Walmart reports net profit of 4.58 billion dollars
The retail giant, Walmart, recently announced financial results for the third quarter of 2024, closing with a net profit of 4.58 billion dollars, equal to 57 cents per share. This result represents a slight increase from 4.53 billion dollars, or 6 cents per share, recorded in the same period of the previous year. The group’s sales increased by 5.5%, reaching 169.59 billion dollars, compared to 160.8 billion dollars
in the previous quarter.
Growth strategy and optimistic forecasts
This increase in sales reflects a higher-than-expected performance and confirms the strength of Walmart’s growth strategy. In response to these positive results, the company revised its estimates for the 2025 financial year upwards.
Walmart now expects to achieve consolidated net sales, up between 4.8% and 5.1%, compared to previous growth expectations of between 3.75% and 4.75%.
Trends in international markets
In the global context, Chinese stock markets closed higher, pending the Chinese central bank’s interest rate decision. The cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen experienced significant increases, driven by the high-tech sector. In Europe, inflation in the Eurozone is confirmed at 2% on an annual basis for October 2024, an increase compared to the previous month.
Core inflation, which excludes the most volatile components, remains at 2.7%, while in the entire European Union, annual inflation rises to 2.3%.
Asian markets and forecasts for the banking sector
The Tokyo Stock Exchange closed higher, supported by securities from the banking and financial sector. Nikkei gained 0.5%, driven by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Hachijuni Bank. Expectations of a rate hike from the Bank of Japan are fueling the sector, creating a climate of optimism among investors. Nestlé has also announced a reduction in its medium-term profitability target, but it plans to increase advertising investments to
stimulate sales.