Financial Report Outlook | American Consumer Barometer Hits Walmart Inc. (WMT.US) Financial Report as "Pressure Test" Sample in Retail Industry.

Walmart Inc. (WMT.US) will announce its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 before the US stock market opens on Thursday, May 15th. This report will be seen as a key indicator for the health of American consumers and overall retail trends in the retail industry, as well as a gauge of whether companies will pass on tariff costs directly to consumers. Analysts expect Walmart Inc. to report revenue of $164.5 billion and earnings per share of $0.58, in line with the company's previous guidance of $0.57-0.58 earnings per share. Amidst a trend of consumers stockpiling household goods due to concerns about future tariff-related price increases, US same-store sales at Walmart Inc. are expected to increase by 3.6%. Walmart Inc.'s performance guidance is seen as sufficiently inclusive to cover a broader range of outcomes. Walmart Inc. management has previously forecasted that, despite integrating the VIZIO acquisition business and dealing with unfavorable category combinations, net sales for the full year will increase by 3% to 4%, with adjusted operating profit growth of 3.5% to 5.5%. Investors will be closely watching Walmart Inc.'s ability to maintain momentum in the face of ongoing macroeconomic challenges, including inflation, changes in consumer spending patterns, and the impact of newly imposed tariffs. The focus of the earnings conference call will include Walmart Inc.'s advertising business, e-commerce performance, market share growth, inventory management, supply chain and procurement strategies, and commentary on consumer behavior amidst economic and trade war uncertainties. Street View On Wall Street, Walmart Inc. is widely regarded as one of the most capable retailers in mitigating the impact of tariffs, although market consensus is that prices of many retail products will increase, especially in the second half of the year. Morgan Stanley analyst Simeon Gutman pointed out that, although tariffs have increased uncertainty for earnings in the second half of the year, Walmart Inc.'s long-term structural profit drivers such as e-commerce, automation, and purchasing power remain strong. Given its scale, supply chain advantages, category mix, and price differentials, the company is seen as being able to cope with cost challenges. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. analyst Corey Tarlowe believes that Walmart Inc.'s efforts to gain market share and mitigate the impact of tariffs may impede the extent of profit margin expansion. However, the company remains committed to achieving profit growth rates that exceed sales growth rates in the long term. Tarlowe predicted, "We believe that depending on the extent to which the company ultimately invests to drive market share, the difference between sales and profit growth this year may narrow. Therefore, given that tariffs were not included in the guidance, full-year EBIT growth may be lower than investors expect." Meanwhile, UBS Group AG analyst Michael Lasser believes that Walmart Inc. is one of the few retail companies expected to generate sustained and predictable earnings, which is expected to drive the stock to outperform the market. "We believe this perspective will be further supported by the first quarter performance and annual outlook of retailers, and we expect Walmart Inc. to reiterate this outlook," wrote Lasser. Analysts believe that Walmart Inc.'s financial report this time around is more significant than usual, as the market is delving deeper into the balance between expanding market share through suppressing price increases and protecting profit margins.