Walmart's Steady Growth: Why Surprise Billions Are Unlikely

Walmart is a giant in the retail world. It's the biggest retailer on the planet. It has been around for decades and has a reputation for keeping prices low. This is thanks to its massive scale and focus on efficiency. Walmart's business model is all about high volume and low margins. For every dollar it makes, only a tiny fraction turns into profit. This is by design. It's not a flaw. It's how Walmart operates. The retail giant's earnings are closely watched. Wall Street analysts and journalists keep a close eye on every move. Walmart does sometimes beat earnings expectations. But these "surprises" are often already factored in. So, when a claim surfaced that Walmart made billions more than expected in 2024, it raised eyebrows. This claim was not supported by the company's own financial reports or by Wall Street research. Walmart's growth over the last few years has been steady. It's been in line with what analysts expected. In 2024, Walmart's total revenue rose by 5. 1% to $681 billion. Its operating income increased by 8. 6% to $29. 3 billion. This growth was driven by gains in grocery and general merchandise, e-commerce expansion, and improved margins, especially in the U. S. market. Walmart U. S. comparable sales rose by 4. 5%, thanks to more transactions and a higher average ticket. Adjusted earnings per share rose to $2. 51. These results were in line with what Walmart had already guided. Analysts had largely forecasted this growth. So, there was no huge surprise. Walmart's strong performance this year was driven by modest digital growth and grocery share gains. This was especially true for higher-income shoppers trading down in an uncertain economy. In other words, it was textbook Walmart. It was sturdy, predictable, and not flashy. There was no tech-style earnings blowout. Recently, there have been public tensions between the White House and Walmart. This is over price hikes driven by tariffs. The White House has suggested that Walmart should absorb some of these costs. But reporting suggests no shift in company policy. This raises a troubling question: Is the White House distorting basic financial facts to shift blame for inflation? If so, it risks undercutting public understanding of what's actually driving prices. It also risks scapegoating a company that has helped keep them low for decades.