Walmart (WMT) reports fiscal second-quarter 2027 earnings on August 20, putting one of the world's largest retailers at the center of the latest U.S. earnings calendar. According to
Walmart's official earnings schedule, quarterly materials are expected at approximately 6 a.m. Central Time before management holds its earnings call at 7 a.m.
Wall Street expects Walmart to report approximately $186.8 billion in revenue and $0.74 in adjusted earnings per share, while U.S. comparable sales are expected to increase by just under 4%. The headline numbers will provide the first test, but Walmart earnings are also increasingly important as a read on consumer spending, e-commerce growth and the company's ability to defend margins in a still-uncertain inflation environment.
What to Know
Walmart reports fiscal Q2 2027 earnings before the U.S. market opens on August 20.
Wall Street expects approximately $186.8 billion in revenue and $0.74 in adjusted EPS.
U.S. comparable sales are expected to grow just under 4%.
Walmart previously guided to Q2 net sales growth of 4%–5% and adjusted EPS of $0.72–$0.74.
Consumer spending, e-commerce growth, margins and any change to full-year guidance could matter more for WMT stock than a small EPS beat or miss.
Walmart Q2 Earnings Expectations
Current analyst expectations sit close to Walmart's own guidance. Following its previous quarter, the retailer forecast fiscal Q2 net sales growth of
4% to 5% and adjusted EPS of
$0.72 to $0.74, according to Walmart's
Q1 FY2027 earnings release filed with the SEC.
That creates a relatively clear benchmark. Results around those figures would broadly meet expectations, while a stronger reaction in Walmart stock may require evidence that comparable sales, digital growth or profitability are running ahead of current assumptions.
Options pricing also shows that investors are preparing for volatility. Ahead of the report, traders were pricing in a potential move of roughly 4.5% in either direction for WMT stock by the end of the week.
But focusing only on the headline beat or miss would miss much of what makes this earnings report important.
Consumer Spending, E-Commerce and Margins Are the Bigger Story
Walmart has historically benefited when households become more value-conscious because groceries and everyday essentials represent a large share of its business. At the same time, persistent inflation can pressure customers to reduce discretionary purchases or become more selective about basket size.
That makes U.S. comparable sales and traffic especially useful in Q2. Investors will want to see whether store traffic remains healthy, whether average spending per visit is holding up and whether higher-income consumers continue shifting more of their spending toward Walmart.
These trends matter beyond WMT stock. Walmart reaches an unusually broad cross-section of U.S. households, so its earnings can provide a useful signal for consumer demand heading into the second half of the year.
Digital growth is becoming equally important. Walmart's global e-commerce sales increased
26% in the previous quarter, while advertising and membership revenue continued to grow faster than the traditional retail business. According to the company's
Q1 FY2027 filing, Walmart U.S. advertising grew 36% and global membership fee revenue increased 17.4%.
That changes the long-term Walmart investment case. The company is no longer simply trying to sell more merchandise through physical stores. Delivery, marketplace activity, advertising and memberships can deepen customer relationships while potentially carrying different margin profiles from traditional retail.
Investors will therefore watch whether e-commerce growth remains elevated and whether that expansion is beginning to translate into better operating leverage. Strong revenue growth matters less if logistics, technology investment and pricing pressure absorb all of the incremental profit.
Walmart Guidance Could Matter More Than the EPS Beat
Guidance may ultimately determine the direction of WMT stock after earnings.
A one- or two-cent EPS beat would not fundamentally change the Walmart story. An increase to the company's full-year outlook would be more significant because it would suggest management has become more confident that market-share gains, digital growth and resilient demand can offset inflation and operating costs.
Maintaining guidance could still be constructive if Walmart reports healthy traffic and stable margins. A reduction would be more concerning because it could indicate that consumer pressure or higher costs are beginning to outweigh the company's recent gains.
This is also why Walmart earnings matter for the broader market. Other major retailers can provide very different pictures of household spending depending on their product mix, but Walmart's exposure to groceries, general merchandise and everyday purchases gives it a particularly broad view of U.S. consumer behavior.
For investors watching the report, the most useful hierarchy is therefore straightforward: start with revenue, adjusted EPS and U.S. comparable sales, then move quickly to traffic, e-commerce growth, margins and management's full-year outlook. Those details are more likely to determine whether the Walmart earnings reaction lasts beyond the first few minutes of trading.
FAQ
When is Walmart earnings?
Walmart reports fiscal Q2 2027 earnings on August 20, 2026. The company expects to publish its earnings materials at approximately 6 a.m. Central Time before holding its investor call at 7 a.m.
What are Walmart Q2 2027 earnings expectations?
Wall Street expects approximately $186.8 billion in revenue and $0.74 in adjusted EPS, with U.S. comparable sales growth just under 4%. Walmart previously guided to Q2 net sales growth of 4%–5% and adjusted EPS of $0.72–$0.74.