Walmart says holiday momentum fueled by higher-income shoppers

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

WALMART SAYS IT IS READY FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THE LARGEST RETAILER IN THE NATION RELEASING ITS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS REPORT – WITH THE KEYWORD BEING MOMENTUM.

WALMART EXECS USING THE WORD NEARLY A DOZEN TIMES DURING TUESDAY’S CALL TO DESCRIBE THE COMPANY’S POSITION HEADING INTO THE BIGGEST SHOPPING PERIOD OF THE YEAR.

THE RETAILER TOPPED EARNINGS AND REVENUE EXPECTATIONS – WITH U.S. SALES INCREASING 5 PERCENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER TO 114 POINT 9 BILLION DOLLARS AND E-COMMERCE BUSINESS RISING 22 PERCENT – WITH GAINS COMING FROM CURBSIDE PICKUP AND HOME DELIVERY, ALONG WITH THE EXPANSION OF ITS ONLINE ADVERTISING AND MARKETPLACE BUSINESSES.

“In the U.S., in-store volumes grew, pickup from store grew faster, and delivery from store grew even faster than that. Becoming more convenient for our customers and members is helping drive our growth.”

PART OF THAT GROWTH WAS DRIVEN BY WALMART ATTRACTING MORE HIGH-INCOME SHOPPERS – WITH THOSE EARNING MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS ACCOUNTING FOR THREE-QUARTERS OF THE COMPANY’S GAINS.

ANALYSTS SAY THE WALMART PLUS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM HAS HELPED BRING IN THESE AFFLUENT CUSTOMERS – AS THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO BUILD ITS DELIVERY SERVICE. ONE PERK BEING MEMBERS GET FREE SAME-DAY DELIVERIES ON ORDERS OVER 35 DOLLARS.

TO HELP GROW THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM EVEN MORE DURING THE HOLIDAYS – WALMART HAS SLASHED THE PRICE BY 50 PERCENT.

WALMART ALSO SAYS ITS INVESTMENT IN GROCERY AND HOUSEHOLDS SECTIONS HAVE LED TO THESE HIGHER-THAN-EXPECTED RESULTS.

“As we grow our (online) assortment, we’re able to appeal to more people and appeal to higher income levels.”

“Everybody wants to save money and everybody wants to save time. It’s a continuum. And those that have more discretionary income and want to save time are liking what we’re doing with both pickup and delivery. And I think that’s one of the things that makes this moment in time different.”

WALMART IS ONE OF THE FIRST RETAILERS TO GIVE A GLIMPSE AT WHERE IT STANDS GOING INTO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON. LATER THIS WEEK, WE’LL FIND OUT HOW ONE OF ITS BIGGEST COMPETITORS IS FARING – THAT BEING TARGET.

TIS THE SEASON TO REPORT YOUR QUARTERLY EARNINGS.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

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