Walmart has expanded its home-goods assortment to include a $1,699 espresso machine and other premium kitchen appliances, aiming to attract higher-income shoppers and reduce its reliance on everyday low-price positioning. The retailer has added over 200 new SKUs in its home-goods division this quarter, supported by targeted digital marketing and in-store displays in 1,500 supercenters. Executives estimate this move could boost average ticket size in home categories by 8% over the next year and help narrow the gap with larger e-commerce competitors.

During the third quarter, Howland Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Walmart by 1.5%, acquiring 5,570 additional shares to reach a total holding of 365,781 shares, valued at $37.7 million. This position represents roughly 1.4% of Howland’s portfolio, making Walmart its 18th largest holding. Other notable activity included PFS Partners more than tripling its position to 320 shares and Evergreen Capital Management raising its stake by 13.8% to 56,626 shares, highlighting continued institutional confidence in the retailer’s long-term prospects.

In the quarter ended November 30, Walmart reported earnings per share of $0.62, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.60. Revenue climbed 5.8% year-over-year to $179.5 billion, ahead of the $175.2 billion analysts had forecast. The company achieved a net margin of 3.26% and a return on equity of 21.3%. Management set FY 2026 earnings guidance between $2.58 and $2.63 per share, compared with the analyst consensus of $2.55, reflecting steady operating leverage despite macroeconomic headwinds.

In late November, CEO C. Douglas McMillon sold 19,416 shares for proceeds of $2.13 million, reducing his stake by 0.45%. In mid-January, EVP Daniel Danker sold 4,365 shares for $525,000, trimming his position by 1.8%. Over the past quarter, insiders have sold a total of 139,215 shares worth $15.5 million, while corporate insiders still hold 0.10% of the outstanding shares. Institutional investors now account for 26.76% of Walmart’s stock, underscoring a balanced ownership mix between insiders and long-term holders.