Retail giant Wal-Mart (WMT.US) saw its stock price rise slightly on Monday, pushing its market capitalization above that of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A.US, BRK.B.US) for the first time since 2013, returning it to the top ranks of U.S. stock market valuations. At the close of trading on Monday, Wal-Mart's stock was up 0.33% at $127.92, giving the company a total market capitalization of approximately $1.02 trillion, surpassing Berkshire Hathaway's approximately $1.017 trillion. This shift makes Wal-Mart the ninth-largest publicly traded company in the United States by market capitalization. Data indicates that Berkshire Hathaway's market capitalization includes both its Class A and Class B shares. On the same day, Berkshire Hathaway's Class B shares fell 0.53% to $472.08, while its Class A shares declined 0.68% to $706,750.
Over the past year, Wal-Mart's market value had been notably lower than Berkshire Hathaway's, but as its stock price continued to climb, the gap gradually narrowed. Since the beginning of the year, Wal-Mart's stock has risen approximately 15%, with its market capitalization rapidly increasing from around $887.9 billion at the start of 2026 to over one trillion dollars, enabling it to overtake Berkshire Hathaway. According to data, this marks the first time since January 2021 that Wal-Mart has ranked as the ninth-largest U.S. company by market value, and the first time since April 2013 that it has surpassed Berkshire Hathaway in market capitalization.
Market analysts believe that Wal-Mart's recent strong stock performance is closely linked to improvements in its fundamentals and enhanced growth expectations. Last week, the company announced plans to increase investment in its U.S. stores, aiming to renovate 650 locations and open approximately 20 new stores by early 2027. Additionally, institutional sentiment has become more optimistic. Analysts recently upgraded Wal-Mart's rating to "Buy," anticipating that the company's sales and operating profit for the current fiscal year may exceed previous guidance. Regarding financial outlook, Wal-Mart expects earnings per share for fiscal year 2027 to be between $2.75 and $2.85, higher than the $2.64 reported for fiscal year 2026. Operating profit is projected to be in the range of $32.96 billion to $33.58 billion, also exceeding the previous fiscal year's $31.1 billion.
This reversal in market value signifies Wal-Mart's renewed elevation in status among large U.S. companies. Against a backdrop of stable consumer demand and the company's ongoing expansion, investors maintain confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
Comments