Walmart Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walmart has launched its 9th annual Open Call event, inviting small businesses to pitch U.S.-made products. This year, over 2,000 companies registered to participate, marking a significant increase in interest. Applicants can opt for virtual or in-person meetings with merchants on June 28-29. Walmart aims to strengthen its commitment to supporting American jobs through a $350 billion investment in U.S. sourcing. The event also includes mentoring sessions to assist businesses in selling on Walmart's platforms. Applications close on April 8.

Walmart announced the expansion of its Baytown, Texas supply chain campus with a new 1,000,000+ square-foot distribution center, set to open in Fall 2022. This addition will create 300 permanent jobs and enhance Walmart's growing supply chain network, bringing the total campus size to over 5,000,000 square feet. Walmart employs over 185,000 associates in Texas and aims to improve local service efficiency. The hiring process for full-time positions is underway, offering competitive benefits including a 401(k) match and paid college tuition.

Walmart GoLocal has partnered with Delivery Solutions, enhancing delivery services for retailers and customers. This collaboration enables options like same-day and next-day delivery, improving the omnichannel shopping experience. Walmart GoLocal will leverage Delivery Solutions' technology to provide efficient delivery services, fulfilling consumer demand for fast and reliable options post-pandemic. The partnership aims to diversify Walmart's revenue streams and strengthen its commitment to customer service across various retail sectors.

Walmart plans to open a new 1.8M+ square-foot fulfillment center in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, set to create up to 600 permanent jobs. This facility aims to enhance Walmart's supply chain and eCommerce capabilities, supporting the retailer's substantial growth, particularly in eCommerce, which reported a 70% increase over the past two years. The center is scheduled to open in Spring 2022 and will focus on faster shipping of everyday low-priced items. Full-time positions will include competitive benefits and training opportunities.

The collaboration between Walmart and British retailer Space NK aims to bring prestige beauty products to Walmart.com and nearly 250 stores this summer. The initiative, titled BEAUTYSPACE^NK, will launch on March 15, featuring over 600 curated products from 15 brands, including exclusive items. The partnership combines Walmart's scale with Space NK's expertise in beauty, offering consumers access to a variety of price points across skincare, makeup, and haircare. This move aligns with Walmart's strategy to enhance its beauty offerings and attract a broader customer base.

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has relaunched its Walmart2Walmart money transfer service to Mexico, allowing customers to send money for as low as $2.50 per transaction, significantly undercutting competitors by at least 50%. This initiative targets unbanked and underbanked households, highlighting Walmart's commitment to affordable financial solutions. The program aims to facilitate the increasing demand for cross-border payments, with remittances to Mexico having risen over 27% in 2021. This service builds on Walmart's previous efforts and aims to enhance customer financial well-being.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announced that Brett Biggs, CFO, will participate in two upcoming conferences: the Bank of America Securities 2022 Consumer & Retail Technology Conference on March 9 at 3:30 p.m. EST and the UBS Global Consumer & Retail Conference on March 10 at 12:00 p.m. EST. Both sessions will be available for live webcast on the company's website. Walmart continues to be a leader in retail, serving approximately 230 million customers weekly and reporting $573 billion in fiscal year 2022 revenue.

Walmart GoLocal and Cognetry Labs have partnered to provide a turnkey ecommerce and delivery solution for mid-sized and independent grocery retailers. This collaboration leverages Walmart's extensive delivery network, allowing retailers to enhance their online shopping and delivery services quickly. With this integration, retailers can retain their brand identity while utilizing Walmart's logistics capabilities, enabling efficient and affordable grocery delivery. The initiative aims to empower smaller retailers and improve customer access to products.

The board of directors of Walmart approved an annual cash dividend for fiscal year 2023 of $2.24 per share, up 2% from $2.20 for the previous year. This marks the 49th consecutive year of dividend increases. The dividend will be distributed in four installments of $0.56 each. Key record and payable dates include March 18, May 6, August 12, and December 9, 2022. Walmart continues its commitment to returning cash to shareholders and reported fiscal year 2022 revenue of $573 billion.