Walmart has become the first retailer in history to reach a $1 trillion market value. The milestone puts the company alongside tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Alphabet.
Shares rose more than 3% on Tuesday, trading around $128, after a year-long rally that lifted the stock nearly 26%. Over the past decade, Walmart’s shares have gained 468%, well above the S&P 500’s 264% growth.
The company’s success comes from serving both budget-conscious shoppers and higher-income customers seeking convenience. Walmart operates 11,000 stores in 19 countries and has expanded its online marketplace to more than half a billion items. Services like Walmart+ and one-hour delivery, plus a $4-billion advertising business, have strengthened its digital presence.
“Over the past five years, the company has undergone a massive digital business transformation,” said Eric Clark, chief investment officer at Accuvest Global Advisors. “It has evolved from a simple local seller into a company that truly embraces technology.”
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Walmart has invested heavily in AI to improve supply chains, deliveries, and inventory management. These efforts helped the company beat U.S. same-store sales estimates for 15 straight quarters. Brian Mulberry, senior client portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management, called Walmart a “new AI giant.” Brett Rose, CEO of United National Consumer Suppliers, said, “Walmart is masterful at brick-and-mortar retail and remains highly competitive with Amazon.”
The company has also expanded in India. Following a U.S.–India trade deal that cut tariffs from 50% to 18%, Walmart increased sourcing from India from 2% in 2018 to 25% in 2023. Economist Rachel Ziemba said, “Markets are forward-looking. Lower tariffs make Walmart’s supply chain realignment more attractive.”
John Furner became Walmart’s CEO on February 1, 2026, taking over from Doug McMillon. Furner, who began his career stocking shelves, has focused on e-commerce and AI growth. Walmart also moved its stock from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq and joined the Nasdaq-100. Investor Charles Sizemore said, “We think of trillion-dollar market caps as a tech-stock phenomenon, but Walmart is a gritty ‘old-economy’ company.”
Walmart’s U.S. online sales rose 28% last quarter, and the company expects fiscal 2026 net sales to grow 4.8%–5.1% from $674.5 billion. From a single store in Arkansas in 1962 to a $1 trillion valuation today, Walmart shows how a traditional retailer can succeed by combining technology and low prices.