Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) opened its 100th company-owned electric vehicle fast-charging site at a Supercenter in Monument, Colorado. This milestone marks the expansion of its proprietary charging network across 20 states, integrating energy infrastructure with its retail footprint.

The new location, situated at 16218 Jackson Creek Parkway, features chargers capable of delivering up to 400 kW of power. Each site typically includes 8 to 16 stalls equipped with both CCS and NACS connectors, ensuring compatibility with most electric vehicles currently on the road.

Network Expansion Strategy

Walmart is building this network to provide dependable charging at locations where customers already shop. The company aims to make charging accessible while expanding service offerings for its customer base.

"By expanding EV fast charging at Walmart locations across the country, we’re giving drivers a dependable way to charge while they’re in the store," said Shayne Wahlmeier, Senior Vice President, Walmart Energy. "Reaching 100 sites is an important milestone, and our broad footprint positions us to make EV charging more accessible for communities while expanding the ways we serve our customers."

Customer Experience and Technology

The charging infrastructure is designed to be integrated into the Walmart app, allowing customers to start and pay for sessions digitally. Charging stalls are located steps from store entrances to facilitate shopping during charge times.

Adam Happel, General Manager, Walmart Retail EV Charging, noted that the focus remains on reliability. "When a customer pulls into a Walmart to charge, we want the experience to feel as reliable and effortless as the rest of their shopping trip," Happel said.

Walmart+ members receive discounted charging rates. The company plans to add additional payment options as the network grows further.

Future Outlook

Walmart will continue expanding its network in markets requiring greater access to convenient fast charging. The retailer is working with local utilities and partners to bring new sites online. Customers can locate current and upcoming stations via the Walmart EV Charging website or major mapping platforms including Apple Maps and Google Maps.

Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) issued third-quarter guidance that falls short of analyst expectations for both earnings and revenue, triggering a sharp market sell-off. The retailer projects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $0.62 to $0.64, missing the $0.68 consensus estimate.

For the same period, Walmart anticipates total sales between $183.134 billion and $184.468 billion. This range is below the analyst estimate of $188.339 billion.

Fuel Costs and Consumer Trade-offs

Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey warned that gasoline prices above $4 are changing how consumers spend. He noted a psychological impact when fuel costs rise, forcing shoppers to make trade-offs. Walmart expects fuel-related costs to run about $2 billion above its original forecast.

The pressure on shoppers is visible in transaction data. Growth in customer transactions slowed to 1.5% from 3% in the previous quarter. Average spending per transaction rose just 1.1%, down from 3.1% a year earlier.

Tariff Refunds and Price Strategy

CFO John David Rainey stated that Walmart plans to use expected U.S. tariff refund payments to lower consumer prices starting in the third quarter. The retailer is eligible for roughly $2.9 billion in tariff refunds and has received all but about $100 million of it. Rainey confirmed that this money will fund price cuts in the third quarter.

During a conference call, a Walmart executive clarified that the annual forecast assumes slightly better second-half sales versus the prior target. This improvement is driven by price investments. The executive further stated that the forecast assumes fuel and tariffs stay at current rates. Additionally, the company noted that the price rollback count started in late July and expressed satisfaction with the start of the back-to-school season.

Sales Growth and Headwinds

Despite the tariff refunds, Walmart’s U.S. sales growth has hit its weakest pace since 2020. The retailer reported second-quarter sales of $187.9 billion, surpassing estimates, but issued third-quarter guidance below expectations. The company cited a 125-basis-point headwind from pharmacy deflation due to new fair price regulations.

U.S. comparable sales increased 2.6%, driven by higher transactions. This was the retailer’s smallest quarterly increase since 2020.

Market Reaction and Analyst View

Walmart’s economic environment is also influenced by broader market tensions. U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as geopolitical tensions escalated following President Donald Trump’s announcement of “Operation Economic Fury” against Iran. This move has heightened Middle East tensions and impacted market indices, including the Dow Jones and S&P 500.

Brent crude climbed toward $94 a barrel as investors weighed the risk that the conflict will keep disrupting Middle Eastern energy supplies. Polymarket traders put the chances of Strait of Hormuz traffic returning to normal by Oct. 31 at around 15%. The odds of a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal by year-end stand at 11%.

WMT experienced one of its largest one-day moves in years, dropping 9.32% on Thursday. The stock’s market cap has decreased by about $85.01 billion over approximately three sessions. Currently, WMT trades 9.03% below its 50-day moving average of $113.93 and 12.54% below its 200-day moving average of $118.51, indicating a bearish trend.

Shares fell 6.79% year-to-date, rose 1.24% over the last year, and fell 15.57% over the last six months. It closed 9.15% lower at $103.84 per share on Thursday, and was 0.39% higher in premarket trading on Friday.

Despite the soft outlook, UBS analyst Michael Lasser remains optimistic. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Lasser outlined three factors driving Walmart’s premium valuation: a stable core business commanding one out of every five grocery dollars in the United States, automation and technology improving profitability, and high-margin new revenue streams.

Lasser highlighted that Walmart’s e-commerce grew 24% in the U.S. and its advertising business grew 38% in the U.S. He stated these are comfortable growth levels that support the bull case on the stock.

What the Numbers Show

The guidance indicates a divergence between market expectations and Walmart’s internal outlook for the quarter. Both key metrics—adjusted EPS and total sales—are projected to land below the consensus figures provided by analysts. However, the executive comment suggests that strategic price investments are expected to support stronger performance in the second half of the year compared to earlier targets. The reliance on current fuel and tariff levels highlights sensitivity to external cost pressures. The decision to deploy $2.9 billion in tariff refunds toward price cuts underscores a strategy to offset specific sectoral headwinds, such as the 125-basis-point drag from pharmacy deflation, while attempting to maintain volume growth despite slowing sales momentum. The decline in transaction growth from 3% to 1.5% alongside a drop in average spend growth from 3.1% to 1.1% signals that higher fuel costs are eroding consumer purchasing power faster than price cuts can compensate. Meanwhile, the robust double-digit growth in e-commerce (24%) and advertising (38%) provides a counter-narrative to the slowing core retail metrics, suggesting a structural shift in revenue composition even as near-term consumer spending tightens.