So Walmart just dropped some numbers that made Wall Street do a little happy dance, and honestly? It’s about time someone had good news that doesn’t involve AI or crypto.
The retail giant – you know, the place where you go for groceries and somehow leave with a kayak – just crushed their Q3 earnings like they were stepping on a price scanner. Revenue hit $179.5 billion (with a B), beating expectations by about $2 billion. Not too shabby for a company that started in Arkansas and still pronounces it “Wal-Mart.”
But here’s where it gets interesting: Walmart’s stock jumped 6% after the announcement, and they’re pulling a power move that nobody saw coming – ditching the NYSE after 52 years to join the cool kids on Nasdaq. It’s like your dad suddenly deciding to trade his sedan for a Tesla.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
Let’s break down why investors are suddenly treating Walmart like the popular kid in school:
• Same-store sales grew 4.5% – that’s the metric that separates the winners from the “going out of business” signs
• E-commerce sales exploded 27% – turns out people really do want their toilet paper delivered
• Their advertising business grew 53% – because apparently, even Walmart figured out that data is the new oil
The company also raised their full-year guidance, which in corporate speak means “we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves right now.” They’re now expecting net sales growth of 4.8% to 5.1%, up from their previous “eh, maybe 3.75%” estimate.
Plot Twist: New CEO Incoming
In a move that surprised exactly no one who’s been paying attention, CEO Doug McMillon announced he’s stepping down after the fiscal year ends. His replacement? John Furner, who’s been with Walmart for 32 years and started as an hourly employee. It’s like a corporate fairy tale, except instead of a glass slipper, he’s got supply chain optimization skills.
This isn’t some dramatic boardroom coup – it’s more like passing the family business to someone who actually knows where the bathroom keys are kept.
The Nasdaq Move: More Than Just Changing Addresses
Moving from NYSE to Nasdaq isn’t just about wanting a cooler zip code. Walmart’s basically saying “hey, we’re not just your grandma’s discount store anymore – we’re tech-forward and we’ve got the e-commerce numbers to prove it.”
With the stock up 18% year-to-date and trading around $107, analysts are setting a median price target of $115. That’s not going to make you rich overnight, but it’s solid, dependable growth – kind of like Walmart itself.
The bottom line? While everyone’s been obsessing over the next shiny tech stock, Walmart’s been quietly building an empire that combines physical retail with digital innovation. Sometimes the best investments are hiding in plain sight, right next to the shopping carts.