As Walmart (WMT) prepares to reveal its earnings on August 15, 2024, anticipation is high for what promises to be a strong performance. Analysts are expecting the company to report earnings per share (EPS) of $0.65, marking a 6.56% increase from the same quarter last year. Our current consensus estimate projects revenue to reach $168.4 billion, reflecting a solid 4.19% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
Walmart’s stability in a fluctuating market has caught the attention of investors. Barrons notes, “Investors are hunting for havens after a softer-than-expected jobs report sparked fears of a broader economic slowdown. Walmart may be just the ticket, UBS says.” This highlights Walmart’s resilience and appeal as a reliable investment.
In addition to its financial growth, Walmart is making significant strides in sustainability. The company has partnered with Denali, the nation’s leading recycler of organic materials, to enhance the food waste recycling process at more than a thousand Walmart and Sam’s Club locations nationwide.
This innovative de-packaging technology has already shown remarkable results, increasing the volume of potentially reusable organic content recovered by more than 60% and reducing compactor trash by an estimated 12%. Currently, the program is active in over 1,400 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across 16 markets in the country.
Walmart’s commitment to innovation extends to its warehouse operations. The company is set to invest $200 million in self-driving forklifts, aiming to automate more warehouse processes and stay competitive with retailers like Amazon.
Walmart plans to acquire hundreds of autonomous forklifts from Fox Robotics, an Austin-based startup with already invested $25 million. These forklifts will efficiently move pallets of goods in Walmart’s distribution centers, ensuring that stores are consistently well-stocked.
Analysts from Jefferies project that Walmart’s ongoing investments in automation and artificial intelligence could boost its profit before interest and taxes by an impressive $20 billion by fiscal 2029.
With these forward-thinking initiatives and a solid financial outlook, Walmart is not just weathering economic uncertainties but thriving and leading the way in sustainability and technological advancement.
Walmart’s investments don’t stop there.