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Walmart’s US same-store sales miss estimates as shares fall over 9%

U.S. comparable sales rose 2.6% versus a 3.8% estimate, while management raised its fiscal 2027 sales outlook and said fuel prices above $4 a gallon are pressuring shoppers.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 · Written up by our desk · Results

Walmart Inc. posted a rare miss in its U.S. comparable-sales growth, with same-store sales increasing 2.6% in the quarter, below Wall Street’s 3.8% estimate, according to Yahoo Finance. The retailer also reported its slowest comparable-sales growth in six years, a setup that contributed to investor concerns about consumer caution as broader economic pressure and higher gasoline prices weigh on spending.

Walmart shares fell more than 9% after the results. While the core U.S. metric underperformed, Walmart said the quarter was not entirely weak, pointing to a 24% increase in e-commerce sales and growth in its advertising business.

The company also raised its full-year sales and profit outlook. Walmart expects fiscal 2027 sales growth of 4% to 5%, and it plans to lower prices on thousands of products, partly funded by a $2.9 billion tariff refund, aiming to attract more price-conscious shoppers.

In its outlook, Walmart highlighted that fuel prices above $4 a gallon are forcing consumers to make spending trade-offs. It noted that comparable-sales growth outpaced only modest average spending per transaction growth of 1.1%, suggesting shoppers may be visiting more carefully rather than cutting out trips entirely.

Latest closeGasoline (RBOB) $2.901 ▼7.3%

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