Walmart becomes first retailer to reach $1-trillion market valuation

Walmart became the first retailer to reach a US$1-trillion market valuation after a year-long rally that lifted its shares about 26%.

Walmart has become the first retailer to reach a US$1-trillion market valuation. The milestone comes after a year-long rally in the company’s shares. Two weeks earlier, Walmart replaced AstraZeneca in the Nasdaq-100 Index. The article reports the company saw stronger demand from wealthier consumers for faster deliveries and discretionary items. Key points: - Walmart reached a US$1-trillion market valuation, the first retailer to do so. - The article mentions Walmart's shares rose nearly 26% over the past year and outpaced the S&P 500's roughly 16% gain. - Two weeks earlier, Walmart replaced AstraZeneca in the Nasdaq-100 Index. - The article mentions increased demand from wealthier consumers for faster deliveries and for discretionary categories such as apparel and furniture. - The article notes U.S. households face persistent inflation, a cooling job market, tariffs, and uncertainty linked to a recent U.S. government shutdown. Summary: The article presents the US$1-trillion valuation as a notable milestone for Walmart and within the retail sector after substantial share gains. It also links the milestone to shifting consumer behavior and ongoing economic pressures on U.S. households. Undetermined at this time.