Walmart Inc. - WMT STOCK NEWS

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) reported strong financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. Consolidated revenue increased by 4.8% to $169.3 billion, with consolidated operating income growing faster at 8.5%. The company's eCommerce sales surged by 21% globally, while its advertising business grew by 26%. Walmart's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) stood at $0.67, excluding a net loss of $0.11 on equity and other investments.

Notable highlights include a 43 basis points increase in consolidated gross margin rate, led by Walmart U.S. and Walmart International. The company's return on assets (ROA) was 6.4%, while return on investment (ROI) improved by 230 basis points to 15.1%. Global inventory decreased by 2.0%, with Walmart U.S. seeing a 2.6% reduction. Based on these strong results, Walmart has raised its outlook for FY25 and issued guidance for Q3.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has announced its upcoming second quarter earnings conference call for fiscal year 2025, scheduled for August 15, 2024, at 7 a.m. CDT. The call will be hosted by Doug McMillon, president and CEO, and John David Rainey, executive vice president and CFO. They will discuss the company's Q2 earnings results and answer questions from the Investment Community. The event will be webcast live and accessible through Walmart's corporate website. The company plans to release its Q2 earnings results and related materials at 6 a.m. CDT on the same day, prior to the conference call.

Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG) has released its 8th annual Artemetrx State of Specialty Spend and Trend report, sponsored by Walmart Specialty Pharmacy. The 2024 report reveals that specialty drug spend and trend increased by 14% in the past year, despite downward pressure from biosimilars and generic specialty drugs. Key findings include:

1. Claim utilization remains the leading driver of specialty drug trend, with cost per claim now playing a substantial role.
2. The population of specialty drug utilizers continues to grow.
3. Biosimilars are gaining traction, with notable increases in market share for Lucentis and Remicade alternatives.
4. Humira remains the top specialty drug by spend, while Skyrizi rose from sixth to third place.

The report offers insights for payers and plan sponsors, including forecasted trends and clinical perspectives on cell and gene therapies and Alzheimer's Disease drugs.

Sam's Club, a leading retailer, has launched display ads in its Scan & Go™ mobile app feature, bridging in-app and in-club shopping experiences. This innovative capability integrates physical and digital shopping journeys, enhancing member convenience and unlocking new ways to measure shopping behavior and ad performance. The feature allows advertisers to reach members at the point of conversion, potentially driving incremental sales.

Key points:

• Scan & Go adoption has increased by 50% in the past three years
• One in three members is a regular user
• Net Promoter Score (NPS) regularly exceeds 90
• Ads will track metrics such as return on ad spend (ROAS), click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate
• The feature is currently available in all clubs for select members and will roll out to 100% of in-club traffic in the coming weeks

Sam's Club has launched the Classroom Champions contest, offering $45,000 in products to teachers nationwide. Nine exceptional educators will each receive $5,000 in Sam's Cash™ for back-to-school shopping. The contest runs from July 24 to August 6, 2024, with teachers invited to enter at samsclubclassroomchampions.com.

Four teachers have already been selected as Classroom Champions for their positive impact on schools and students. Additionally, Sam's Club is offering a special membership deal for teachers from July 24 to August 30, 2024, providing $35 in Sam's Cash™ for new Club members.

The initiative aims to recognize and support educators while promoting Sam's Club as a one-stop shop for back-to-school supplies.

Walmart is positioning itself as the top back-to-school shopping destination, offering thousands of products under $10 to help families manage their budgets. The retail giant is providing a comprehensive range of items including school supplies, fashion, and technology from popular brands and its own private labels.

Key highlights include:

• Thousands of back-to-school items under $10
• First-day fashion from brands like No Boundaries, Free Assembly, Levi's, and Reebok
• Tech offerings from Apple, HP, Samsung, and JBL
• A one-click food basket providing two weeks of lunches for about $2 per day
• College-focused offerings with expanded delivery hours and student discounts on Walmart+ memberships
• Health and wellness services including immunizations and eyewear options
• Inclusive shopping experiences with Caroline's Carts and adaptive apparel

Walmart aims to make back-to-school shopping convenient with various pickup and delivery options, including same-day curbside pickup and Express Delivery in as little as 30 minutes.

Walmart has opened a new 730,000 square-foot perishable distribution center (PDC) in Lancaster, Texas, 15 miles south of Dallas. This high-tech facility is designed to process fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers, and frozen goods for nearby Walmart stores. It's the second of five planned high-tech PDCs, capable of processing more than double the volume of a traditional DC.

The facility employs over 500 full-time associates and uses advanced technology to create store-ready pallets, improving efficiency and reducing transportation costs. This innovation allows for faster replenishment speeds and creates new tech-focused career opportunities. Walmart is currently hiring for various positions, including Automation Equipment Operators.

During the grand opening, Walmart demonstrated its community commitment by donating $10,000 to local organizations. In fiscal year 2024, Walmart and its Foundation contributed over $159 million to Texas nonprofits and spent $100.8 billion with Texas suppliers, supporting 300,015 supplier jobs.

Fabric, a prominent healthcare technology company, has acquired MeMD from Walmart (NYSE: WMT) to enhance its virtual care services. This acquisition covers MeMD's extensive network serving 30,000 employers and 5 million members, bolstering Fabric's offerings in behavioral and medical care. MeMD, founded in 2010 and previously acquired by Walmart in 2021, has been a leader in on-demand medical services, showing substantial growth under Walmart's ownership.

Fabric's AI-powered clinical intelligence and seamless automation will optimize MeMD's operations, reducing care costs for employers and employees. The integration will also ensure continuity of care with MeMD's healthcare team joining Fabric's network. Fabric's CEO, Aniq Rahman, highlighted the strategic vision to transform healthcare through this acquisition. The transition promises to maintain high-quality care and patient satisfaction while extending services to Sam's Club members.

Fabric's recent $60 million Series A funding underpins its rapid growth and expansion, partnering with leading health organizations and tripling annual sales. This move is set to drive innovation in virtual and in-person healthcare, ensuring accessible, high-quality care nationwide.

Walmart announces a summer cookout basket for eight people priced under $50, aligning with its Every Day Low Prices strategy. This initiative is part of Walmart's broader effort to save customers over $1 billion in 2023, including $500 million in grocery savings in the last 90 days. The cookout basket, available online and in-store, includes items like hot dogs, ketchup, mustard, chips, drinks, and desserts. Walmart also highlights additional summer essentials such as grills, coolers, and pools. A major savings event, “Walmart Deals,” will run from July 8-11, offering discounts on various products, with Walmart+ members getting early access.