Walmart CFO defends conservative guidance as Wall Street stays bullish on the stock despite plunge
Walmart's CFO is looking to assuage fear among investors that 2025 won't be as strong as in recent years, saying they feel "really good" about their performance and not feeling pressure from economic concerns. Despite projecting conservative fiscal year guidance for 2026, Walmart's shares still fell over 6% after the release, missing Wall Street estimates. The company's sales growth, however, remains steady, with a 34% increase in Walmart US Marketplace sales in the fourth quarter.
- This defensive stance by Walmart's CFO may be a sign of a broader market trend where companies are adopting more cautious guidance to avoid investor disappointment and maintain confidence.
- Will this conservative approach become a standard for other retailers to follow, or will it lead to a decline in investor expectations for growth?