Executives at Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.A.-based Walmart expect the giant retail corporation to have a successful holiday season, basing their positive predictions on the increasing e-commerce and in-store sales the company has enjoyed all year long.
“Ahead of the peak shopping period, the nation’s largest retailer appears well-positioned, citing ‘broad-based strength’ across its product range,” the New York Times said in reference to the upcoming holiday season.
Walmart’s global revenue increased 5.5 percent year over year to USD 169.6 billion (EUR 163 billion) during its third fiscal quarter of 2025, while its U.S. sales climbed 5 percent to USD 114.9 billion (EUR 110 billion). The retailer’s global e-commerce sales rose 27 percent in the period, while U.S. e-commerce sales also increased 22 percent.
E-commerce grocery shopping in the U.S. has continued to grow in tandem with Walmart’s dominance, with its sales rising by a hefty 13.8 percent year over year to USD 27.4 billion (EUR 25.2 billion) in the third quarter of 2024.
“Walmart’s strong performance shouldn’t be surprising, given its momentum so far this year. The retailer continues to reap the benefits of being less reliant on discretionary categories and has innovated in areas like grocery and health and wellness, where consumer spending remains strong,” Blake Droesch, a senior analyst at market research firm Emarketer, said in a statement emailed to SeafoodSource.
Walmart is particularly benefiting from an increase in higher-income shoppers as of late. Customers earning more than USD 100,000 (EUR 95,000) annually made up 75 percent of Walmart’s market share gains in the third quarter, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during the company’s Q3 earnings call, per Washington Post.
“The standout again this quarter is Walmart’s ability to bring in higher-income shoppers. This will have a significant impact on its business going forward, not only for boosting in-store sales but in boosting higher growth revenue areas like e-commerce and advertising,” Droesch said.
Due to all of the positive factors aiding its growth, Walmart revised its fiscal 2025 earnings upward. It projects a net sales increase of 5.1 percent compared to its previous estimate of 4.8 percent; revised earnings per share rose from USD 2.42 (EUR 2.32) to USD 2.47 (EUR 2.37).
Walmart captured a record 37 percent of the U.S. online grocery market in the second quarter of 2024 and has continued to enjoy success in 2024 thanks to such strategic moves as merging supply chain teams with fellow retailer Sam’s Club.
