So Walmart just casually dropped three bombshells in one earnings call, because apparently being the world’s largest retailer wasn’t exciting enough. Let me break down this corporate hat trick that has investors doing happy dances in the aisles.
First up: The earnings beat that nobody saw coming
Remember when everyone was doom-scrolling about tariffs, inflation, and consumers tightening their belts? Well, Walmart’s Q3 numbers just walked into the room like “hold my shopping cart.” They crushed expectations with $179.5 billion in revenue (beating estimates by $2 billion), while same-store sales jumped 4.5%. That’s the retail equivalent of dunking on your competition.
The real kicker? Their e-commerce business is absolutely on fire, growing 27% year-over-year. Turns out people really do love having groceries magically appear at their doorstep. Who knew? Meanwhile, their advertising business – yes, Walmart does ads now – exploded by 53%. They’re basically printing money from every angle.
Plot twist #2: The CEO shuffle that actually makes sense
Doug McMillon, who’s been running the show since 2014, decided to peace out at the perfect time (retiring January 31, 2026). But here’s the thing – this isn’t some dramatic boardroom coup. His replacement, John Furner, literally started as an hourly employee 32 years ago and worked his way up to running Walmart US. It’s like the ultimate American dream story, except with more supply chain optimization.
Investors are eating this up because it signals continuity. No dramatic strategy pivots, no “new vision” corporate speak – just steady leadership from someone who actually knows how the sausage gets made.
The grand finale: Ditching Wall Street for Silicon Valley vibes
After 54 years on the NYSE, Walmart is packing up and moving to the Nasdaq on December 9th. Why? Because apparently they want to sit at the cool kids’ tech table. Their CFO basically said “we’re tech-forward now” – which, fair enough, when your e-commerce is growing faster than most startups.
This isn’t just symbolic either. The Nasdaq move signals Walmart’s transformation from “that big box store” to “that big box store with serious digital chops.” They’re not just selling groceries; they’re building an ecosystem.
The bottom line for your wallet
Walmart stock jumped 6% on this news and is up 18% year-to-date. Analysts have a median price target of $115 (currently trading around $107), suggesting there’s still room to run. With a forward P/E of 33, it’s not exactly a bargain-bin stock anymore, but when you’re dominating retail while building a tech empire, premium pricing starts to make sense.
The company raised guidance for the full year, which in corporate speak means “we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves right now.” And honestly? They should be. This triple play of strong earnings, smooth leadership transition, and strategic positioning might just be the perfect setup for 2026.
Sometimes the best investments are hiding in plain sight – or in this case, in every strip mall in America.