Walmart showcases business strategy focused on driving growth, shareholder value

Walmart reaffirmed its Q1 sales guidance and shared its vision for growth and enhanced customer experience at its Investment Community Meeting on April 9.

At the meeting, leadership also shared its focus on driving growth and creating shareholder value. The meeting highlighted Walmart’s people-led, tech-powered omnichannel strategy and why it is positioned to sustain attractive growth and create shareholder returns.

“The combination of a purpose-driven, people-centric culture with world-class technology is the winning formula,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart. “Our customers want four things: everyday low prices, a broad assortment, a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience and to do business with a company they trust. We’re changing to serve them even better.”

[Read more: Walmart launches online WIC pilot in two locations]

The meeting provided attendees a view into the company’s strategy to:

• Drive growth by improving customer and member experiences.
• Walmart’s low prices and growing eCommerce assortment combined with the convenience of faster delivery, curbside pickup and in-store shopping are driving growth.
• Create shareholder value by strengthening its business model.

The company’s evolving business model is designed to deliver strong returns as it better serves customers and members, Walmart said. Reshaping its profit mix allows the company to invest in lower prices for customers, associate wages and experience-enhancing technologies while growing profit faster than sales, strengthening cash flows and delivering higher capital returns for shareholders.

In addition to the longer-term strategy, executives addressed the current operating environment ahead of its Q1 earnings report on May 15, 2025. 

The company expects Q1 sales growth to continue to be in line with its 3% to 4% outlook, and annual sales and operating income growth guidance remains unchanged. The range of outcomes for Q1 operating income growth has widened due to less favorable category mix, higher casualty claims expense and the desire to maintain flexibility to invest in price as tariffs are implemented, the company said.

“History tells us that when we lean into these periods of uncertainty, Walmart emerges on the other side with greater share and a stronger business,” said John David Rainey, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Rainey added, “We have fundamentally changed our business model through years of thoughtful, strategic investments and now have a financial model that yields much higher returns.”