Despite challenges including inflation, a cooling job market, tariffs, and uncertainty from the U.S. government shutdown, the Bentonville-based retailer has outpaced the S&P 500, which rose 16% over the same period, underscoring its resilience in a challenging economic environment.
| Photo Credit:
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Walmart became the first retailer ever
to hit $1 trillion in market valuation on Tuesday, riding on a
year-long rally that has seen its shares rise nearly 26%.
The latest milestone for the company came just two weeks
after Walmart replaced British drugmaker AstraZeneca
in the tech-focused Nasdaq-100 Index, home to the
most valuable non-financial companies listed on the index.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based chain has cashed in on
wealthier consumers choosing the convenience of faster
deliveries and flocking to the retailer for discretionary
categories, such as apparel and furniture.
U.S. households, particularly low- and middle-income
earners, have been under mounting financial strain for some time
due to persistent inflation and a cooling job market. Tariffs
and uncertainty surrounding the recent U.S. government shutdown
have also weighed on spending.
Despite the challenging backdrop, Walmart’s stock has
outpaced the 16% rise in the benchmark S&P 500.
Published on February 3, 2026
