New York, Jan 25, 2026, 10:04 EST — Market closed.
- Walmart ended last Friday down $0.10, or 0.08%, at $117.73, following a steep decline the day before
- CEO Doug McMillon revealed he sold $2.31 million worth of shares through a prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan
- Traders are eyeing the Fed’s Jan. 27-28 meeting, Walmart’s leadership change set for Feb. 1, and earnings reports due on Feb. 19
Walmart Inc shares slipped 10 cents to close at $117.73 on Friday, marking a second straight day of losses. Investors digested a new price-target upgrade alongside news of a CEO stock sale ahead of the week.
U.S. markets reopen Monday as the Federal Reserve prepares to conclude its January policy meeting on Jan. 28. That date often triggers quick shifts in rate expectations, even when stock price action has been subdued.
Walmart investors face a packed schedule. New leadership steps in on Feb. 1, and quarterly earnings arrive on Feb. 19. Meanwhile, the stock remains close to its recent peaks.
A filing released Friday revealed that President and CEO Doug McMillon offloaded 19,416 shares on Jan. 22 at a weighted average price of $119.1736, totaling roughly $2.31 million. The Form 4 noted the sale occurred under a Rule 10b5-1 plan — a prearranged trading program executives use to sell shares on a set schedule — leaving him with about 4.27 million shares directly held.
On Jan. 23, Tigress Financial Partners lifted its price target for Walmart to $135 from $130, maintaining a Buy rating. The firm pointed to faster spending on AI and automation as the key driver. Walmart closed Friday about 15% under that new target.
Walmart and Google announced earlier this month they aim to create a shopping experience within Google’s Gemini assistant, leveraging what they’re calling the Universal Commerce Protocol.
Walmart trailed behind other major retailers on Friday, with Amazon climbing 2.1% and Costco up 0.7%. The S&P 500 barely moved, while the Dow dropped 0.6%, according to MarketWatch data.
The U.S. economic schedule next week fills up fast: durable goods on Monday, consumer confidence Tuesday, the Fed’s statement Wednesday, and producer price numbers Friday, plus other data points. These figures will weigh heavily on the inflation discussion that influences how investors price defensive, slower-growth stocks.
Walmart announced earlier this month that John Furner will step into the CEO role on Feb. 1, amid a wider shake-up in its executive ranks. “These leadership changes mark a key step in how we organize for the future. Even the best teams need the right structure to win,” Furner said. Reuters
Walmart will report its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 19, followed by a live conference call at 7 a.m. Central. Investors are keen to hear about trends in U.S. grocery demand, e-commerce expansion, and margins, especially after the retailer emphasized value and convenience during the holiday season.
Insider selling is a blunt indicator, though, and Walmart’s recent rally has tested investors’ tolerance. Should the upcoming report reveal weaker foot traffic or deeper discounting to defend market share, the stock’s streak of resilience might falter.
As trading kicks off again, all eyes will be on early shifts in bond yields and retail stocks’ response ahead of the Fed’s Jan. 28 decision. Walmart’s leadership change on Feb. 1 and its earnings report on Feb. 19 will follow closely behind.
