Walmart Heads Into Thursday's Earnings With Wall Street Expecting a Beat

Walmart reports fiscal second-quarter earnings before the bell on Thursday, August 20, with analysts expecting earnings of $0.74 per share, up almost 9% from a year ago, on revenue of roughly $186.8 billion — implying growth of 5.3%. The stock has climbed into the print, trading near $116 as analysts lift estimates.

The shares remain well below their 52-week high after a roughly 12% slide over the past three months, weighed down by rising costs and heavy investment spending. That pullback has some on Wall Street arguing the setup favors a return to the retailer's familiar beat-and-raise playbook, with guidance the key variable.

As the first retail bellwether to report this season, Walmart's commentary on consumer health will ripple well beyond its own stock — particularly with inflation data cooling and the Fed leaning toward holding rates steady.