Walmart's (NYSE:WMT) stock surged nearly 7% to a record high following its strong second-quarter earnings report. The retail giant, often seen as a barometer for consumer spending, exceeded analyst expectations. Its e-commerce growth accelerated, and profit margins improved. Truist Securities believes Walmart’s strategic shift towards a broader “price + convenience + assortment” model is driving market share gains.
Walmart's Recent Results
Walmart Inc. reported strong sales and profit growth in Q2 of fiscal year 2025, driven by solid performance in its international and e-commerce segments. E-commerce sales grew by 20%, and international businesses like Walmex and Flipkart performed well, with Sam's Club in China seeing double-digit growth.
The company raised its full-year guidance for sales and operating income growth, underscoring its focus on value, technology, and customer experience enhancement. Walmart is investing in AI, automation, and technology, while remaining cautious about economic and geopolitical challenges. Despite these challenges, Walmart is optimistic about gaining market share during the back-to-school and holiday seasons.
Walmart's solid results came in-tandem with recent positive retail sales data. According to United States Census Bureau, US retail sales increased by over 1% last month, exceeding expectations of a 0.4% rise. This acceleration from June's unchanged figure suggests strong consumer spending.
Investing in Walmart through ETFs
Walmart is a popular portfolio pick being a desired stock among risk-averse ETF investors due to its stable dividend, consistent earnings, and lower volatility compared to tech stocks. With possible resurgence in US retail and consumer staples, investors can choose to invest directly in Walmart’s stock or gain exposure through ETFs with significant allocation to Walmart.
One of the notable ETFs in the list is the The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR® Fund (NYSE:XLP) which has Walmart among its top 3 holdings (11% weight as of August 15, 2024). The fund tracks the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index and invests in companies from the following industries: consumer staples distribution & retail, household products, food products, beverages, tobacco, and personal care products.
Other ETFs with strong exposure to Walmart include the Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (NYSE:FSTA), the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF (NYSE:VDC), VanEck Retail ETF (NASDAQ:RTH), Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSE:DIVO).