American retail giant Walmart announced financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025, which exceeded analysts' expectations. The company's revenue increased by 5.6%, reaching $190.7 billion. Despite enthusiasm over online sales growth and an influx of wealthier customers, management tempered moods by pointing to an uncertain macroeconomic situation and international trade tensions, which translated into a drop in the stock price.
Record revenue of the giant
Walmart achieved $190.7 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, representing a growth of 5.6% compared to the previous year.
Explosion of online trade
Online sales in the United States grew by 27%, driven by fast deliveries and grocery shopping.
Management's cautious forecasts
Despite results above expectations, the stock fell by 3% due to concerns about economic volatility in 2026.
Walmart presented impressive financial results for the last quarter of the fiscal year, which are the first under the leadership of new CEO John Furner. The corporation's revenue grew by 5.6% year-over-year, reaching $190.7 billion, while operating income increased by 10.8%, indicating the company's high operational efficiency. A key success factor was sales in the grocery segment and the dynamic development of e-commerce in the U.S., which saw a jump of 27%. Brick-and-mortar stores also performed well, recording a comparable sales growth of 4.6%. Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, Walmart has over the decades become not only the largest employer in the U.S. but also a key barometer of the American consumer's health, setting trends in the global supply chain.Despite solid fundamentals, investors reacted to the report with some reserve. The company's stock fell by almost 3% even before the stock market opened. The cause of this reaction is cautious forecasts for the coming year. Walmart's management fears the impact of inflation and trade tensions on Americans' wallets. However, an interesting trend was noted: households with higher incomes are increasingly shopping at Walmart stores, seeking savings in the face of market uncertainty. Thus, John Furner taking over the reins at the company comes at a time of great market strength but also growing external challenges. „The results suggest that buyers continue to prioritize price and convenience, despite ongoing economic uncertainty.” — John Furner Analysts indicate that Walmart effectively leverages its scale to attract a broad spectrum of customers. Investments in free and fast deliveries and the expansion of fresh food offerings have allowed the company to maintain its leadership position in the battle with digital competition. However, the coming quarters will verify whether the new management team can maintain such high operating margin growth momentum in the face of potential consumer cooling. 2025-02-19: 190.727% — U.S. online sales growth
Mentioned People
- John Furner — New CEO of Walmart, who took the position before the announcement of record results.