WALMART : Fundamental View and Technical Analysis.

It appears that more high-income consumers are now shopping at Walmart, which could be a sign of the growing economic pressures caused by rising interest rates, high inflation, and increased gasoline prices. Walmart recently reported its Q4 earnings, which showed strong revenue growth globally, with sales up almost 8% in constant currency terms to $164 billion. Sales at comparable stores (comp) were up over 8% YoY, while sales at Sam's Club were up 12% and 22%, respectively. E-commerce sales also saw a notable increase of 17% in the US.

However, Walmart's growth in sales seems to be largely driven by price increases in groceries, with food inflation rising above the national rate. This could suggest that consumers are buying only the essentials, as sales for other merchandise like toys, electronics, home goods, and clothing have declined. Walmart predicts that US sales will grow a maximum of 5%, and earnings will fall to a range of $5.90 to $6.05 per share.

While these challenges are concerning, Walmart still looks capable of continuing to gain market share even during a potential recession. In fact, its strength in groceries is worth noting, with comparable sales growing by tens of percent. However, since food inflation rose in the mid-tenths of a percent, well above the reported national inflation rate, it appears that retail sales growth is indeed driven by price increases.

Moreover, more than half of the increase in grocery prices is attributable to high-income consumers who find it necessary to shop in the lower market. While this may be a long-term advantage for Walmart, as many of these new customers may stay with the company after inflation finally subsides, it suggests that these are particularly difficult times. When even high-income households are saving, it's a worrying sign for the rest of us.

It's worth noting that Walmart is returning more cash to shareholders than it is generating in free cash flow, which may concern some investors. Cash earnings for the year rose to $12.2 billion, but Walmart paid out $6.1 billion in dividends and repurchased $9.9 billion worth of stock for a total of $16 billion. This is not what investors would like to see from the retailer for a long period of time.

If you're an investor, you may want to consider using this opportunity to invest in protective stocks that may survive or even prosper during a downturn. While Walmart may not be a discount stock, it could still be a long-term refuge from any storm. However, a National Association for Business Economics survey warns that 58% of economists believe there is more than a 50% chance of a recession in the next 12 months, with 33% predicting it will come in Q2 and 21% believing it will start in the third.

Overall, it's clear that Walmart's strong revenue growth is a good sign, but the challenges it faces, such as declining profits and the potential for a market downturn, cannot be ignored. As consumers continue to buy only the essentials and high-income shoppers opt for discounted groceries, it's important to stay vigilant and prepare for any potential economic challenges ahead.