Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications. The company offers grocery and consumables, including dairy, meat, bakery, deli, produce, dry, chilled or frozen packaged foods, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, floral, snack foods, candy, other grocery items, health and beauty aids, paper goods, laundry and home care, baby care, pet supplies, and other consumable items; fuel, tobacco and other categories. It is also involved in the provision of health and wellness products covering pharmacy, optical and hearing services, and over-the-counter drugs and other medical products; and home and apparel including home improvement, outdoor living, gardening, furniture, apparel, jewelry, tools and power equipment, housewares, toys, seasonal items, mattresses and tire and battery centers. In addition, the company offers consumer electronics and accessories, software, video games, office supplies, appliances, and third-party gift cards. Further, it operates digital payment platforms; and offers financial services and related products, including money transfers, bill payments, money orders, check cashing, prepaid access, co-branded credit cards, installment lending, and earned wage access. Additionally, the company markets lines of merchandise under private brands, including Allswell, Athletic Works, Equate, and Free Assembly. The company was formerly known as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Walmart Inc. in February 2018. Walmart Inc. was founded in 1945 and is based in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Walmart остаётся качественным защитным бизнесом, но текущая оценка уже заметно опережает фундаментальную динамику. По мультипликаторам картина напряжённая: P/E 43.3, P/S 1.46, P/B 9.98 и P/FCF 66.8 существенно выше отраслевых медиан, что говорит о дорогой цене за стабильность и ограничивает потенциал переоценки. При этом сами показатели эффективности выглядят неплохо: ROE 22.2%, ROA 7.9% и ROI 15.6% выше медианы, а ROE и ROI в целом держатся на высоком уровне по истории. Сильная сторона — умеренная долговая нагрузка: debt/equity 0.38 ниже медианы, а долг за год не выглядит агрессивно растущим, что поддерживает устойчивость баланса. Однако ликвидность слабая: quick ratio 0.24 и current ratio 0.79 указывают на низкий запас краткосрочной подушки, что для ритейла допустимо, но всё же является минусом для оценки. Маржинальность остаётся скромной: net margin 3.07% и operating margin 4.18% ниже отраслевых ориентиров, хотя gross margin около 24.9% стабилен и почти не ухудшается по годам. Динамика прибыли неоднородна: выручка выросла до 190.7 млрд, gross profit и operating income также сильны, но net income в TTM снизился относительно более сильных кварталов прошлого года. Это означает, что операционный масштаб компании растёт, но чистая прибыль и итоговая рентабельность не демонстрируют ускорения, которое могло бы оправдать столь высокие мультипликаторы. Дивидендная доходность около 0.19% слишком низка, чтобы заметно поддерживать инвестиционный кейс через доходность акционера. В сумме фундаментал у Walmart крепкий и предсказуемый, но не настолько ускоряющийся, чтобы оправдать агрессивный апсайд в цене. Для инвестора это скорее история качества и устойчивости, чем недооценённости, поэтому целевой ориентир выглядит немного завышенным относительно текущего набора метрик.

Walmart Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, flat. The market is on the bulls' side.

Слабый индекс, незначительно упал

Walmart фундаментально устойчив, но дорог по P/E, P/B и P/FCF; сильные ROE и выручка не компенсируют слабую ликвидность и низкую дивдоходность.

Key Points
Consumer confidence just hit a new low.
Many people are frustrated by persistent inflation, among other things.
If people go hunting for inexpensive goods, there are companies which will benefit from it.
Despite the S&P 500 climbing and routinely breaking its all-time highs recently, the U.S. consumer sentiment survey just printed 44.8 in May, the lowest reading in its history, undercutting even the gloom of the mid-2022 inflation scare. When shoppers feel this battered, they typically trim their purchases of discretionary goods first, and the textbook response for investors is to hunt the companies that are about to feel that squeeze.
The idea is that the ongoing consumer despair will lead to discounts on certain consumer-facing stocks soon, which, for those who pick the right assets, will then (hopefully) lead to gains when the mood inevitably lifts. The trouble is that the bargain bin is presently much emptier than that theory predicts, which is making many investors concerned that their new investments will be placed in highly overvalued assets that might never recover to their current price.
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So should investors be worried about how gloomy consumers are feeling right now?
Where's the money going?
When household budgets tighten because people are either expecting or experiencing hard economic times, people tend to redirect their spending rather than halt it altogether.
That meshes with census data, which shows headline retail sales still climbing, even as discretionary and big-ticket categories soften. Be on the lookout for buying opportunities over the next year or so, as you'll probably see some serious earnings softness leading to deep discounts on shares if consumer sentiment remains so sour.
The other side of the coin is that the most obvious winners of this era of discontent are the warehouse and discount giants, Walmart, (NASDAQ: WMT) Costco Wholesale, (NASDAQ: COST) where a dollar can be stretched the furthest.
Of course, much to the chagrin of investors, the market figured this out years ago. Walmart's trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 42, and Costco's is 49. By that measure, both rank as being fairly expensive for recession-resistant retailers.
Nonetheless, even if the market experiences a sharp downturn, those names are more likely than not to bounce back, even if consumers remain unhappy.
The case for staying calm
The best move for investors right now is to stay patient and to be highly selective about which stocks to buy and when. The most important trigger to be watching is actual spending habits, not feelings.
If discretionary outlays keep contracting over the next couple of quarters to the point where there appears to be little hope for the stocks of luxury goods producers and similar companies, that will be the moment to look for bargains to buy in that segment. At the same time, the valuations of Costco, Walmart, and other consumer staples businesses may be even less favorable by then, so be more cautious.
In other words, position yourself to take advantage of poor consumer sentiment and any of the resulting market volatility as the opportunities present themselves, and don't be worried about it specifically. It's frustrating to experience inflation, but worrying (rather than taking action) will just make it harder to bear.
Should you buy stock in Walmart right now?
Before you buy stock in Walmart, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Walmart wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $433,268!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,259,391!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 935% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Alex Carchidi has positions in Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Consumer Sentiment Hit a New Low. Should Investors Be Worried Right Now?

Key Points
Costco, Walmart, and Amazon are all strong retail stocks.
Amazon is riskier, but it has more upside thanks to its cloud business.
Picking a winner depends on the goals and needs of a portfolio.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) have all carved out their own niche in serving retail shoppers. Walmart is known for low prices, Costco sells bulk items, and Amazon sells and ships pretty much anything you need.
As investments, they are also all unique in how they can fit into a portfolio. Finding the winner between the three comes down to holding periods and investing goals.
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The membership model that keeps making money
Walking through a Costco is often described as being on a treasure hunt, with some members even sharing their shopping trips on social media. With its bulk deals and private-label Kirkland Signature brand, Costco has built a loyal following that helps it boast an impressive membership renewal rate. As of its fiscal Q3 2026, Costco's membership renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada was 92.2%, while its worldwide membership renewal rate was 89.7%.
Mostly known for its warehouse shopping experience, Costco is also seeing positive results from connecting more with its customers online. In the third quarter, e-commerce site and app traffic rose 37%, while digitally enabled comparable sales increased 21.5%. While the quarter was strong and the company generally met or slightly beat expectations, the report wasn't enough to impress investors, and the stock price has recently dipped. Costco is richly valued, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 43.1, so expectations are high.
Still, over the last five years, Costco has done well by its shareholders, with the stock climbing over 150%. It's also a dividend payer, and while that yield is on the smaller side at 0.6%, Costco is also known for paying out a special dividend from time to time. In 2024, the one-time special dividend payout was $15 per share.
Constant dividends with a side of tech
Walmart is the only Dividend King on the list, earning that title by increasing its dividend payout for 50 or more consecutive years. That shows stability in the company's business model, because no matter what is going on in the economy, it has consistently rewarded its shareholders with dividend increases for the past 53 years. That comes from having a reliable business model.
Unlike some other Dividend Kings, however, Walmart is also known for providing stock price appreciation, particularly over the last five years, with shares also up over 150%, like Costco. That growth can continue over the long term as it infuses more technology into its business, such as its artificial intelligence (AI) shopping agent, Sparky. It also has growing revenue from its Walmart+ membership and a budding advertising division.
Follow the AI leader
Amazon has a retail presence like Walmart and Costco, and it also has a grocery component through its ownership of Whole Foods. But there's an even bigger opportunity outside of the retail sector for Amazon.
Much as in the chip sector for AI, where most roads lead to Nvidia, that's increasingly becoming true with Amazon's cloud business. In its 2026 first-quarter earnings report, Amazon announced new Amazon Web Service (AWS) agreements with Anthropic, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Uber Technologies. In that report, Amazon also announced that AWS revenue increased 28% to $37.6 billion, which was its fastest revenue growth in 15 quarters.
For Amazon, the only catch is that it is judged more as a tech company than a retailer. Tech stocks are usually the first stocks investors rotate out of during periods of heightened economic uncertainty, as they are seen as risky.
The winning stock
Walmart, Costco, and Amazon are well-run companies, and each could be worth holding in a portfolio. But with the idea that you'd be buying a stock in 2026 to hold for years or decades for stock price appreciation, Amazon could offer the most potential thanks to its AI opportunities. It's making heavy investments to win the AI race against other big tech companies, but as those capital expenditures start showing up as revenue and margins improve, that can help the stock price break out.
For long-term investors seeking reliable income, however, Walmart is worth considering. The dividend yield is on the lower side at 0.8%, but that indicates a sustainable yield. Plus, while Amazon could offer more long-term stock price appreciation because of its cloud services and involvement in AI, Walmart's dividend payout can help increase its total return potential.
Should you buy stock in Costco Wholesale right now?
Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Costco Wholesale wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $433,268!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,259,391!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 935% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Jack Delaney has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, Uber Technologies, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Costco vs. Walmart vs. Amazon: Which Stock Is the Smartest Buy in 2026?

Key Points
Costco has outperformed Walmart stock so far in 2026.
While Walmart customers are buying less than 10 gallons per trip to the pump, Costco recently set new records for gasoline sales volumes.
Both stocks are strongly outperforming the S&P Retail Select Industry Index, but Costco seems better positioned for an environment of lingering high gas prices.
As of this writing on June 10, a new round of U.S. military strikes in the Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil. Higher oil prices mean higher prices at the gas pump. And in an economy where many Americans already feel pressured by high costs of living, that could lead to some changes in how people spend their discretionary income.
Some retail stocks are more vulnerable than others to high gasoline prices. Retail sector stocks in general are struggling in 2026. So far this year, Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) and Costco (NASDAQ: COST) are both strongly outperforming the S&P Retail Select Industry Index, but only Costco is outperforming the S&P 500 index:
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Costco shares have delivered slightly higher returns than Walmart stock in 2026. And if gas prices stay high, that outperformance is likely to continue. Costco might be better positioned than any other retailer to keep thriving even if gas prices spike again.
Let's look at a few reasons why Costco could be a better buy than Walmart.
Walmart customers are cutting back on gas
Walmart and Costco both sell gas. So on that basic level, both retailers will keep earning revenue from gasoline even if gas prices stay higher for longer. But customers seem to be reacting to high gas prices in a way that's more troubling for Walmart's business.
On May 21, during the company's most recentearnings call Walmart's chief financial officer John David Rainey said that although the retailer's higher-income customers are still spending "with confidence," lower-income customers are "more budget-conscious."
As part of that trend, Rainey shared a surprising statistic: Walmart fuel-center customers are now buying an average of less than 10 gallons of gas per visit. That's the lowest level since 2022.
It's a bad sign, indicating that Walmart shoppers are being hit hard by high gas prices. If people are still topping up their tanks at Walmart gas pumps but having to cut back on gas, that could mean they're tapped out and ready to pull back on other consumer discretionary spending. That could lead to less foot traffic in Walmart stores.
Costco: Record-breaking gasoline sales
Gasoline sales make up a significant portion of Costco's revenue -- about 10% of total net sales, according to the 2025 annual report. But the recent spike in gas prices has driven Costco's gas sales even higher than usual.
On the company's most recent quarterlyearnings callon May 28, CEO Ron Vachris said that Costco achieved "record-breaking volumes" in its latest fiscal quarter, and the final five weeks of the quarter were "our top five volume weeks ever."
Even beyond the sheer volume of gasoline that they buy, Costco members seem to behave differently when buying gas. Instead of buying cheap gas and driving away, Costco's gas customers tend to stick around and shop. Vachris said on May 28 that company executives believe higher gasoline sales volumes "will drive even greater loyalty with these members in the future, as members who use our gas stations typically spend more with us in the warehouse."
During a previousearnings callon March 5, Costco's CFO said that about 50% of gas shoppers also "cross-shop" at the nearby Costco warehouse. Buying gas at Costco isn't just a way to save money, it's an occasion to go spend some more. People might think: "I'll stop by Costco for the cheap gas -- oh, and while I'm there, I'll buy some groceries for dinner."
Why buy Costco stock versus Walmart stock?
High gas prices aren't the only factor that determines how people spend money or where they shop. But if the Iran conflict leads to a longer, more severe spike in gas prices, it would likely drive inflation even higher for longer across the economy. If inflation rises, Walmart's lower-income customer base is likely to pull back on spending sooner than Costco's more affluent gas-pump bargain hunters.
Costco has a recent price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 48.8, compared to Walmart's P/E multiple of 42.3. Neither stock looks cheap compared to the S&P 500's current P/E ratio of 31.3. But if I had to choose today between investing in shares of Costco or Walmart, I'd buy Costco stock.
Should you buy stock in Costco Wholesale right now?
Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Costco Wholesale wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $438,283!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,257,427!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 938% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Ben Gran has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

If Gas Prices Stay High, Costco Stock Could Be a Better Buy Than Walmart

Key Points
SpaceX opened at $168 per share, a 22% jump from its $135 IPO price, pushing its market cap above $2.2 trillion.
Amazon and Microsoft fell slightly on above-average volume, suggesting investors sold some of their existing tech holdings to fund SpaceX purchases.
Oil prices fell more than 2% as investors grew hopeful that U.S.-Iran peace talks could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Wall Street had one job Friday: watch Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) take off.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) rose 0.4% by noon ET, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) added 0.1%. The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) index dipped 0.1%, weighed down by some familiar names making room for the new kid on the block.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
The indexes bounced around in the morning but never strayed far from flat. The real action was elsewhere. And even a new $2 trillion player rising 23% (as of this writing at 12:19 p.m. ET -- probably some other figure by the time you read this) wasn't able to lift a Nasdaq index dominated by titans in the $4 trillion club.
All eyes on SpaceX
Friday's Wall Street feels a lot like rocket-launch days at Cape Canaveral. Everything stood still, awaiting the majestic launch of a massive spaceship. None of the top indexes moved more than 1.2% in the morning, and they all trended back toward breakeven around noon.
SpaceX, for its part, delivered the drama. The official launch price was $135 per share, but trading opened at $168. That's a 22% jump, maxing out at a $2.2 trillion market cap. Elon Musk's combined space exploration and AI business is worth more than Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB) combined, roughly matching the gross domestic products of Canada or Brazil.
It's the largest public offering ever, and Friday's pop suggests investors wanted in even at that lofty price. And the SpaceX IPO shuffled how deep-pocketed investors allocate their funds today. Mega-caps Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) are down modestly on above-average trading volume, slicing $55 billion and $21 billion off their market caps, respectively. I can't prove this thesis, but I expect a significant portion of these tech titan investments simply moved over to SpaceX.
SpaceX's successful debut bodes well for OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are expected to go public later this year. If investors will pay $2 trillion for rockets and Starlink, they'll probably show up for chatbots and AI security systems, too.
Iran deal: maybe, maybe not
It took me this long to get into today's geopolitics, because the SpaceX launch seems to have dampened everything else. Again, none of the major indexes is making a big move, and their top components neither soared nor crashed, either.
But there's still plenty of news to share from the Persian Gulf. Oil prices have bounced around today, with the United States Oil Fund (NYSEMKT: USO) currently down 2.1%. Some sources say that the Iranian conflict should end soon, though the Trump administration condemns Iran's recent drone strikes. Conflicting media reports make it difficult to guess what the final peace agreement will look like, or when it will be signed. But investors see hope in the ongoing talks, so oil prices are trending down.
Friday was SpaceX day and the normally headline-minting market indexes were more of an afterthought. The rotation out of Microsoft and Amazon is worth watching. If SpaceX's gain is just recycled Magnificent Seven money, the net effect on portfolios is a wash. If it's fresh capital entering the market, that's a different story.
SpaceX just proved that investors will show up for a $1.77 trillion debut and bid it even higher. OpenAI and Anthropic are taking notes.
Should you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies right now?
Before you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Space Exploration Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $438,283!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,257,427!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 938% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 12, 2026.
Anders Bylund has positions in Amazon and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Dow Jones Edges Higher While SpaceX Steals the Show With $2 Trillion Valuation

Key Points
Realty Income has been paying a monthly dividend for more than 55 years without skipping a beat.
Home Depot is laying the groundwork for a big comeback in a less hostile operating environment.
American Express's fee-based model generates loyalty and recurring revenue.
While the SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) is firing up the market, I'll be sitting this one out. I like a top growth stock with a great story as much as anyone else, but the math here doesn't add up for me. The stock is astronomically expensive, the financials aren't compelling, and IPO stocks as a class aren't usually a great investment.
If I were looking for a great stock to buy right now, I'd be looking at sturdy dividend stocks that offer safety in an increasingly expensive market rather than hype.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Three I'd start with are Realty Income (NYSE: O), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), and American Express (NYSE: AXP).
1. Realty Income
Realty Income is a real estate investment trust (REIT). It owns about 15,500 properties globally, and it's one of the largest in the world.
It has a solid growth strategy that involves buying new properties or acquiring smaller REITs, and it has access to plenty of funds to keep the model going. It also has a long pipeline of new properties to consider, with $31 billion in sourced volume in the first quarter and a 9% selectivity rate.
It's reliable for strong performance because it predominantly leases its properties to large essentials companies like Walmart, Home Depot, and 7-Eleven. These are companies that consistently have high demand and generally perform well under pressure. Almost 80% of its properties are in retail, but it has also expanded into other industries to expand its reach and reduce risk.
Realty Income has a 98.9% occupancy rate and rarely dips below that, even during times of economic pressure. It's a model that works.
As a REIT, it pays out 90% of its earnings as dividends, and its dividend is very attractive for a number of reasons. One is the yield. At the current price, Realty Income's dividend yields 5.3%. The growth and reliability are just as compelling. It's one of the few companies that pays a monthly dividend, and it has paid it for more than 55 years without fail, an unmatched track record. It has raised the dividend for the past 115 quarters, or close to 30 years.
Realty is a top dividend stock that can provide security and passive income to any investor.
2. Home Depot
Home Depot stock continues to struggle amid the high mortgage rate environment, which has been putting home sales on hold. But considering the pressured operating climate, it's reporting sales and comparable sales (comps) increases, which is an impressive feat.
In the fiscal 2026 first quarter (ended May 3), sales increased 4.8% year over year, with comps up 0.6%. Earnings per share (EPS) were down from $3.45 to $3.30.
Everything was in line with management's expectations, and the company continues to expand and lay the groundwork for more success when the macroeconomy is more favorable. It plans to open 15 new stores this year, and recently completed the acquisition of Mingledorff's, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment distributor in five Southeast U.S. states. This gives it greater access specifically to HVAC parts, and embedding this business in its enterprise leverages its powerful distribution system to create more value for its professional customers.
It's already doing that with SRS Distribution, a pro supplies company it acquired in 2024. SRS has 1,300 branches, and together with Home Depot's core 2,360 stores and 325 warehouses, it has 16,000 delivery assets.
While the stock is down, Home Depot continues to raise the dividend, and the yield is at 2.9% today.
3. American Express
American Express continues to demonstrate resilience and momentum despite stubbornly high inflation. It has a carefully crafted and maintained model that targets an affluent clientele through a fee-based rewards program, and this clientele has more spending power in any type of economy.
The fee-based model also creates loyalty and a recurring revenue stream, as well as high profitability. In the 2026 first quarter, revenue increased 11% year over year to $18.9 billion, while EPS increased 18% to $4.28. Spend growth is accelerating, up six percentage points from last year, while retention rates remain close to 100%.
The company's emphasis on travel and entertainment is a key part of its success. While U.S. consumer services spending increased 5% over last year in the first quarter, fine hotels and resorts spending increased 50%. The focus on younger consumers is also a major growth driver, with 66% of global consumer new accounts coming from millennial and Gen-Z age groups, and 73% of global new accounts on fee-based products.
With growing net income, it has ample funds to pay and raise its dividend, which yields 1.1% at the current price.
Should you buy stock in Realty Income right now?
Before you buy stock in Realty Income, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Realty Income wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,038!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,277,804!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 942% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 11, 2026.
American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has positions in American Express and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Express, Home Depot, Realty Income, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Boring Dividend Stocks I'd Buy Instead of SpaceX Any Day

Key Points
Walmart's stock price has risen steadily over the past decade as it dominates the U.S. grocery industry.
Blue-chip stocks can add safety to your portfolio. But they often trade for uncomfortably high premiums.
Stock market investors often have to make a trade-off between stability and growth. That's because the fastest-growing companies often have riskier business models, which leads to more volatility. That said, Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) has recently begun turning this axiom on its head.
Shares in the blue-chip retailer have risen by an impressive 401% over the past 10 years, far outpacing the S&P 500's return of just 251%. And while the company has practically no exposure to glamorous growth opportunities such as generative AI, its massive scale and booming e-commerce business have helped keep its stock relevant.
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Let's dig deeper to decide whether Walmart still has millionaire-maker potential.
The bluest of blue chip stocks
It's hard to think of a more stable and established American business than Walmart. Since its founding in 1962, the big-box retailer has leveraged its immense scale and distribution networks to offer unparalleled selection and low prices to consumers all over the country.
And while investors may be tempted to overlook the grocery business because of its extremely low profit margins, often hovering between 1% and 3%, Walmart makes it attractive by spreading a tiny bit of profit across tens of billions of items, creating a winning recipe that keeps both customers and shareholders coming back for more. The company's business model is also relatively safe because groceries are consumer staple items that tend to maintain demand, even in economic downturns.
Walmart's safety is a big selling point at this time of economic uncertainty related to the war in Iran and rising fuel costs. In March, analysts at Goldman Sachs put the 12-month recession probability at 30%.
But while the bad news seems to dominate the headlines, America's macroeconomic situation remains extremely unpredictable. In March, U.S. payroll jobs data beat expectations, adding 172,000 jobs and bringing the unemployment rate to just 4.3%. The economy therefore appears to be expanding instead of contracting. But Walmart can thrive in either scenario.
What about the growth opportunities?
Because Walmart is a mature company in a highly established industry, investors shouldn't expect it to deliver eye-popping growth. The bigger a business is, the more effort is required to move the needle. And over the long term, most of Walmart's expansion is likely to come from slow, reliable trends such as GDP, population growth, and even inflation. That said, management is taking some successful steps to speed things up a little.
One of the most promising opportunities is in e-commerce, where years of heavy investment are beginning to pay off by creating a business that has become a serious player with a U.S. market share of 9.2%. Walmart's e-commerce segment grew 26% year over year in the first quarter, helping the company's overall top line grow 7.3% to $177.8 billion in the period.
Despite being somewhat late to the party, Walmart already has a massive economic moat in e-commerce because of its logistics network and a web of thousands of brick-and-mortar stores that serve as delivery hubs for nearby communities. The company's membership platform, Walmart+, also helps ensure consumer loyalty through a variety of perks and loss leaders, similar to the strategy Amazon Prime employs.
And while none of these efforts will transform Walmart into a hypergrowth tech stock, they help the company maintain its dominant market share in retail and ensure it doesn't stagnate despite its maturity.
Is Walmart a millionaire-maker stock?
With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 41, Walmart stock is quite expensive compared with the S&P 500 average of 22, so it probably won't make you a millionaire anytime soon. That said, the company deserves a premium because of its quality and safe business. And over the long haul, investors should expect it to continue outperforming the index, especially as growth drivers such as e-commerce continue to scale up.
Should you buy stock in Walmart right now?
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Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Is Walmart a Millionaire-Maker Stock?

Dollar General Corporation’s DG first-quarter fiscal 2026 same-store sales growth suggests that the company has multiple drivers supporting its performance for the rest of the year. Same-store sales increased 2% in the quarter, driven by 1.4% growth in customer traffic and a 0.5% rise in the average transaction amount. Traffic-led comps generally indicate that customers are visiting more often, rather than growth being driven only by higher prices or larger baskets.
Dollar General said all four merchandising categories delivered positive comparable sales for the fifth straight quarter, with non-consumables again outpacing consumables. That balance is important because it shows the company is not relying solely on essential categories to drive comps.
Management also pointed to consistency within the quarter. All three periods were positive, with March helped by the Easter shift. The company said the business recovered after severe winter weather hurt the first two weeks of the quarter in February, with the remaining 11 weeks running near the upper end of its range. Trends also continued as May began.
For fiscal 2026, Dollar General continues to expect same-store sales growth of 2.2% to 2.7%. After a 2% first-quarter comp despite weather disruption, the latest update suggests that the company’s value and convenience proposition is still drawing repeat visits and providing a firmer base for same-store sales growth.
How Dollar General Compares With Walmart and Target
Walmart Inc. WMT posted U.S. comparable sales growth of 4.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, driven by higher customer transactions, increased unit volumes and strong e-commerce performance. Walmart continued to gain market share across income groups while benefiting from growth in advertising, marketplace sales and Walmart+ membership revenues. Walmart’s results reflected steady demand for both grocery and general merchandise offerings.
Meanwhile, Target Corporation TGT delivered comparable sales growth of 5.6%, supported by a 4.4% increase in traffic and strength across both stores and digital channels. Target reported sales growth in all six core merchandise categories, with broad-based demand across guest demographics. Target also highlighted momentum in beauty, food and wellness categories. As Target executes its merchandising and store experience initiatives, the retailer remains focused on driving sustainable long-term growth.
What the Latest Metrics Say About Dollar General
Dollar General has seen its shares tumble 26.8% over the past three months compared with the industry’s decline of 1.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Dollar General's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 14.19, lower than the industry’s ratio of 31.30. However, it is trading below its 12-month median level of 17.52.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar General’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 6.7%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 3.9% rise in sales and 8.7% growth in earnings.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Dollar General currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Dollar General's Same-Store Sales Strength Suggests More Growth Ahead

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Vanguard Russell 1000 Value (Symbol: VONV) where we have detected an approximate $450.4 million dollar inflow -- that's a 2.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 185,128,299 to 189,453,299). Among the largest underlying components of VONV, in trading today Johnson & Johnson (Symbol: JNJ) is trading flat, Walmart Inc (Symbol: WMT) is off about 0.7%, and Caterpillar Inc. (Symbol: CAT) is higher by about 0.8%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the VONV Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of VONV, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, VONV's low point in its 52 week range is $82.73 per share, with $105.885 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $104.97. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further VONV Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable ETF Inflow Detected - VONV, JNJ, WMT, CAT

Kohl’s Corporation’s KSS home business emerged as a notable bright spot in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, reflecting the company's ongoing efforts to refine assortments and deliver products that better align with customer preferences. While overall comparable sales declined 1.1%, Home was one of the few businesses to deliver flat to slightly positive comparable sales growth during the quarter.
The improvement was particularly meaningful given the category’s recent challenges. Home performance improved more than 400 basis points from the fourth quarter, aided by stronger customer response to innovation and fresh product offerings. Newness from brands such as Shark and Ninja resonated well with shoppers, helping drive momentum across the category.
Beyond national brands, Kohl’s is also leaning into proprietary offerings within soft home and tabletop categories through brands, such as Mariana and Mingle & Co. The balanced mix of innovation, value and exclusive products appears to be driving greater customer engagement.
Home decor was another area of progress. The business delivered low-single-digit growth after significant underperformance in the prior quarter. The turnaround followed assortment adjustments in seasonal decor, where the company previously carried excessive depth in select products while offering limited variety. A broader and more balanced assortment appears to have improved customer response.
The first-quarter results suggest that product newness is playing an increasingly important role in reviving Kohl’s Home business. The category’s recovery highlights how thoughtful merchandising and innovation can help reengage shoppers in a business that had previously struggled to gain momentum.
How WMT and TGT Stack Up
Walmart Inc. WMT is also seeing traction in discretionary categories, with U.S. general merchandise comps up mid-single digits in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Walmart’s marketplace growth in hardlines, home and apparel was more than 40%, while private-brand sales rose double digits, underscoring the company’s ability to use value-led newness to drive broader category engagement. WMT posted its strongest general merchandise share gains in five years, suggesting that it is gaining relevance beyond grocery.
Target Corporation TGT, meanwhile, is taking a more reset-driven approach in home. The company’s home furnishings and decor sales rose to $3,239 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 from $3,220 million in the year-ago period. TGT is beginning a multiyear home reinvention, including changes to nearly three-fourths of decorative accessories, with kids’ home and bedding updates planned later this year. For Target, newness remains a work in progress.
KSS Stock Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Kohl’s have surged 72.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 61.9%.
KSS Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, KSS trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.1, lower than the industry’s average of 13.44.
KSS’ Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KSS’ current fiscal-year earnings per share implies a year-over-year decline of 19.1%, while the consensus mark for the next fiscal year’s EPS suggests growth of 7.6%.
Kohl’s currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Kohl's Home Gains Traction: Will Newness Drive Continued Growth?

Target Corporation’s TGT first-quarter fiscal 2026 performance suggests that one of the most important drivers of retail growth is beginning to move in the right direction again — customer traffic. After facing softer demand trends over the past year, the retailer saw shoppers return to stores and digital channels in meaningful numbers, helping fuel broad-based sales growth across the business.
Comparable sales increased 5.6% in the first quarter, driven primarily by a 4.4% rise in traffic, a notable turnaround from the 2.4% decline recorded in the year-ago period. Management highlighted traffic as the largest contributor to growth, calling it an encouraging sign because it reflects more guests choosing Target more often.
The strength was not limited to one part of the business. Store comparable sales rose 4.7%, while digital comparable sales increased 8.9%, indicating that shoppers engaged with Target across multiple channels. Traffic gains also coincided with growth in all six core merchandise categories, reinforcing the breadth of the recovery.
Target tied the improvement to recent merchandising and experience initiatives. Management noted that categories where Target introduced new products, refreshed assortments and enhanced in-store experiences generated positive guest responses.
For now, the key takeaway from the quarter is clear. Target’s efforts are drawing shoppers back, and rising traffic is emerging as a meaningful engine behind its renewed growth momentum.
How Target Compares With Walmart and Costco’s Comp Sales
While Target is showing signs of improving category momentum, peer performance provides additional context on how consumer demand is trending across the retail landscape.
Walmart Inc. WMT posted U.S. comparable sales growth of 4.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, driven by higher customer transactions, increased unit volumes and strong e-commerce performance. Walmart continued to gain market share across income groups while benefiting from growth in advertising, marketplace sales and Walmart+ membership revenues. Walmart’s results reflected steady demand for both grocery and general merchandise offerings.
Costco Wholesale Corporation’s COST third-quarter fiscal 2026 comparable sales rose 9.8%, helped by fuel inflation and foreign exchange. Costco’s adjusted comparable sales increased 6.6%, reflecting broad-based demand, with traffic up 2.4% and adjusted ticket growth of 4.2%. Costco also posted healthy regional adjusted comps of 6.8% in the United States, 6.2% in Canada and 5.9% internationally.
What the Latest Metrics Say About Target
Target has seen its shares jump 1.2% over the past three months against the industry’s decline of 1.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Target's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 14.35, lower than the industry’s ratio of 31.29. However, it is trading above its 12-month median level of 13.25, suggesting that while the stock remains discounted versus the industry, part of the recent operating improvement may already be priced in.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. The consensus mark for earnings has risen 33 cents to $8.35 per share over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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