Walmart Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has announced a significant multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS) and Leagues Cup, marking a strategic expansion into soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The partnership includes key initiatives such as dedicated Saturday programming starting in 2026, a custom creator network for exclusive content, and multi-channel fan engagement through digital and in-person experiences.

The collaboration will feature Walmart's presence in the Leagues Cup tournament between MLS and LIGA MX clubs, launching a curated shopping hub at Walmart.com/Soccer. This strategic move aligns with MLS's position as home to North America's youngest and most diverse sports fan base, supported by Walmart's substantial market presence of 270 million weekly customers across 10,750 stores and fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has outlined its comprehensive strategy to combat counterfeit products and maintain trust in its online marketplace. The company, which offers over half a billion items through its expanding Walmart Marketplace, has implemented a multi-layered enforcement system to protect consumers and legitimate sellers.

The strategy includes rigorous seller vetting, AI-driven monitoring, pre-listing protections, and swift enforcement measures. Walmart is actively collaborating with various government agencies and retail organizations, including supporting key legislation like the INFORM Consumers Act and Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA).

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has launched its back-to-school campaign with prices lower than last year, offering complete first-day essentials under $65. The retailer is providing 14 popular supplies at reduced prices, with essential supplies and backpack bundles available for just $16.

Key initiatives include the launch of Weekend Academy, a new private tween fashion brand with most items under $15, and convenient one-click lunch baskets starting at $2 per day. The company is offering over 200 back-to-school rollbacks, with 100+ supplies under $1, 1,000+ under $5, and 2,000+ under $10.

The retailer has enhanced its digital shopping experience with one-click school supply baskets and easy school supply list integration on Walmart.com, responding to customer demand as 70% of Walmart customers plan to spend more time searching for discounts this year.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT), Sam's Club, and the Walmart Foundation have announced a commitment of up to $500,000 in grants and in-kind donations to support flood relief efforts in South Texas. The initiative includes up to $250,000 in matching customer and member donations through a partnership with The Salvation Army.

The relief efforts include immediate assistance through Operation BBQ Relief providing free hot meals at the Kerrville Walmart Supercenter, deployment of Tides Loads of Hope laundry trucks and showers, and support to organizations like the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army with essential supplies.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has opened its first-ever owned and operated case-ready beef facility in Olathe, Kansas. The 300,000+ square-foot state-of-the-art facility will package and distribute Angus beef cuts sourced from Sustainable Beef LLC to Midwest stores.

The facility marks a significant milestone in Walmart's end-to-end beef supply chain strategy, creating over 600 new jobs in the Olathe region. The initiative builds on Walmart's 2022 equity investment in Sustainable Beef LLC in North Platte, Nebraska, which sources high-quality cattle within a 250-mile radius.

This development aligns with Walmart's $350 billion commitment to U.S.-made products by 2031 and enhances supply chain transparency and resilience.

Walmart and Soda Health have partnered to launch the Walmart Everyday Health Signals program, targeting select Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members. The AI-powered initiative provides personalized nutrition and wellness insights based on members' shopping patterns at Walmart.com. Members who opt in receive customized healthy recipes, shopping lists, and nutritional guidance aligned with their wellness goals. The program leverages Walmart's extensive retail network, with 90% of the U.S. population living within 10 miles of a store, to transform everyday shopping into health improvement opportunities. The collaboration enables health plans to identify additional benefits and facilitate care coordination based on members' shopping behaviors and wellness objectives.

OnePay and Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) have announced a strategic partnership to launch an exclusive credit card program with Walmart, powered by Mastercard, set to debut in fall 2025. The program will feature both a general-purpose card accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted and a private label card for Walmart purchases. The credit card functionality will be integrated into the OnePay app, which currently serves millions of customers with banking, credit, and payment products. OnePay, backed by Walmart and Ribbit Capital, aims to provide a comprehensive financial management solution. Synchrony will contribute its lending expertise and digital capabilities, expecting the program to drive loyalty and sales with attractive risk-adjusted returns. The partnership brings together OnePay's fintech platform, Synchrony's credit expertise, Walmart's retail presence, and Mastercard's global payments network to deliver a seamless financial experience for consumers.

Walmart held its 2025 Annual Shareholders' Meeting with 91.4% of outstanding shares represented. CEO Doug McMillon highlighted strong FY2025 results and emphasized investments in wages, innovation, and technology while focusing on ROI improvement. All four company proposals passed with strong shareholder support: election of 12 director nominees (95.7%+ approval), ratification of Ernst & Young as independent accountants (97.8%), approval of executive compensation (95.2%), and approval of the 2025 Stock Incentive Plan (98.3%). Seven shareholder proposals related to law enforcement information requests, plastic packaging, racial equity, DEI initiatives, health and safety, and civil liberties in advertising were presented but failed to pass, receiving between 0.4% and 7.0% of votes.

Sam's Club announced that 96% of its Member's Mark food and beverage products now meet its 'Made Without' program goals, with complete implementation expected by year-end. The initiative eliminates over 40 ingredients including artificial colors, aspartame, and high-fructose corn syrup, based on member feedback and nutritional guidance. The transformation is driven by consumer preferences, with 72% of surveyed members seeking minimally processed foods and 90% pursuing healthier lifestyles. The program has shown particular success with Millennial and Gen Z shoppers, featuring innovations like fresh sushi available in 581 clubs and expanding to all locations by September. The company plans to extend the 'Made Without' initiative beyond food and beverages into categories like household essentials, health, and baby products.