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Walmart shares plunge 9% after weak sales growth

8/24/2026

25 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Walmart's shares fell more than 9% after reporting its slowest comparable-sales growth in six years.
Walmart lost roughly $80 billion in market value in a single day, approaching $90 billion if declines hold.
U.S. comparable sales rose 2.6%, missing the 3.8% Wall Street expectation.
Walmart cut prices on about 11,000 items, funded partly by $2.9 billion in tariff refunds.

History

Historical Context

In September 2008 the U.S. Treasury launched a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program while the Federal Reserve provided emergency liquidity amid the financial crisis. Walmart’s strong 2009 earnings, including $788.8 million in profit-sharing bonuses, helped it weather that downturn, but today a 9% share fall and slowing comparable-sales growth revive concerns that weak consumer confidence can again pressure its pricing and market value.

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Story summary

Walmart's shares fell more than 9% after reporting its slowest comparable-sales growth in six years.
Walmart lost roughly $80 billion in market value in a single day, approaching $90 billion if declines hold.
U.S. comparable sales rose 2.6%, missing the 3.8% Wall Street expectation.
Walmart cut prices on about 11,000 items, funded partly by $2.9 billion in tariff refunds.

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