Walmart Anticipates Promising Q4 2025 Earnings Amid Investor Eagerness
United States, Monday, 17 February 2025.
Walmart’s Q4 2025 earnings are expected to show increased sales despite economic challenges, attracting investor attention to the retailer’s fiscal outlook following Thursday’s report release.
Market Expectations and Timing
Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter earnings report on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:00 AM CST [5], with CEO Doug McMillon and CFO John David Rainey hosting an investor conference call at 7:00 AM CST [5]. Analysts project revenue of $180.2 billion for the quarter, representing a nearly 4% year-over-year increase [1]. The earnings per share are expected to reach $0.64, showing a 7% growth compared to the same quarter last year [1].
Analyst Sentiment and Market Position
The investment community maintains a notably bullish stance on Walmart, with 20 out of 21 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha issuing ‘buy’ ratings [1]. Several major financial institutions have recently upgraded their price targets, with Bank of America setting the highest at $120, while Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank both raised their targets to $115 [1]. This optimism comes as Walmart’s shares have demonstrated remarkable strength, climbing 85% over the past 12 months [4].
Market Context and Challenges
The earnings report comes at a crucial time as the S&P 500 finished the week ending February 15, 2025, up 1.5% at 6,114.63 [7]. The retail sector faces particular scrutiny following recent lower-than-expected U.S. retail sales reports [3]. Adding to the complexity, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has indicated no immediate plans for interest rate cuts, while new tariff considerations loom on the horizon [7].
Future Outlook
Analysts anticipate Walmart will maintain its tradition of conservative projections for fiscal 2026 [1]. However, market observers expect the retail giant to continue gaining market share [1]. Notably, this earnings report could mark a historic shift in retail dynamics, as it might be the first time Walmart’s quarterly revenue falls below Amazon’s recent report of $187.8 billion [1]. The company’s performance will be particularly significant given its operation of over 10,000 stores across 19 countries and its position as a major employer of approximately 2.1 million people [7].