NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 18:40 ET — Market closed
- Walmart shares last closed up 1.2% at $112.76; they dipped 0.05% after-hours.
- A Jan. 9 U.S. jobs report and Jan. 13 CPI print are the next big macro catalysts for rate-cut bets.
- Walmart’s next company milestones are a Feb. 1 CEO transition and Feb. 19 quarterly results.
Walmart Inc. shares last closed up 1.2% at $112.76 on Friday, the first trading day of 2026. The stock eased 0.05% in after-hours trading to $112.70. It sits below a 52-week high of $117.45 and trades at about 39 times trailing earnings — a price-to-earnings multiple that shows how much investors pay for $1 of profit. StockAnalysis
With U.S. markets shut for the weekend, the stock heads into Monday’s open with investors trying to pin down the next leg for rates and consumer demand. For a retailer that leans heavily on groceries, shifts in inflation and employment can quickly change the tone around household budgets.
Traders are bracing for the Dec. U.S. employment report on Jan. 9 and the consumer price index on Jan. 13. A Reuters poll forecasts payroll growth of 55,000 and unemployment at 4.6%, while Fed funds futures — derivatives that reflect rate-cut bets — suggest little chance of a cut at the Fed’s late-January meeting and nearly 50% odds of a quarter-point reduction in March. “The market is looking for direction,” said Matthew Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. Reuters
In the broader market on Friday, the Dow rose 0.66% and the S&P 500 gained 0.19%, while the Nasdaq finished nearly flat. Reuters
Retail peers were mixed: Target rose 2.82% while Amazon slipped 1.87%, with Walmart’s move landing between the two, according to MarketWatch data. Marketwatch
Walmart’s next scheduled catalyst is its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings release on Feb. 19. The company said earnings materials will be available around 6 a.m. CT, followed by a live conference call at 7 a.m. CT. Walmart News
Investors are also tracking a leadership change set for Feb. 1, when John Furner takes over as CEO and Doug McMillon retires on Jan. 31, the company said. Walmart Inc.
The earnings call will be watched for guidance on pricing, discretionary demand and profit margins as 2026 begins. Commentary on e-commerce, advertising and fulfillment investments is likely to draw extra scrutiny with a new CEO stepping in.
But the setup carries risks for a stock trading near its highs: a hotter inflation print could push yields up and pressure richly valued defensives, while a weak jobs report could revive recession fears and hit retail spending expectations. Trade-policy uncertainty is another swing factor for retailers’ cost outlook.
For now, the next market-moving readout is the Jan. 9 payrolls report, followed by CPI on Jan. 13. Walmart’s next company-specific catalyst is its Feb. 19 earnings release.
