Yahoo Finance experts have coined Walmart (WMT) as their company of the year for 2024. WMT’s stock had a great 2024, climbing 80%. The company has made plenty of wise investments this year to keep up with the times, including in artificial intelligence and augmented reality. These investments and their continued service as a top retail chain led to nearly four quarters of record earnings in 2024.
A committee of Yahoo Finance editorial leaders selected Walmart because of its strong year of sales and profits. The company outperformed several rivals financially, including Target (TGT), both in sales and on the stock market.
“I’m a pretty conservative, kind of play-it-safe kind of person,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a sit-down with Yahoo Finance inside a Walmart supercenter near its Bentonville, Arkansas HQ. “But to get the change that we needed, we had to take risks in the form of acquisitions, in the form of big investments. Those can be breathtaking at times, but that’s one way that I know I’ve changed — I’m faster to accept risks than I was before.”
Speaking about the company’s stellar stock growth, Walmart’s CEO added “I’m aware [of the stock price]. I try not to focus on that too much. It’s the inputs that drive the outputs, and I spend my time on the inputs.” Walmart has indeed done this, using its revenue to put more into the company for its consumers and reinvestment. This rinse-and-repeat cycle is why WMT was such a reliable stock for investors in 2024.
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Walmart and it’s Stock Set For Huge 2025
With the holiday season approaching, there are few companies that are set to benefit as much as Walmart. Moreover, its success during the final two months of 2024 is set to build off of some major infrastructural and technological changes taking place in 2025. Altogether, these could create the perfect storm for the store heading into next year. Furthermore, the retailer can benefit from its stores, e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and a presence in a host of markets, from groceries to electronics.
The company is also becoming very competitive with Amazon as it offers more items online and grows its third-party seller marketplace. It’s working on generative AI-powered chatbots to make the retail website more responsive and personalized. It’s also leaning into same-day delivery and online shopping. Walmart has begun using drone delivery in the Bentonville area and has ambitions to bring that to life in more towns. Such an investment in technology + AI could reap huge benefits for the company.
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With ad revenue likely to grow and more investments due, 2025 should continue a record growth pace for Walmart and its stock. Moreover, it emerges as the leader in all department store offerings in the country. It’s no longer a super-center for all things groceries, home, and tech: WMT is a must-have stock in 2025 and a top enterprise in the United States.
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