Walmart logs its best Q1 in 9 years, meets estimates; stock up over 3%

Walmart advanced after reporting sales growth that met analysts’ expectations and reassuring investors it should be able to pass some tariff-related price hikes onto consumers, rather than single-handedly swallowing the expected increases itself.

Comparable sales for Walmart stores in the US climbed 3.4 per cent in the first quarter, its best for the period in nine years. Sales of groceries —Walmart’s biggest business —fueled the increase, and a later-than-usual US flu season boosted health and wellness products. The shares rose as much as 3.7 per cent in intraday trade on Thursday in New York, the biggest intraday gain in almost three