New York, Feb 5, 2026, 17:57 EST — After-hours
- Walmart shares dipped 0.8% to close at $126.94, fluctuating within a range of $126.51 to $129.55 during the session.
- Walmart’s recent surge vaulted its market cap over the $1 trillion mark, with investors turning their attention to the upcoming earnings report.
- Amazon’s push into groceries is intensifying the competition as earnings approach.
Walmart Inc (WMT) shares slipped 0.8% to $126.94 in after-hours trading, following the 4 p.m. close. Earlier, the stock hit a peak of $129.55 and dipped as low as $126.51.
The timing mattered more than the figure itself. Walmart has turned into a reliable “steady” pick for certain investors, even as the market has been volatile this week with funds shifting from pricey growth stocks toward steadier cash flows.
Focus is sharpening on Walmart’s upcoming comments about demand and margins, beyond just the quarterly results. The stock’s strong run means any change in tone could trigger a more pronounced reaction.
Wall Street took a broad hit Thursday, with the S&P 500 slipping 1.23% and the Nasdaq down 1.59%. The selloff came after Alphabet announced plans to spend up to $185 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, reigniting concerns about returns on Big Tech’s AI investments. Tom Hainlin of U.S. Bank pointed to the capex cycle as a new driver of “volatility.” Amazon shares dropped 4.4% in regular trading, then plunged another 10% in after-hours trading following its own spending forecast. Reuters
Walmart’s market cap topped $1 trillion for the first time this week, fueled by a rally that’s boosted the stock nearly 26% over the past year. The retailer has invested billions in AI and supply-chain automation, expanded its online marketplace to over 500 million items, and grown an advertising business exceeding $4 billion. It’s also formed partnerships with OpenAI and Google, according to Reuters. “It’s been a massive digital business transformation,” said Eric Clark, CIO at Accuvest Global Advisors. Brian Mulberry of Zacks Investment Management called Walmart “the new AI giant.” The Journal Record
Competition in grocery and fast delivery remains fierce. Amazon is ramping up with a 225,000-square-foot mega-store near Chicago. Analysts forecast its fourth-quarter physical-store revenue—including Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh—will climb 5.4% to $5.9 billion. “It’s going to take some time for them to catch up,” said S&P Global analyst Bea Chiem, referring to Amazon’s store expansion. Reuters
A regulatory filing caught some notice. Executive Vice President Donna Morris offloaded 76,181 Walmart shares on Feb. 3, fetching $123.79 apiece, according to a Form 4. The sale was made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, a setup that lets insiders trade without risking non-public information violations.
Investors are focused on any news about U.S. demand, particularly grocery baskets and general merchandise. The crucial figures to watch are same-store sales—those at stores open at least a year—and operating margin, as well as growth in e-commerce, advertising, and Walmart+.
The bar’s set higher these days. Even a slight sign that price hikes are eating into margins, or that delivery and ad growth are slowing, might spark profit-taking—especially if concerns over heavy corporate spending linger.
Walmart plans to announce its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results on Feb. 19, ahead of the U.S. market open. The company will post materials at about 6 a.m. Central, followed by a conference call at 7 a.m. Central.
