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Walmart Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 5.6% in quarter: Total revenues were $190.7 billion, up 5.6%, or 4.9% in constant currency. Full-year total revenues were $713.2 billion, up 4.7%, or 5.1% in constant currency. Source
  • Operating income up 10.8%: Operating income rose $0.8 billion, or 10.8%, growing faster than sales; adjusted operating income rose 10.5% in constant currency. Full-year operating income rose 1.6%, or 5.4% adjusted in constant currency. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS reported: Diluted EPS was $0.53 for the quarter and $2.73 for the year; adjusted EPS was $0.74 for the quarter and $2.64 for the year. Source
  • Global eCommerce sales grew 24%: Global eCommerce grew 24%. Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales rose 27%, and Sam’s Club U.S. eCommerce sales rose 23%, with growth in club-fulfilled pickup and delivery. Source
  • Walmart U.S. comps rose 4.6%: Walmart U.S. comparable sales excluding fuel rose 4.6%, with transactions up 2.6% and average ticket up 2.0%. Full-year comparable sales excluding fuel were up 4.6%. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $14.9 billion: Free cash flow for the year was $14.9 billion, up $2.3 billion. Operating cash flow for the year was $41.6 billion. Source
  • FY27 sales and profit growth guided: FY27 guidance has net sales up 3.5% to 4.5% and adjusted operating income up 6.0% to 8.0%, both in constant currency, on an adjusted basis for prior-year results. Source
  • FY27 adjusted EPS guided higher: Adjusted EPS is expected at $2.75 to $2.85. Net interest is expected to rise by $200M to $300M, and the effective tax rate is about 23.5% to 24.5%. Source

“The pace of change in retail is accelerating. It’s exciting. And our financial results show that we’re not only embracing this change, we’re leading it.”

John Furner President and CEO, Walmart

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales (cc) SourceQ1 FY27Increase 3.5% to 4.5%New
Operating income (cc) SourceQ1 FY27Increase 4.0% to 6.0%New
Adjusted EPS SourceQ1 FY27$0.63 to $0.65New
Net sales (cc) SourceFY27Increase 3.5% to 4.5%New
Adjusted operating income (cc) SourceFY27Increase 6.0% to 8.0%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFY27$2.75 to $2.85New
Interest, net SourceFY27Increase approximately $200M to $300MNew
Effective tax rate SourceFY27Approximately 23.5% to 24.5%New
Capital expenditures SourceFY27Approximately 3.5% of net salesNew
Share repurchase authorization Sourcenot stated$30 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: FY27 guidance issued for net sales, adjusted operating income, adjusted EPS, interest, tax rate and capital expenditures. Source
  • New guidance: First quarter FY27 guidance issued, based on Q1 FY26 net sales of $164.0 billion, operating income of $7.1 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.61. Source
  • New: New $30 billion share repurchase authorization announced, replacing the remaining capacity under the prior authorization. Source
  • New: John Furner is named as leader; the prior quarter's release quoted Doug McMillon as CEO and Furner as his successor.

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 5.6% in quarter: Total revenues were $190.7 billion, up 5.6%, or 4.9% in constant currency. Full-year total revenues were $713.2 billion, up 4.7%, or 5.1% in constant currency. Source
  • Operating income up 10.8%: Operating income rose $0.8 billion, or 10.8%, growing faster than sales; adjusted operating income rose 10.5% in constant currency. Full-year operating income rose 1.6%, or 5.4% adjusted in constant currency. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS reported: Diluted EPS was $0.53 for the quarter and $2.73 for the year; adjusted EPS was $0.74 for the quarter and $2.64 for the year. Source
  • Fair-value gains lifted return on assets: Return on assets was 8.2% for the trailing twelve months, with net income helped by fair-value increases on equity and other investments. Return on investment was 15.1%, down from 15.5%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Walmart U.S. net sales up 4.6%: Walmart U.S. net sales were $129.2 billion, up 4.6%. Operating income rose 6.6% to $7.0 billion, with an operating margin of 5.4% against 5.3% a year earlier. Source
  • International sales up 11.5%: International net sales rose 11.5%, or 7.5% in constant currency, led by China, Walmex and Flipkart. Adjusted operating income in constant currency rose 26.5%, attributed to lower eCommerce losses and lapping last year’s investments. Source
  • Sam’s Club sales up 2.9%: Sam’s Club U.S. net sales were $23.8 billion, up 2.9%, or 4.0% excluding fuel. Operating income rose 3.8% to $0.6 billion, with an operating margin of 2.5%. Source

“For our customers and members, the future is fast, convenient, and personalized.”

John Furner President and CEO, Walmart

eCommerce, advertising and membership

  • Global eCommerce sales grew 24%: Global eCommerce grew 24%. Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales rose 27%, and Sam’s Club U.S. eCommerce sales rose 23%, with growth in club-fulfilled pickup and delivery. Source
  • Global advertising grew 37%: The global advertising business grew 37% in the quarter, including VIZIO, and 46% for the year to nearly $6.4 billion. Walmart Connect sales in the U.S. rose 41%. Source
  • Sam’s Club membership fees grew: Global membership fee revenue rose 15.1%. Sam’s Club U.S. membership fee revenue grew 6.1%, reflecting member counts, renewal rates and Plus members. Source

Margins, costs and operating expenses

  • Gross margin rate up 13 bps: Consolidated gross profit was 24.0% of net sales, with the gross margin rate up 13 bps led by Walmart U.S. Walmart U.S. gross profit rate rose 17 bps, with inventory management and improved eCommerce economics cited. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 5.0%: Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses were $38.3 billion, up 5.0%, or 20.3% of net sales against 20.4% a year earlier. Walmart U.S. operating expenses leveraged 2 bps. Source
  • Other losses on investments: Other losses were $2.1 billion in Q4, against $0.3 billion a year earlier. The full year showed $2.1 billion of other gains. Adjusted EPS excludes the net loss on investments. Source

Customer traffic and comparable sales

  • Walmart U.S. comps rose 4.6%: Walmart U.S. comparable sales excluding fuel rose 4.6%, with transactions up 2.6% and average ticket up 2.0%. Full-year comparable sales excluding fuel were up 4.6%. Source
  • Sam’s Club transactions rose 5.3%: Sam’s Club U.S. comparable sales excluding fuel rose 4.0%, with transactions up 5.3% and average ticket down 1.3%. Including fuel, comparable sales rose 2.8%. Source
  • Digital drove customer transactions: Management said customer transactions grew, led by digital, with broad-based share gains. It said customers responded favorably to the omni strategy of low prices and increased convenience. Source
  • Fuel reduced Sam’s comparable sales: Fuel reduced Sam’s Club U.S. comparable sales by 1.2 points in the quarter, taking the including-fuel rate to 2.8% from 4.0% excluding fuel. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow rose to $14.9 billion: Free cash flow for the year was $14.9 billion, up $2.3 billion. Operating cash flow for the year was $41.6 billion. Source
  • Capital spending rose for omnichannel: Capital expenditures for the year were $26.6 billion, up $2.9 billion, to support the omnichannel growth strategy. Source
  • Share repurchases to date: Walmart repurchased 85.0 million shares year to date for $8.1 billion. Source
  • Annual dividend raised to $0.99: The annual dividend was increased to $0.99 per share. Dividends paid for the year were $7.5 billion, against $6.7 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow up $5.1 billion: Operating cash flow rose $5.1 billion. Management attributed the increase to higher cash from operating income, lower cash tax payments and timing of certain payments. Source

FY27 guidance and associates

  • FY27 sales and profit growth guided: FY27 guidance has net sales up 3.5% to 4.5% and adjusted operating income up 6.0% to 8.0%, both in constant currency, on an adjusted basis for prior-year results. Source
  • FY27 adjusted EPS guided higher: Adjusted EPS is expected at $2.75 to $2.85. Net interest is expected to rise by $200M to $300M, and the effective tax rate is about 23.5% to 24.5%. Source
  • First-quarter FY27 guidance issued: First quarter guidance is net sales up 3.5% to 4.5% and operating income up 4.0% to 6.0%, both in constant currency, with adjusted EPS of $0.63 to $0.65. Source
  • Capital expenditures near 3.5% of sales: Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately 3.5% of net sales in FY27. Source
  • Associates and store footprint: Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates and serves about 280 million weekly customers and members across more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 February 2026

  • FY27 guidance period ahead: The company said it issues guidance for FY27, with first-quarter FY27 guidance also given. Source
  • New repurchase authorization ahead: Future repurchases fall under the new $30 billion authorization, which replaced the remaining capacity under the prior one. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales, Walmart U.S. (ex. fuel) Source4.6%
Comparable sales, Sam’s Club U.S. (ex. fuel) Source4.0%
Transactions, Walmart U.S. Source2.6%
Average ticket, Walmart U.S. Source2.0%
Average ticket, Sam’s Club U.S. Source-1.3%
ECommerce contribution to comp, Walmart U.S. Source~520 bps
ECommerce sales growth, global Source24%
Inventory, global Source$58.9 billion, up 4.3%
Gross margin rate Sourceup 13 bps
Store count Sourcemore than 10,900 stores

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Higher capital purchases raised average invested capital, which lowered return on investment to 15.1% from 15.5%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Reported FY26 net sales growth in constant currency was 5.1%.
  • Not stated: Reported FY26 adjusted EPS was $2.64.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.