Live Updates: Dow Futures Tumble 100 Points as Walmart’s Earnings Drag Down Shares

Walmart’s Stock Takes a Hit

Walmart’s shares dropped over 7% after the company projected a weaker sales growth for the fiscal year. They expect sales to rise only 3% to 4%, which is lower than the anticipated 4.2%. Their earnings forecast for fiscal 2026 also missed analysts’ expectations.

Despite reporting stronger-than-expected profits for the fourth quarter, this outlook overshadowed the good news. CFO John David Rainey noted that Walmart would feel the impact of U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. He said, “We’ve managed in a tariff environment for the last several years, and we will work with suppliers and adjust our strategies to mitigate costs.”

Alibaba Shares Surge on Strong Earnings

Alibaba’s stock rose more than 5% after the company reported impressive quarterly results. For the quarter ending December 31, Alibaba posted a net income of 48.945 billion yuan on revenues of 280.154 billion yuan. Analysts had expected lower figures—40.6 billion yuan in profit on 279.34 billion yuan in revenue.

CEO Eddie Wu expressed optimism, stating, “This quarter’s results reflect our focus on user needs and our AI-driven strategies, leading to renewed growth in our core businesses.”

Asian Markets React to Tariff Concerns

Asian markets fell on Thursday as investors reacted to potential new tariffs on U.S. imports proposed by former President Trump. The Nikkei 225 index in Japan dropped 1.24%, while South Korea’s Kospi fell by 0.65%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index declined 1.15%, marking its fourth straight day of losses. Concerns about prolonged high interest rates in the U.S. also dampened market sentiment.

The Japanese yen reached a two-month high against the dollar, reflecting expectations of more interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.

Mixed Opening for European Stocks

European stocks showed a mixed performance early Thursday. The Stoxx 600 index, while slightly up by 0.12%, signaled a cooling off from weeks of record highs. The UK’s FTSE 100 fell 0.29%, while France’s CAC 40 rose by 0.44% as market trading began.

Trump Mulls Distribution of Government Savings

During a recent summit in Miami Beach, Trump floated the idea of giving 20% of savings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) directly to American citizens. He mentioned, “There’s consideration for a new plan where 20% of the DOGE savings goes to the public, while another 20% would help reduce the national debt.” This idea follows a suggestion from Elon Musk about tax refunds stemming from DOGE savings.

Key Stock Movements After Hours

Several stocks are seeing significant after-hours trading activity:

• Klaviyo: Shares surged nearly 6% after reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings with adjusted profits of 7 cents per share on $270 million in revenue.
• IMAX: The company’s stock fell almost 5% after its fourth-quarter earnings and revenue fell short of expectations.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical: The stock rose over 7% following a strong earnings report, with profits exceeding analyst estimates.

Stock Futures Decline

Stock futures opened lower, reflecting concerns about market volatility and economic outlooks.