Walmart Reports Slowest US Sales Growth in Six Years, Shaking Markets

Retail behemoth Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) sent tremors through Wall Street on Thursday. The company reported its slowest same-store sales growth in over six years, sparking new worries about the vitality of the U.S. consumer and the wider economy.

The company’s quarterly results, unveiled before markets opened on August 20, revealed that sales at U.S. stores open for at least a year — excluding fuel — increased by a mere 2.6% in the second quarter. This figure fell short of even the most conservative analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg. The lackluster performance was largely attributed to pricing pressure in Walmart’s pharmacy sector, which dampened what had previously been a robust growth driver for the retailer.

Analysts were swift to highlight the significance of this shortfall. CNBC reported it as “one of the most substantial misses in years” for the world’s largest retailer. Investors are growing increasingly anxious that Walmart — often viewed as a barometer for consumer spending — is slowing down in line with a sluggish U.S. economy. CEO John Furner and CFO John David Rainey discussed the results in a morning conference call with investors. However, the company largely maintained its full-year guidance, a decision that markets perceived as a letdown given the high valuation of the stock.

Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide and serves an estimated 280 million customers each week. The company operates over 10,900 stores in 19 countries and reported fiscal year 2026 revenues of $713 billion.

Source: Bloomberg – Walmart Reports Sluggish Sales With Slowest US Growth in Six Years