sales trends, U.S. comparable-store sales, and how much margin Walmart might sacrifice to boost market share through lower prices.
Technically, the markers sit close together. Traders point to Friday’s low near $112 as initial support; on the upside, the $115 zone comes next. Volume is likely to hinge on the Jan. 20 index change.
Index events aren’t guaranteed winners. If investors jump ahead of passive buying, stocks may fall after the rebalance wraps up. Unexpected inflation numbers could shift rate-cut bets, shaking up “defensive” retail stocks.
Tuesday brings the next CPI report, while the Nasdaq-100 reshuffle happens before the open on Jan. 20. Then there’s Walmart’s earnings release on Feb. 19.
