← Walmart Inc. (WMT)

Walmart Inc. (WMT) Narrative

Q1 FY2027, built from SEC filings. Accession numbers are cited throughout so every statement can be checked against sec.gov. The same text is published as Markdown at narrative.md for agents that prefer to fetch it directly.

Fiscal year ends January 31. "Fiscal 2026" = the year ended January 31, 2026; "fiscal 2027" = the year ending January 31, 2027. The current quarter is the three months ended April 30, 2026.

Primary sources: Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026 (accession 0000104169-26-000055, filed March 13, 2026) and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2026 (accession 0000104169-26-000102, filed May 29, 2026), supplemented by Current Reports on Form 8-K where noted.


Business

From the FY2026 10-K, accession 0000104169-26-000055.

Walmart describes itself as a people-led, technology-powered omnichannel retailer whose purpose is helping people save money and live better. Roughly 280 million customers per week visit more than 10,900 stores across 19 countries plus the company's eCommerce sites and mobile apps. Fiscal 2026 total revenues were $713.2 billion, of which net sales were $706.4 billion. Principal offices are in Bentonville, Arkansas. The common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under "WMT", the listing moved from the NYSE to Nasdaq effective December 9, 2025.

The stated pricing model is EDLP (everyday low price, items priced low every day rather than through frequent promotion), underpinned by EDLC (everyday low cost, expense discipline so savings can be passed through). Stated strategy: make every day easier for busy families, operate with discipline, sharpen the culture and become more digital, and make trust a competitive advantage.

Three reportable segments

Walmart U.S., 4,611 stores in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico under the "Walmart" and "Walmart Neighborhood Market" banners, plus walmart.com and the Walmart app. Fiscal 2026 net sales $483.0 billion, 68% of consolidated net sales ($462.4B in fiscal 2025, $441.8B in fiscal 2024). Substantially all stores offer same-day pickup and delivery. Walmart+ membership bundles free shipping with no order minimum, unlimited delivery from store, fuel discounts and Scan & Go. Merchandise runs through three strategic units: grocery; general merchandise (entertainment, hardlines, fashion, home); and health and wellness (pharmacy, OTC, optical). Private brands include Great Value, Equate, Mainstays, bettergoods, Marketside, onn., Ozark Trail, George and others. Adjacent, higher-margin offerings: advertising for brands and marketplace sellers, supply-chain and fulfillment services for marketplace sellers, data/analytics for suppliers, fuel, and financial services (money orders, transfers, check cashing, bill pay, installment lending).

Walmart International, 5,743 stores across 18 countries: wholly owned subsidiaries in Canada, Chile, China and Africa (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia) and majority-owned subsidiaries in India, Mexico and Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua). Formats span supercenters, supermarkets, warehouse clubs and cash-and-carry, plus walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and samsclub.cn. Fiscal 2026 net sales $130.4 billion, 19% of consolidated net sales ($121.9B in fiscal 2025, $114.6B in fiscal 2024). Pickup and delivery from approximately 3,300 locations. The 2018 acquisitions of majority stakes in Flipkart and PhonePe (India) anchor the digital footprint.

Sam's Club U.S., 601 membership-only warehouse clubs in 44 states and Puerto Rico, plus samsclub.com and the app. Fiscal 2026 net sales $93.0 billion, 13% of consolidated net sales ($90.2B in fiscal 2025, $86.2B in fiscal 2024). Membership income is a significant component of segment operating income. During fiscal 2026 the tiers were Club at $50/year and Plus at $110/year, with add-on memberships at $45 (raised after quarter end, see Subsequent events). Plus adds free delivery-from-club, free shipping on $50+ orders, early shopping hours and discounts; members earn Sam's Cash rewards. Scan & Go and "Just Go" exit remove checkout friction. Member's Mark is the private label.

Economics and operating footprint

international) as of January 31, 2026. Roughly 75% of U.S. salaried store, club and supply-chain managers began in hourly roles.

feet. 5,678 units owned vs. 5,277 leased, but the ownership mix is lopsided by segment: Walmart U.S. owns 3,728 of 4,611 and Sam's Club owns 464 of 601, while Walmart International leases 4,257 of 5,743. 371 distribution facilities (192 U.S., 179 international); 149 owned, 222 leased.

common carriers. During fiscal 2026 Walmart began combining the Sam's Club U.S. supply chain into the broader U.S. network.

segment.

mortar, eCommerce, omnichannel, wholesale clubs, social commerce, digital advertising, fulfillment/delivery, health and wellness and financial services, with newer or smaller internet-based businesses potentially better able to innovate.

productivity and operations, and the growth story is framed around "mutually reinforcing" higher-margin adjacencies: membership, advertising, marketplace and fulfillment services, and financial services.

Leadership

John Furner became President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 2026; he had run Walmart U.S. since November 2019. C. Douglas McMillon, the prior President and CEO, entered a retirement agreement dated November 13, 2025 and remains a director. The transition came with an unusually broad reshuffle of the operating bench, all effective February 2026: David Guggina to President and CEO, Walmart U.S. (previously Chief eCommerce Officer, Walmart U.S.); Christopher Nicholas to President and CEO, Walmart International (previously CEO of Sam's Club U.S.); Latriece Watkins to President and CEO, Sam's Club U.S. (previously Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart U.S.); Seth Dallaire to EVP and Chief Growth Officer; and Dwayne Milum to SVP and Controller. Continuing officers include John David Rainey, EVP and Chief Financial Officer since June 2022 (previously CFO of PayPal); Suresh Kumar, Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer since 2019; Donna Morris, Chief People Officer; Daniel J. Bartlett, EVP Corporate Affairs; and Daniel Danker, EVP AI Acceleration, Product and Design, hired from Instacart in August 2025.


Risk factors

Condensed from Item 1A of the FY2026 10-K, accession 0000104169-26-000055.

Strategic

depends on eCommerce, technology, AI, talent, supply-chain automation, advertising, acquisitions, joint ventures and new/remodeled stores all working together. Failure on individual components could hit market position, net sales and financial performance, and could force impairment of intangible or long-lived assets. Two-sided pressure is flagged explicitly: the cost of these investments hurts near-term results, while a greater concentration of eCommerce sales, including rising online grocery and the growing role of AI-enabled and "agentic" platforms in product search, discovery, advertising and purchasing, could reduce store traffic and the cross-shopping it generates.

markdowns, or excess/insufficient inventory and service interruptions. Price transparency and the speed/cost of shipping keep rising in importance.

data breach could erode trust quickly; corporate positions on social and environmental topics are tracked and can draw boycotts or negative campaigns from either direction.

development by rivals, and industry consolidation could improve competitors' financial resources, merchandise access and market penetration.

unemployment, weaker consumer purchasing power (including from reductions to government programs), currency moves, higher taxes, and tariffs/trade barriers can all depress demand, shift mix toward lower-margin goods, slow inventory turns and raise cost of sales.

Operational

supplier financial instability (including inability to honor indemnification obligations, leaving Walmart with the full cost of claims), labor problems, raw-material availability, extreme weather affecting growing/harvesting, transport availability and cost, and merchandise safety issues. U.S. and international trade policy, tariffs, trade barriers and sanctions are explicitly beyond the company's control.

falling on Walmart where suppliers cannot indemnify.

retailer as responsible for marketplace transactions; unsettled law on IP and product liability for marketplace goods creates additional exposure, including for counterfeit, pirated or stolen items.

redundant*, with disaster-recovery planning that cannot account for all eventualities. Threats include ransomware, denial-of-service and both cybercriminal and nation-state actors. The 10-K states that certain of Walmart's systems and those of third-party service providers have experienced cybersecurity incidents and threats, though as of the filing date the company was not aware of any that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the business. Personal and payment information, including health information from pharmacy and clinical operations, is processed at scale.

fraud and compliance exposure.

from third-party payers and payment administrators; changes in reimbursement rates, contract terms or scope of offerings, or a disruption in pharmaceutical supply from a key vendor, could hit sales, gross margin and cash flow.

and new or novel interpretations of labor law, particularly around worker classification, could raise costs materially.

liability despite background checks and qualification processes.

storms, droughts, extreme temperatures; war, civil unrest, terrorism and active-shooter situations. Walmart bears the majority of adaptation costs and physical-damage losses. The 10-K notes that because U.S. operations comprise a significant portion of performance, any event concentrated in the U.S. could be material.

poultry and egg production.

Financial

high market expectations for our future operating results," and that failure or delay in meeting them could adversely affect the price and its volatility.

translation has already had adverse effects on reported results, and purchases denominated in non-local currencies add transaction exposure.

Legal, tax, regulatory and compliance

country-specific legislative, judicial, tax, political and economic risk, including anti-corruption exposure where associates, contractors or agents act contrary to policy.

2026, and a significant portion of general merchandise sold in U.S. stores and clubs is manufactured abroad. Changes to tax law, transfer-pricing arrangements, novel interpretations by taxing authorities, and routine domestic and foreign audits all bear on results.

services (including the OnePay fintech venture, money transfers, digital payments, bill pay, money orders, check cashing, prepaid access, co-branded cards), antitrust, environmental, health and safety, and data privacy. VIZIO is subject to a stipulated order with the FTC and the New Jersey Attorney General until 2037.

supplier-cost practices, including purported class actions. Insurance-related liabilities, workers' compensation, general liability, auto, product liability and certain employee healthcare benefits, are funded predominantly through self-insurance.

for certain shareholder and derivative claims.

Principal named legal matters

From the contingencies notes and legal proceedings items of the FY2026 10-K (accession 0000104169-26-000055) and the Q1 FY2027 10-Q (accession 0000104169-26-000102).

the vast majority of eligible subdivisions and tribes, accruing ≈$3.3 billion in fiscal 2023; all of that accrued liability had been paid as of January 31, 2025. Unsettled matters continue: approximately 130 cases with claims against the company remained in the Northern District of Ohio MDL as of May 22, 2026 (approximately 230 as of March 6, 2026 per the 10-K), plus 13 other opioid cases in U.S. and Canadian courts. Four third-party-payer cases and one hospital-system case are MDL bellwethers. No liability has been accrued for these ongoing matters and no loss or range of loss can be estimated.

dispensing and distribution under the Controlled Substances Act. Distribution claims and one dispensing theory were dismissed in March 2024; the remaining dispensing theory is pending, with trial scheduled for November 2027. A related False Claims Act qui tam action (transferred to D. Del. in July 2024) has a renewed motion to dismiss pending.

employees claim their work is of equal value to distribution-centre work. Phases one and two are complete; tribunal rulings on January 31, 2025 and February 25, 2026 permitted certain claims to advance, and the phase-three hearing is scheduled to begin November 23, 2026. Asda was divested in February 2021, but Walmart still oversees the defense and has agreed to indemnify certain claims up to a contractually determined amount. No loss estimate.

the Middle District of Pennsylvania (most recent August 2020) into consumer fraud prevention and anti-money-laundering compliance; responses complete since 2021. No loss estimate.

Spark Driver payment and operational practices via a stipulated order entered March 3, 2026: judgment of $100 million, with roughly $63 million suspended and approximately $37 million accrued as of January 31, 2026, plus programmatic and reporting obligations for 10 years. Discussions continue with certain other states, and separate driver-classification litigation and arbitrations remain.

monopolistic practice regarding two types of supplier contributions; penalty of 93.4 million pesos (≈$5 million) plus conduct measures. Walmex appealed in January 2025; payment is stayed pending resolution.

covers alleged violations from 2009–2015, before Walmart's 2018 majority acquisition, with further information requests including one in April 2025. Potential relief includes monetary penalties and non-monetary measures such as share ownership restrictions.

report alleging competition-law violations by Flipkart subsidiaries was received in a non-confidential version on September 13, 2024. CCI's final order could include monetary and non-monetary relief.

tied to the refrigeration leak detection and repair program.


Management's discussion and analysis, fiscal 2026

From Item 7 of the FY2026 10-K, accession 0000104169-26-000055.

Framing

Management runs to three financial priorities: Growth (serve customers through a seamless omnichannel experience), Margin (improve operating margin via productivity plus category and business mix), and Returns (improve ROI through margin improvement and disciplined capital spend). Management flags continued uncertainty from tariffs and trade restrictions, inflation, currency swings, consumer confidence, employment trends, fuel volatility and supply-chain pressure. Pricing responses to cost increases range from absorbing them, cutting prices in certain categories and protecting opening price points in food, through to passing costs on when necessary; merchandising responses include working with suppliers to share cost increases, leaning on private label and smaller pack sizes, buying earlier and in greater volume (or moderating), and securing ocean carrier and container capacity. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted July 2025, brought 100% bonus depreciation and full R&D expensing; the income-statement impact was not material, but certain provisions decreased cash taxes paid in fiscal 2026 and may change the timing of future cash tax payments.

Consolidated results

+5.1%). Net sales rose $31.9 billion, or 4.7%, to $706.4 billion. Currency translation was a $2.8 billion headwind (fiscal 2025: $3.2 billion).

partly offset by lower recycling income.

growth in higher-margin businesses globally, partly offset by mix shifts into lower-margin merchandise and by channel/format mix in International. (Fiscal 2025: +40 bps.)

general liability claims expense in the U.S. (rising costs to resolve claims across retail and related industries), a $0.7 billion charge from modifying share-based compensation arrangements at PhonePe in contemplation of a potential public offering, and higher depreciation from capital investment.

chiefly fair-value changes on equity and other investments.

reflects the PhonePe share-based compensation charge, which carried no tax benefit.

and $1.91 in fiscal 2025 and 2024.

Segment results

Fiscal 2026 net salesChangeComparable salesOperating income change
Walmart U.S.$483.0B+$20.6B / +4.4%+4.3%+$1.3B
Walmart International$130.4B+$8.5B / +7.0%n/a−$0.4B
Sam's Club U.S.$93.0B+$2.8B / +3.1%+2.9% (incl. fuel)up slightly

volume growth and strength across all merchandise categories. eCommerce contributed ≈4.3 points to comps (2.9 points in fiscal 2025), led by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery. Gross margin +22 bps; operating expense rate +15 bps on self-insured general liability and depreciation. Membership and other income rose only slightly, with double-digit Walmart+ fee growth offset by lower recycling income.

the $2.8 billion currency headwind. Gross margin fell 49 bps on channel and format mix plus strategic investment in price and delivery capability. Operating expense rate +10 bps driven by the $0.7 billion PhonePe charge. Segment operating income declined.

health and wellness and general merchandise, but lower fuel sales cut comps by 1.9 points on lower fuel prices. eCommerce contributed ≈3.3 points to comps. Membership and other income +8.7% on membership base growth and Plus penetration, helped by breakage income on unredeemed Sam's Cash. Gross margin +4 bps; operating expense rate +22 bps on lower fuel sales and higher self-insured general liability claims.

Returns, capital and cash

operating income, against a larger asset base from heavier property and equipment purchases.

operating-income benefit; ROI was also held back by the PhonePe non-cash charge and by legal and business restructuring charges.

chain, customer-facing initiatives, technology and other $16.5B; store and club remodels $5.6B; new stores and clubs including expansions and relocations $1.4B (up sharply from $0.45B); total U.S. $23.4B; Walmart International $3.2B.

payment timing. Free cash flow improved despite the $2.9 billion capex increase.

$22.6 billion, widened from $17.1 billion by payment timing and higher short-term borrowings. Management characterizes the deficit as normal given efficient cash use and consistent capital-markets access. $3.9 billion** of cash may not be freely transferable to the U.S.

5.3%), against $15.0 billion of undrawn committed U.S. lines; $1.7 billion of letters of credit issued against a $2.0 billion facility.

fiscal 2027. Unrecorded purchase obligations $41.4 billion, of which $18.3 billion is due within one year.

2026 the board approved a fiscal 2027 annual dividend of $0.99 per share, up from $0.94.

November 2022, which had $4.0 billion of capacity left at January 31, 2026. In February 2026 the board approved a new $30.0 billion authorization, effective February 23, 2026, with no expiration. Management expects a majority of ongoing repurchases to be funded from free cash flow.

billion**, focused on technology, supply chain and customer-facing initiatives.

uncertain tax positions.

Market risk (Item 7A)

Exposures are interest rates, currency and the fair value of certain equity and equity-method investments. At January 31, 2026, variable-rate borrowings including commercial paper and interest-rate swaps were 27% of total short- and long-term debt. Long-term debt totaled $37.4 billion fixed (4.1% weighted-average rate) plus $0.75 billion variable, with $23.3 billion maturing after fiscal 2031. Interest-rate swaps of $4.8 billion notional convert fixed to variable. Currency swaps were in a $0.9 billion liability position (from $1.4 billion a year earlier).


Current quarter, Q1 fiscal 2027 (three months ended April 30, 2026)

From the Q1 FY2027 10-Q, accession 0000104169-26-000102, with results-release detail from the Form 8-K filed May 21, 2026, accession 0000104169-26-000095.

Headline results

Q1 FY27Q1 FY26Change
Net sales$175,684M$163,981M+7.1%
Membership and other income$2,067M$1,628M+27.0%
Total revenues$177,751M$165,609M+7.3%
Gross profit$42,626M$39,678M+7.4%
Operating expenses$37,200M$34,171M+8.9%
Operating income$7,493M$7,135M+5.0%
Other (gains) and losses$(275)M$597Mswing
Consolidated net income$5,490M$4,639M+$0.9B
Diluted EPS (Walmart)$0.67$0.56+$0.11

Gross margin 24.3% of net sales (+6 bps); operating expense rate 21.2% (+33 bps); operating margin 4.3% (−8 bps). Effective tax rate 23.2% vs. 22.6%. Unit count 10,974; retail square feet 1,057 million. Adjusted EPS of $0.66 excludes a net $0.02 investment gain and $0.01 of business reorganization charges.

What actually moved

and marketplace, the single largest driver of the revenue beat over the prior year.

revenue grew 17.4%** globally.

$0.2 billion of business reorganization charges in Walmart U.S. and Corporate tied to aligning global platforms, and higher associate healthcare benefit costs from increased enrollment and medical cost inflation.

distribution and fulfillment**.

chiefly investment fair-value changes, a reminder that a meaningful slice of the year-over- year net income increase is non-operating.

segment amounts were revised for comparability.

By segment

and average ticket, with strength in grocery and general merchandise; eCommerce contributed ≈5.2 points. Gross margin +29 bps on merchandise mix and higher-margin businesses including advertising, partly offset by higher supply-chain fuel costs. Operating expense rate +56 bps. Operating income $5,897M, +$0.2B. Membership and other income +45.6%, helped by miscellaneous items plus double-digit Walmart+ fee growth.

currency and $2.0 billion was eCommerce growth. Gross margin flat. Operating expense rate −28 bps on cost discipline and format mix, partly offset by investment in Canada and Mexico. Operating income $1,602M, +$0.3B.

fuel adding 2.1 points on higher prices and volumes (the reverse of fiscal 2026's drag); eCommerce contributed ≈3.1 points. Gross margin −26 bps on higher eCommerce fulfillment costs from club-fulfilled delivery. Operating expense rate flat. Operating income $674M, up only slightly. Membership and other income +11.0%.

Balance sheet, cash and capital

Capital expenditures $6,684M (vs. $4,986M), so free cash flow was negative $1.9 billion, a $2.4 billion year-over-year decline. Q1 is seasonally the weakest cash quarter, but the capex step-up is the larger factor.

demand in Walmart U.S. grocery, and fuel.

to the U.S. (up from $3.9 billion at January 31, 2026). Working capital deficit $26.2 billion, widened from $22.7 billion a year earlier.

from $38,166M. On April 30, 2026 Walmart issued $4.23 billion net of senior unsecured notes for general corporate purposes: $350M floating-rate due 2029; $650M at 4.000% due 2029; $1,000M at 4.150% due 2031; $1,250M at 4.450% due 2033; $1,000M at 4.750% due 2036 (offering terms in the Form 8-K filed April 30, 2026, accession 0001193125-26-194086). Repayments totalled $1,504M: €650M 2.550% notes on April 8, 2026 and $750M 4.000% notes on April 15,

  1. The new notes carry no financial covenants and do not restrict dividends or

buybacks.

five-year revolving credit facilities**; total committed U.S. lines of $15.0 billion, all undrawn.

$123.83 (March) and $126.89 (April), a $2.5 billion decrease from the prior-year quarter, which had been elevated by opportunistic buying. $28.2 billion of authorization remained at April 30, 2026.

declaration.

higher average invested capital from property and equipment purchases, plus the PhonePe charge, reorganization charges and legal matters in the trailing period.

Tariffs

Management notes it operates in a highly dynamic tariff environment but that less than one third of what it sells in the U.S. is imported, with most imports from China, Vietnam, Mexico, India and Canada. Walmart is participating in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process for refunds of tariffs it paid as importer of record under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Timing, amounts and ultimate resolution remain uncertain, and no amounts were recognized in the quarter, so any refund would be upside not currently in the numbers.

Guidance

From the Form 8-K filed May 21, 2026 (accession 0000104169-26-000095) and, for the unchanged full-year outlook, the Form 8-K filed February 19, 2026 (accession 0000104169-26-000032).

7% to 10% constant currency; adjusted EPS $0.72 to $0.74.

constant currency; adjusted operating income up 6.0% to 8.0% constant currency; net interest expense up approximately $200M to $300M; effective tax rate approximately 23.5% to 24.5%; adjusted EPS $2.75 to $2.85; capital expenditures approximately 3.5% of net sales. The full-year framework is built off fiscal 2026 net sales of $706.4 billion, adjusted operating income of $31.0 billion and adjusted EPS of $2.64.

Note that the guided adjusted-operating-income growth of 6–8% for the full year sits above the 5.0% reported in Q1, and the guided Q2 range of 7–10% implies management expects the fuel and reorganization drags to ease.

No change to risk factors

The Q1 FY2027 10-Q states that no material change occurred in the risk factors disclosed in the FY2026 10-K.


Subsequent events

The Q1 fiscal 2027 10-Q (accession 0000104169-26-000102) does not contain a separate subsequent-events note; its notes end with segments and disaggregated revenue. No acquisitions, divestitures, or post-period financings were disclosed. The material post-period items that are disclosed across the filings are:

from $50 to $60 per year and Plus memberships from $110 to $120 per year. Because membership fees are deferred and recognized ratably over the one-year term, the benefit builds gradually through fiscal 2027 and beyond rather than landing at once. (Disclosed in the 10-Q's discussion of the Sam's Club U.S. segment.)

(Florida state court, asserting claims on behalf of several hospital systems), following a jury trial that ended in a mistrial on December 8, 2025, the court granted a directed verdict and entered judgment in favor of Walmart and the other defendants. (Disclosed in the 10-Q contingencies note.)

0000104169-26-000055) records the board's approval, effective February 19, 2026, of the fiscal 2027 annual dividend of $0.99 per share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.2475: record March 20, 2026 / payable April 6, 2026; record May 8 / payable May 26, 2026; record August 21 / payable September 8, 2026; record December 11, 2026 / payable January 4, 2027.

Restated Certificate of Incorporation limiting the liability of certain officers to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law (officer exculpation). The charter amendment and a Restated Certificate were filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 4, 2026 and became effective upon filing. (Form 8-K filed June 5, 2026, accession 0000104169-26-000111.)

trading plan to sell up to 236,250 shares in equal monthly trades from September 2026 through February 2028; the plan terminates February 17, 2028. Earlier in the quarter, director and former CEO C. Douglas McMillon (March 10, 2026) adopted a plan for 155,328 shares running June 2026 through January 2027; Daniel J. Bartlett (March 12, 2026) for up to $15,000,000 of stock from July 2026 through July 1, 2029; David Guggina (March 12, 2026) for up to 21,108 shares net of tax withholding; and Suresh Kumar (March 27, 2026) for up to 199,610 shares from June 2026 through December 2026, subject to a minimum price threshold.

Synthesised from Walmart Inc.'s SEC filings by Ticker Scout. Free to cite with attribution: Ticker Scout (tickerscout.ai). Not investment advice, see the Disclaimer. Other formats for this company: company index, financials.json, index.json.