Walmart (WMT) is set to report earnings on Thursday morning, the first for its new CEO, John Furner, and a report that offers a readout of the key holiday shopping season after the company’s market cap recently eclipsed $1 trillion for the first time.
The retailer is expected to report adjusted earnings per share of $0.73, per Bloomberg consensus data. Revenue is expected to increase nearly 6% to $190 billion.
Same-store sales for its US business are expected to grow 4.3%, driven by e-commerce strength, higher ticket sizes, and a slight uptick in foot traffic. E-commerce sales are expected to rise 19.8%, a moderation from the 28% growth seen in the third quarter.
Read more: Live coverage of corporate earnings
Its wholesale retailer, Sam’s Club, is expected to report that same-store sales rose 4.4% in the quarter.
Walmart stock is up more than 15% year to date.
Telsey Advisory Group’s Joe Feldman said he expects the retailer to outperform the broader landscape in the fourth quarter, driven by share gains in grocery, improved general merchandise, increased price cuts, and selective promotions.
That’s all on top of “greater share of wallet across all income cohorts, especially upper income households,” Feldman wrote in a note to clients.
On its third quarter earnings call, then-CEO Doug McMillon said Walmart “saw strength across income cohorts and especially with higher-income households” during the period.
Feldman is also keeping an eye out for how technology, including AI, impacted results in the fourth quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, Walmart announced a partnership with OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) to bring OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its website and make Walmart items available for purchase directly within the ChatGPT platform, along with other tools.
Deutsche Bank analyst Krisztina Katai said she expects to hear more about what the future of Walmart will look like under Furner, including not only investments in AI but also “maximum fair pricing on pharmacy,” demand for general merchandise, and competition in its grocery business. Groceries make up 60% of Walmart’s US sales.
Brooke DiPalma is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.
Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
