New York, Feb 20, 2026, 10:42 EST — Regular session.

• Walmart slipped roughly 1.5% in early trading. The retail giant’s most recent outlook failed to ease investor caution.
• The company flagged ongoing strength in digital and advertising. Still, it noted that lower-end consumers remain under pressure.
• Walmart’s ability to turn online gains into profit is drawing traders’ attention, along with the upcoming dividend dates on the calendar.

Walmart Inc (WMT) slipped $1.90 to $122.97, off 1.5%, as of 10:26 a.m. EST Friday.

Walmart’s retreat stands out. Investors have leaned on the stock as a defensive play, but lately it’s become a barometer for Americans’ routine spending—groceries, deliveries, the…