New York, Jan 16, 2026, 11:09 EST — Market open for regular trading.
- WMT slipped roughly 0.3% in early trading following the announcement of management changes
- Walmart appointed David Guggina as CEO of its U.S. business while John Furner prepares to step into the company’s top role
- Investors are watching Walmart’s Nasdaq-100 debut on Jan. 20, with earnings due on Feb. 19
Shares of Walmart Inc. dipped 0.3% to $118.82 on Friday following the company’s announcement of new leadership changes ahead of its CEO handover.
Walmart tapped longtime executive David Guggina to lead its U.S. operations, taking over for John Furner, who is set to become CEO later this month. In a regulatory filing, the company detailed Furner’s compensation package, which includes a $1.5 million base salary and a one-time stock award worth $10 million. 1
Why it matters now: Walmart U.S. remains the company’s main driver, with investors focused on how the retailer balances online expansion against price stability. The leadership changes come just ahead of several upcoming catalysts that could shake the stock.
Walmart named Chris Nicholas as head of its international division, while Latriece Watkins will take charge of Sam’s Club U.S. The company also promoted Seth Dallaire to chief growth officer.
The moves come a day after Walmart revealed Kathryn McLay is stepping down as chief executive of Walmart International. “I’m grateful for the positive impact Kath has had on our people and our company,” Doug McMillon said in the company’s announcement. McLay called it “a privilege” to have worked at Walmart. 2
Walmart will officially join the Nasdaq-100 on Jan. 20, stepping in for AstraZeneca, Nasdaq announced. This move could prompt notable trading shifts since the Nasdaq-100 is a large-cap index followed closely by numerous funds, triggering automatic buys and sells as its lineup changes. 3
The stock barely moved as investors tried to gauge if the shake-up points to steady leadership or a bolder shift toward e-commerce and more profitable services. Competitors like Amazon, Costco, and Target are ramping up delivery speed, memberships, and pricing tactics, tightening the margin for error.
Execution remains the key risk. Leadership shifts tend to pull focus from daily operations, and any slip in U.S. traffic, inventory control, or delivery expenses would swiftly hit margins and forecasts.
Investors are eager for clearer insight into priorities under Furner. Attention will also focus on whether Walmart drops any hints about its international strategy or updates on Sam’s Club performance amid the leadership shuffle.
The next major update comes Feb. 19, when Walmart plans to release fiscal 2026 Q4 results and hold a conference call at 7 a.m. U.S. Central. 4
