If you’ve walked into a Walmart lately, you might have noticed things feel a little different. It’s not just the blue vests or the smell of rotisserie chicken anymore. It’s the constant hum of delivery drivers and the automated towers that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie. This shift is basically why everyone is asking how is walmart stock doing right now, and the short answer is: surprisingly well for a "boring" grocery store.
As of mid-January 2026, Walmart (WMT) is trading near its all-time highs, hovering around the $119 to $120 mark. It’s been a wild ride from the $80 range we saw just a year ago. Honestly, the stock has become a bit of a "safe haven" for investors who are tired of the tech rollercoaster but still want some growth.
Breaking down how is walmart stock doing today
The numbers are actually pretty startling. In the last few trading sessions, the price peaked at $120.36, which is uncharted territory for the company. If you look at the 52-week range, the stock is up nearly 50% from its low of $79.81. That’s not the kind of movement you usually see from a retail behemoth with a market cap approaching $1 trillion.
Why the sudden surge? It’s not just about selling more boxes of cereal.
Walmart is effectively turning into a tech company that happens to have 4,600 warehouses disguised as stores. Their e-commerce growth is the real story here. In the last reported quarter, global e-commerce sales jumped 27%. In the U.S. alone, they’ve been hitting 20% growth or higher for seven straight quarters. People are finally starting to treat the Walmart app like they treat Amazon, especially for "need it now" groceries.
The Sparky factor and AI hype
One of the weirder reasons the stock is holding up so well is their push into Artificial Intelligence. They have this AI assistant called Sparky. It’s built on partnerships with OpenAI and Google Gemini. Analysts like those at TD Cowen are calling it a "Best Idea for 2026" because it actually helps people shop rather than just being a clunky chatbot.
Then there’s the automation. Walmart has been quietly installing massive automated systems in their fulfillment centers. These things cut unit handling costs by about 20%. When you're moving billions of items, a 20% savings is basically a mountain of pure profit.
Is the valuation getting too high?
Here is where it gets a little dicey. Even though the stock is crushing it, it’s not exactly "cheap." Right now, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is sitting around 41. To put that in perspective, that’s higher than some big tech companies.
- Walmart P/E Ratio: ~41
- Target P/E Ratio: ~12
- Kroger P/E Ratio: ~11
You've gotta wonder if investors are getting a bit ahead of themselves. Paying 41 times earnings for a retailer is a lot of pressure on the company to keep performing perfectly. If consumer spending dips even a little bit this spring, that high valuation could lead to a sharp pullback.
Wolfe Research recently kept an "Outperform" rating on the stock with a $130 target, but they also warned that expectations are sky-high. There's almost no room for error. If they miss an earnings target by even a penny, the market might react like the world is ending.
Management shakeups to watch
There is also a major leadership change happening on February 1, 2026. John Furner is stepping in as the new CEO. Usually, when a giant like Walmart swaps leaders, the stock gets a little jittery. But investors seem to like Furner. He’s an insider who has been running the U.S. division, so the "execution risk" is pretty low. The strategy isn't going to change; they’re just putting a fresh face at the top of the mountain.
What's actually driving the profit?
It’s not just the groceries. It’s the ads.
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Walmart Connect—their advertising arm—is growing like crazy. It grew 33% recently. Think about it: when you search for "detergent" on the Walmart app, a brand pays Walmart to be the first result. That is basically 100% profit. They’re using those ad dollars to pay for the expensive fast delivery that customers now expect.
They also closed the acquisition of VIZIO recently. This gives them even more data and more screens to show ads on. It’s a smart move that most people didn’t see coming two years ago.
The bottom line for investors
If you're looking at how is walmart stock doing to decide if you should buy in, you have to weigh the momentum against the price. The company is fundamentally stronger than it’s ever been. They’ve successfully fought off Amazon in the grocery space and their membership income from Sam’s Club and Walmart+ is at record highs.
However, the stock is trading near its ceiling. Insiders have started selling a bit—Executive VP Donna Morris recently sold about $1.13 million worth of shares. That doesn't mean the ship is sinking, but it does suggest that the people who know the company best think the current price is a pretty good "exit" point for some of their holdings.
Actionable steps for your portfolio
- Watch the February 19 earnings call. This will be the first big test for the new CEO and will show if the holiday season lived up to the hype.
- Monitor the "Consumer Discretionary" spend. If people start buying only milk and eggs while ignoring the electronics and clothes, Walmart’s margins will take a hit.
- Don't chase the high. If you aren't already in, wait for a "healthy pullback" toward the $110 level. Buying at an all-time high with a 41 P/E is risky, even for a blue-chip company.
- Keep an eye on the pharmacy business. New pricing legislation taking effect early this year could squeeze the profits they make from their pharmacies, which is a significant chunk of their "Health and Wellness" revenue.
Walmart isn't the slow, clunky retailer it used to be. It’s a lean, automated, ad-driven machine. Just make sure you aren't paying a "luxury" price for a "discount" retailer.