Walmart stock (WMT): what moves it, explained simply
Walmart's report is a window into how millions of US shoppers are doing. That's why traders far outside retail watch it.
This page explains how the stock tends to move. It isn't a recommendation to buy or sell it.
At a glance
| Item | Walmart (WMT) |
|---|---|
| What it is | The largest US retailer: Walmart stores, Sam's Club, online shopping, Walmart+ and a growing ad business |
| Where it trades | Nasdaq since December 2025 (it was on the NYSE for decades), ticker WMT |
| Indexes it's in | S&P 500, the Dow, and the Nasdaq-100 (since January 2026) |
| Earnings | 4 times a year, before the open, usually mid-to-late February, May, August and November |
| What moves it most | Same-store sales, online growth, profit margins, guidance, prices and tariffs |
| How it tends to move | Usually steady, with clear moves on earnings |
| Regular hours | 9:30 am–4:00 pm ET, plus pre-market and after-hours sessions |
What the company does
Walmart sells groceries and everyday goods at low prices, in stores and online. Sam's Club is its members-only warehouse chain.
It also runs Walmart+, a paid membership, and sells ads on its website and app. Those newer parts are a big reason investors now compare it with tech-style retailers like Amazon.
What moves it
- Same-store sales. Sales at stores open at least a year. It's the cleanest way to see if shoppers are spending more. See Earnings report.
- Online sales. How fast its e-commerce grows.
- Margins. How much it keeps after costs. Price cuts help shoppers but can squeeze margins.
- Guidance. Walmart's outlook is read as a forecast for the US shopper.
- Tariffs and costs. Many goods are imported, so trade rules and shipping costs matter.
- The economy. When money gets tight, some shoppers trade down to cheaper stores. That can help Walmart even in slow times.
When it's busiest
- Earnings morning: results come out before 9:30 am ET, so the reaction shows in pre-market and at the open.
- 9:30–10:30 am and 3:00–4:00 pm ET: the usual open and close rush.
- Retail data days: the government's retail sales report comes out at 8:30 am ET and can move retail stocks.
US stock hours stay 9:30 am–4:00 pm ET all year.
Its personality
- Steady base. People buy food and basics in every economy. That tends to keep its swings smaller than tech stocks.
- Earnings matter more than usual. Its report is one of the few clear moves of each quarter.
- New index flows. Moving to the Nasdaq put it into the Nasdaq-100. Funds that track that index now hold it, which can add to trading on big index days.
- Off-calendar quarters. Its year ends January 31, so its "Q4" includes the holiday season.
Reading it with our method
Start on the daily chart. Mark the last places price turned around and find the direction. A steady stock often gives clean higher highs and higher lows. See higher highs and higher lows.
On your entry chart, only a candle body closing past a level counts.
Stop first, size second. Example: your stop is $2 away and your plan risks $70. That's $70 ÷ $2 = 35 shares. Use the position size calculator. A math example, not a promise. Losses are always possible.
Our free StructureX chart tool marks those turning points on TradingView, phone app included. Add it here.
Common mistakes
- Using old exchange data. Some old screeners still tag it as NYSE. The ticker stayed WMT.
- Missing the early report. It reports before the open, so the gap is set before most people log in.
- Treating "steady" as "safe." Guidance can still knock it down hard on report day.
- Mixing up fiscal years. Walmart's "fiscal 2027" mostly covers calendar 2026.
Questions
Did Walmart move from the NYSE to Nasdaq?
Yes. Walmart moved its stock listing to the Nasdaq in December 2025 and kept the ticker WMT. It joined the Nasdaq-100 in January 2026.
When does Walmart report earnings?
Four times a year, before the US market opens, usually in mid-to-late February, May, August and November. Its fiscal year ends January 31. Check Walmart's investor site for exact dates.
Is Walmart in the Dow Jones?
Yes. Walmart is one of the 30 Dow stocks. It's also in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100.
What are same-store sales?
Sales at stores that have been open for at least a year. They show growth from existing stores, not from opening new ones.
Want the next step? We'll walk you through it.
Four free lessons by email, one every few days — each with a 10-minute exercise on a real chart.
Send Me the Free Lessons 4 short emails · No spam · Unsubscribe anytimeOr see the whole method, step by step:
See What’s Inside the Course Try everything free first. Decide when you're ready. · Open the free chart tool (works in the TradingView phone app)One chart idea a day, in plain English. Follow along: