Walmart (WMT) Is About to Report Q1 Earnings Tomorrow. Here Is What to Expect

Retail giant Walmart (WMT) is set to announce its Q1 FY26 results on Thursday, May 15. The stock is up more than 60% over the past year and has gained over 6% in 2025, thanks to market share gains from smaller rivals and growth in high-margin areas. Grocery sales remain a key growth driver, as shoppers continue to prioritize essentials during uncertain times. According to Main Street Data, Walmart’s grocery sales rose 3% quarter-over-quarter to $71.55 billion in Q4 FY25.

Wall Street analysts expect the company to report earnings of $0.58 per share for Q1, down 3.4% year-over-year. However, revenues are expected to rise by 2.5% from the same quarter last year, reaching $165.7 billion. Interestingly, WMT has a solid earnings surprise history. The company exceeded earnings estimates in all the previous nine quarters.

Top Analyst Views on WMT Ahead of Q1 Results

Heading into Walmart’s Q1 FY26 earnings, several analysts have reiterated their bullish stance on the stock. Among them is five-star analyst Greg Melich of Evercore ISI, who maintained an Outperform rating and raised his price target to $105 from $100. Melich expects a solid Q1 quarter, with results that “meet and keep” expectations. He expects 3.4% growth in net sales and EPS of $0.58, slightly above the Street’s $0.57. He also sees Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club comps at 4.1% and 6.0%, respectively, both ahead of consensus.

Looking ahead to the second quarter, Melich believes Walmart is well-positioned, supported by resilient consumer demand and easing concerns around China tariffs. While the second half of the year remains uncertain, he thinks Walmart has enough company-specific growth drivers to stay on track with its full-year EPS guidance of $2.50 to $2.60.

Overall, Melich remains optimistic about Walmart’s long-term prospects. He points to the company’s strong execution and continued innovation in areas like automation, retail media, and digital operations. In his view, Walmart stands out for its defensive growth profile, margin expansion potential, and solid financial position, earning it a spot among Evercore’s “Fab Five” preferred stocks.

Options Traders Anticipate a Minor Move

Using TipRanks’ Options tool, we can see what options traders are expecting from the stock immediately after its earnings report. The expected earnings move is determined by calculating the at-the-money straddle of the options closest to expiration after the earnings announcement. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry, the Options tool does this for you.

Indeed, it currently says that options traders are expecting a 5.31% move in either direction.

Is Walmart Stock a Good Buy Right Now?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on WMT stock based on 29 Buys and two Holds assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. The analysts’ average price target on WMT stock of $108.71 implies an upside potential of 13.38%.

See more WMT analyst ratings

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