Risk factor changes · WMT
What changed in Walmart's risk factors
Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Walmart's FY2026 10-K compared with its FY2025 10-K, sentence by sentence.
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New in the latest 10-K 31
- The disclosures below reflect our beliefs and opinions as to risk factors that could materially and adversely affect our business operations and our securities in the future.
- References to past events are provided by way of example only and are not intended to be a complete listing or a representation as to whether or not such risk factors have occurred in the past or their likelihood of occurring in the future.
- Customers are using digital means, including websites, captive and third-party digital applications, social media, and emerging agentic platforms to shop with us and our competitors and to do comparison shopping, and we use these digital means along with digital advertising, text messages and email to interact with our customers and enhance their shopping experience.
- In addition, to remain competitive, we must continue to develop, integrate and scale digital tools, including AI-powered search and discovery platforms and capabilities, useful interfaces and other marketing tools such as third-party recommendation engines, paid search and mobile applications.
- Further, the protection of our proprietary rights, including our trademarks, copyrights, domain names, patents and trade secrets, is important to our business.
- Effective protection of our proprietary rights may not be available in every jurisdiction in which we offer our products and services, and we may not be able to prevent or deter third parties from infringing or misappropriating our intellectual property, or ensure that third parties will not independently develop equivalent or superior intellectual property rights, which could affect our ability to maintain a competitive advantage and adversely impact our business.
- We are exposed to a number of risks in our relationships with our suppliers, many of which are beyond our control, and which could adversely impact our operations and financial performance.
- As noted above, customers are using digital means, including websites, captive and third-party digital applications, social media, and emerging agentic platforms to shop with us and our competitors and to do comparison shopping, and we use these digital means along with digital advertising, text messages and email to interact with our customers and enhance their shopping experience.
- We also collect certain consumer data, which is stored digitally and used to conduct and facilitate our businesses.
- Continued advancements and increased use of AI have intensified existing cybersecurity risks by enabling faster and more automated attack techniques, lowering the barrier to creating sophisticated threats, and further compressing the time in which we must detect and respond to potential threats.
- Advances in AI are also creating novel categories of cyber threats in which attackers use AI systems to autonomously conduct reconnaissance, generate and tailor exploit code, harvest credentials, craft highly convincing social engineering content, and execute large scale intrusion or extortion campaigns with minimal human involvement.
- A growing patchwork of AI laws and targeted privacy and consumer protection statutes may also create varying obligations around notice, customer rights and appeals, data minimization, restrictions on sensitive data, targeted advertising and certain forms of profiling, and these requirements continue to evolve.
- In recent years, fluctuations in currency exchange rates that were unfavorable have had adverse effects on our reported results of operations.
- Changes in tax and trade laws, regulations and interpretations could materially adversely affect our financial performance.
- Significant changes in tax and trade policies, including tariffs, trade barriers, other restrictions on the exportation and importation of goods and government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries where we source many of the products we sell can impact, and have impacted, our business and profit margins, including through increases in the costs at which we purchase merchandise and the prices at which we sell such merchandise to our customers, and the costs we incur in pursuing our strategic initiatives, including those set forth under the headings Strategic Risks and Operational Risks above in this Item 1A.
- If we are unable to successfully manage the various impacts that changes in these tax and trade policies have on our business, our results of operations and financial performance could be impacted.
- We experienced the impacts noted above during fiscal 2026 as a result of incremental import tariffs.
- We expect the dynamic tariff environment to continue, including in fiscal 2027, and cannot predict with certainty the future impact that this environment will have on our results of operations or financial performance, which could be material.
- In particular, the OECD's Global Minimum Tax (Pillar Two) has become effective in many jurisdictions where we operate and continues to evolve through ongoing legislative and administrative guidance.
- These rules are complex, and may require significant data, systems and process changes to comply.
- We obtained CAC approval in September 2023 and are required to reapply by August 2026.
- For example, we are increasingly named as a defendant in cases that allege novel theories of personal injury or economic loss from consumer products, including multidistrict litigation relating to acetaminophen and baby food.
- We are increasingly named as a defendant in cases that involve allegations relating to the retail prices charged to customers and costs we negotiate with suppliers.
- These cases include purported class actions under federal and state antitrust and competition, consumer protection and related laws brought by customers, retailers and others, including cases related to our wholesale purchase and retail sale of batteries and soft drinks.
- Claims for insurance-related liabilities, such as workers' compensation, general liability, auto liability, product liability and certain employee-related healthcare benefits, are funded predominantly through self-insurance.
- Insurance coverage is maintained for certain risks to limit exposures arising from significant losses.
- The types and amounts of insurance may vary from time to time based on our risk-management strategy, risk tolerance, regulatory requirements, market conditions and other factors.
- Significant claims or events, regulatory changes, a substantial rise in costs of health care or costs to maintain our insurance or the failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
- Although we maintain specific coverages for catastrophic property losses, we still bear a significant portion of the risk of losses incurred as a result of any physical damage to, or the destruction of, any stores, warehouses, depots, manufacturing or home office facilities, loss or spoilage of inventory, and business interruption.
- Such losses could materially impact our cash flows and results of operations.
- For specific details and information on certain claims and litigation matters to which we are party and that could impact our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows, see the disclosures set forth below under the caption " Item 3.
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Removed words are struck through; added words are highlighted.
- Strategic Risks Failure to successfully execute our
omni-channelomnichannel strategy and the cost of our investments in eCommerce and technology may materially adversely affect our market position, net sales and financial performance. - Our strategy, which includes investments in eCommerce, technology,
includingtheuseofartificialintelligence("AI")andgenerativeAItechnologies(whichcontinuestogrowandevolvewithinourCompany),AI, talent, supply chain automation and enhancements, advertising, acquisitions, joint ventures, new store and club openings and remodels and other customerinitiativesinitiatives, may not adequately or effectively allow us to continue to grow oureCommercebusiness,omnichannel business offerings, increase comparablesales,sales or maintain or grow our overall marketpositionorotherwiseoffsettheimpactonthegrowthofourbusinessofamoderatedpaceofnewstoreandclubopeningsandsustainthecurrentpaceofremodels.position. - The success of this strategy will depend in large measure on our ability to continue building and delivering a seamless
omni-channelomnichannel shopping experience and interconnected ecosystem for our customers that deepens and maintains our relationships with our customers across our various businesses andpartnershipsandreinforcesouroverallenterprisestrategy.partnerships. - In addition, a greater concentration of eCommerce sales, including increasing online grocery
sales,sales and the increasing role of AI-enabled platforms in product search, discovery, advertising and purchasing, could result in a reduction in the amount of traffic in our stores and clubs, which would, in turn, reduce the opportunities for cross-store or cross-club sales of merchandise that such traffic creates and could reduce our sales within our stores and clubs and materially adversely affect our financial performance. - Our ability to predict and adapt to changing tastes and preferences depends on many factors, including obtaining accurate and relevant data on customer preferences, emphasizing relevant merchandise categories, effectively managing our inventory levels,
andimplementing competitive and effective pricing and promotion strategies. - Price transparency, assortment of products, customer experience, convenience, ease and the speed and cost of shipping are of primary importance to customers and continue to increase in importance, particularly as a result of digital
toolsandtools, socialmediamedia, and emerging agentic tools available to consumers and the choices available to consumers for purchasing products. - Negative incidents, including the loss of merchandise as a result of shrink or theft, ineffective use or misuse of AI
technologiestechnologies, inaccurate, biased or otherwise flawed 13 AI search and discovery results, or a data breach as a result of a cyberattack could quickly erode trust and confidence in our business and could result in customer dissatisfaction, consumer boycotts, workforce unrest and government investigations. - For instance, strong opinions continue to be publicly expressed both for
14and againstdiversity,equityandinclusionvarious social andESGenvironmental initiatives and positions taken by many corporations, including Walmart, are tracked, monitored and subject to heightened scrutiny from consumers, investors, advocacy groups and public figures, potentially leading to consumer boycotts, negative publicity campaigns, litigation and reputational harm. - We face strong competition from other retailers, wholesale club operators,
omni-channelomnichannel retailers and other businesses which could materially adversely affect our financial performance. - Each of our segments competes for customers, employees, digital prominence, products and services and in other important aspects of its business with many other local, regional, national and global physical, eCommerce and
omni-channelomnichannel retailers, social commerce platforms, wholesale club operators and retail intermediaries, and emerging agentic shopping tools and platforms, as well as companies that offer services in digital advertising, data analytics/insights, fulfillment and delivery services, health and wellness and financial services. - The
omni-channelomnichannel retail landscape is highly competitive and rapidly evolving, and the entry of new, well-funded competitors, or more rapid development of AI capabilities and agentic tools by these competitors to enhance productivity and the shopping experience, may increase competitive pressures. - We compete in a variety of ways, including the prices at which we sell our merchandise, merchandise selection and availability, services offered to customers, location, store hours, in-store amenities, the shopping convenience and overall shopping experience we offer, the attractiveness and ease of use of our digital platforms, quality and accessibility of data for customers, suppliers, and associates, and cost, speed of and options for accurate delivery to customers of merchandise purchased through our digital platforms or through our
omni-channelomnichannel integration of our physical and digital operations. - A failure to respond effectively to these competitive pressures and changes in the retail and other markets in which we operate,
omni-channelomnichannel innovations andomni-channelomnichannel ecosystems developed by our competitors or delays or failure in execution of our strategy could materially adversely affect our financial performance. - Business " above for additional discussion of the competitive
situationofeachlandscape of ourreportablesegments.business. - Such consolidation, or other business combinations or alliances, competitive
omni-channelomnichannel ecosystems or reductions in operations may result in competitors with improved financial resources, improved access to merchandise, greater market penetration and other improvements in their competitive positions. - Higher interest rates, higher prices of petroleum products, including crude oil, natural gas, gasoline and diesel fuel, increased costs for electricity and other energy, weakness in the housing market, inflation, deflation, increased costs of essential services, such as medical care and utilities, higher levels of unemployment, decreases in GDP and consumer
disposableincome,purchasing power (including from reductions resulting from changes to government programs), unavailability of 14 consumer credit, higher consumer debt levels, changes in consumer spending and shopping patterns, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, higher tax rates, imposition of new taxes or other changes in tax laws, changes in healthcare laws, other regulatory changes, the imposition of export and import restrictions, tariffs, trade barriers or other measures that create barriers to or increase the costs associated with international trade, overall economic slowdown or recession and other economic factors in the U.S., or in any of the other markets in which we operate, could adversely affect consumer demand for the products and services we sell in the U.S. or such other markets, change the mix of products we sell to any one or more markets with a lower average gross margin, cause a slowdown in discretionary purchases of goods, adversely affect our net sales, growth rates, operating income and result in slower inventory turnover and greater markdowns of inventory, or otherwise materially adversely affect our operations and operating results and could result in impairment charges to intangible assets, goodwill or other long-lived assets. - The economic factors that affect our operations may also adversely affect the operations of our suppliers, which can result in an increase in the cost to us of the goods we sell to our customers or, in more extreme cases, in certain suppliers not producing
15goods in the volume typically available to us for sale, or adversely impact product margins due to higher labor and material costs of our suppliers that we are unable, or choose not, to pass on to our customers. - These arrangements
(suchasONE,ourfintechventure)may not generate the level of sales or profitability we anticipate when entering into the arrangement or may otherwise adversely impact our business and competitive position relative to the results we could have achieved in the absence of such alliance. - A pandemic, epidemic or contagious disease outbreak that affects humans or the food supply, such as the avian flu impact on poultry and egg production could impact our business operations, demand for our products and services, in-stock positions, costs of doing business, access to inventory, supply chain operations,
theextentanddurationofmeasurestotrytocontainthespreadofavirusorotherdisease(suchastravelbansandrestrictions,quarantines,shelter-in-placeorders,limitationsonlargegatherings,businessandgovernmentshutdownsandotherrestrictionsonretailers),ourability to predict future performance, exposure to litigation andourfinancial performance, among other things. TheseNatural disasters and weather conditions, which may includeextremeweather-relatedeventssuchashurricanes, tropical storms, typhoons, floods, wildfires, cyclones, tornadoes, winter storms, droughts,andextreme temperatures,anyofwhichmaybeexacerbatedbycould have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial performance, and a changingclimate,aswellasothernaturaldisasterssuchasearthquakesclimate could exacerbate certain of these events andtsunamis.conditions.- Moreover, geopolitical tensions or
events;andcatastrophicandotherevents,events such aswar,war; civil unrest (including theft, looting orvandalism),vandalism); terroristattacksorotherattacks; acts of violence, including active shooter situations (such as those that have occurred in our U.S.stores),orthelossofmerchandiseasaresultofshrinkstores); ortheftsimilar disruptions in countriesinwhichweoperate,or regions in which our suppliersarelocatedoperate orregionsthrough which goods are transportedfromorthrough,orinotherareasoftheworld(suchasinUkraineandIsrael,armedhostilitiesintheRedSeaandsurroundingareasthroughwhichoceancarriervesselstraveltotheSuezCanalanddelaysthathaveoccurredtraversingthePanamaCanalresultingfromdrought)could materially adversely affect our operations and financial performance. AnyThe occurrence ofthethese eventsdescribedabovecould result in immediate and longer-term impacts on our operations, including physical damageto,orthecompletelossof,oneormoreofourproperties, the closure ofoneormorestores, clubs and distribution or fulfillment centers,limitationsonstoreorclublimited operating hours,thelackofanadequateworkforceworkforce shortages and challenges inamarket,labor availability, the inability of customers and associates to reach or have transportation to our 15 stores and clubs affected by such events, the evacuation of the populace from areas in which our stores, clubs and distribution and fulfillment centers are located, the unavailability of our digital platforms to our customers, and changes in the purchasing patterns of consumers (including the frequency of visits by consumers to physical retail locations, whether as a result of limitations on large gatherings, travel and movement limitations orotherwise),temporaryorlong-termdisruptioninthesupplyofproductsfromsomesuppliersordisruptionordelayinthedeliveryofgoodstoourdistributionandfulfillmentcentersorstoreswithinacountryinwhichweareoperatingandcouldnegativelyimpactouroperationsandfinancialperformance.otherwise).Moreover,thesedisastersandThese eventscannegativelyimpactconsumers'disposableincome,thecould also lead to temporary or long-term disruption intheour supplyofproductsfromsomesuppliers,thedisruptioninthetransportofgoodsfromoverseas,thedisruptionchains, including by disrupting ordelayindelaying the delivery of goods to our distribution and fulfillmentcentersorcenters, storeswithinacountryinwhichweareoperating,thereductioninand customers, negatively impacting consumers' disposable income; reducing the availability of products in our16stores,increasesinstores; increasing the costs of procuringproductsasaresultofeitherreducedavailabilityoreconomicsanctions,increasedproducts; increasing transportation costs (whether due to fuel prices, fuel supply orotherwise),thedisruption(whetherdirectlyorindirectly)ofotherwise); disrupting critical infrastructure systems, banking systems, utility services or energy availability to our stores, clubs and ourfacilitiesfacilities; andthedisruptioninourdisrupting communications with our stores, clubs and our other facilities.- We bear the majority of the costs associated with adaptation and the risk of losses incurred as a result of physical damage to, or destruction of, any stores,
clubsandclubs, distribution or fulfillmentcenters;centers and transportation vehicles and equipment; theft, loss or spoilage of inventory; and business interruption caused by such events. - Therefore, any of the above matters that uniquely impact or are specifically concentrated in the U.S. could materially adversely affect our financial
andoperationalperformance.condition, results of operations or cash flows. PoliticalThese risks include political and economic instability, as well as other impactful events and circumstances(suchaswepreviouslyexperienced(andcouldexperienceagain)withthepandemicrecoveryrelatedchallenges,includingsupplychaindisruptionandproduction,laborshortagesandincreasesinlaborcosts)inthe countries and regions in which our suppliersandtheirmanufacturersarelocatedorregionslocated, goods aretransportedfromorthrough,manufactured and located, and through which goods are transported; the financial instability ofsuppliers,suppliers; suppliers not having the financial ability or capacity to fulfill their indemnification obligations to us if called upon, thereby exposing us to the full cost of risks andclaims,claims; suppliers' failure to meet our terms and conditions or our supplier standards (including our responsible sourcingstandards),standards); labor problems experienced by our suppliers and theirmanufacturers,manufacturers; the availability of raw materials tosuppliers,suppliers; extreme weather events impacting the growing, manufacturing, mining and harvesting of commodities andproducts,products; merchandise safety and qualityissues,issues; disruption or delay in the transportation of merchandise from the suppliers and manufacturers to our stores, clubs and other facilities, including as a result of extreme weather or laborslowdownsand/orstrikesatanyportatwhichamaterialamountofmerchandisewepurchaseentersintothemarketsinwhichweoperate,slowdowns; currency exchangerates,rates; transport availability andcost,cost; transportsecurity,inflationandotherfactorsrelatingtothesupplierssecurity; andthecountriesinwhichtheyarelocatedarebeyondourcontrol.inflation.- When a
17product we sell does not meet quality or safety standards, there is an increased risk of liability for harm the product may cause our customers. - Any issue regarding the quality or safety of products we sell, regardless of the cause, could adversely affect our brand, reputation and financial performance. 16 If the quality or safety of products offered for sale on our third-party marketplace fails to meet our customers' expectations or regulatory standards, we could be held directly liable, lose customers, become subject to regulatory enforcement or otherwise experience reputational harm.
- Our information systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, ransomware, worms, other malicious computer programs, denial-of-service attacks, security incidents and breaches from a variety of threat actors, including both cybercriminals and nation state-sponsored
actors,actors and catastrophic eventssuchaswildfires,majororextendedwinterstorms,tornadoes,earthquakesandhurricanes,utilityoutages,usageerrorsbyourassociatesorcontractorsandcivilorpoliticalunrestorarmedhostilities.noted above in this Item 1A . - If the technology-based systems that give our customers the ability to shop with us online and enable us to deliver products and services do not function effectively, or keep pace with similar offerings of our competitors, our operating results, as well as our ability to grow our
omni-channelomnichannel business globally, could be materially adversely affected. - As a part of our
omni-channelomnichannel sales strategy, we offer various pickup, delivery and shipping programs including options where many products available for purchase online can be picked up by the customer or member at a local Walmart store or Sam's Club, which provides additional customer traffic at such stores and clubs. Omni-channel18Omnichannel retailing is a rapidly evolving part of the retail industry and of our operations around the world, and we continue to make investments in supply chain automation and enhancements to support ouromni-channelomnichannel strategy.- We must anticipate and meet our customers' changing expectations while adjusting for technology investments and developments in our competitors' operations through focusing on the building and delivery of a seamless shopping experience across all channels by each operating
segment.segment, and structuring these offerings in a manner that allows us to maintain a direct relationship with our customers. - We continue to invest in AI
andgenerativeAItechnologiesto enhance ourcustomerscustomers' shopping experience and our associate work experience and to improve efficiencies of our supply chain, operations, management functions and talent recruitment and development; however, these are evolvingtechnologiesandtechnologies, there are 17 inherent operational and legal complexities associated with implementation of these technologies within ourbusiness.business, and there can be no assurance that these investments will deliver the anticipated benefits, or that we will be able to adopt and leverage these technologies as quickly or effectively as our competitors. - When integrating and introducing AI
andgenerativeAItechnologies into our platforms, processes and systems, we may be exposed to new or expanded liabilities and risks due to elevated governmental scrutiny and monitoring, litigation, data privacy risks and compliance issues in a disparate and at times conflicting regulatory environment, all of which could negatively affect our financial performance and business reputation. - Any disruption or failure on our part to provide attractive, user-friendly and secure digital platforms that offer a wide assortment of merchandise and services at competitive prices and with low cost and rapid delivery options and that continually meet the changing expectations of online shoppers and developments in
onlineonline, digital, anddigitalplatformagentic merchandising and related technology in a cost-efficient manner could place us at a competitive disadvantage, result in the loss of eCommerce and other sales, harm our reputation with customers, have a material adverse impact on the growth of our eCommerce business globally and have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations. - Cyberattacks and threat actors can be sponsored by particular nation-states, or be the work of sophisticated criminal organizations, insiders (including our associates or contractors) or third parties, each with a
wide-rangewide range of motives and expertise. - As noted above, some of our information systems and those of our third-party service providers have experienced cybersecurity incidents or breaches, including during fiscal
2025,2026, and, although to date they have not had a material adverse effect on our operating results or business, there can be no assurance of a similar result in the future. - Those attacks involve attempts to impede the operations of
19our system or gain unauthorized access to our eCommerce websites (including marketplace platforms) or mobile commerce applications to obtain and misuse customers' or members' information including personal information and/or payment information, and related risks discussed in this Item 1A . - Such attacks, if successful, may result in potential data and personal 18 information misuse and/or loss and may create denials of service or otherwise disable, degrade or sabotage the information systems that enable or support one or more of our digital platforms or otherwise significantly disrupt our customers' and members' shopping experience, our supply chain integrity and continuity and our ability to efficiently operate our business.
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- Our reputation with our customers and members is important to the success of our enterprise strategy, which combines traditional retail, membership models, marketplaces, financial services, health and wellness and other customer and business
20services into a series of interconnected assets to make it seamless for customers to interact with us. - Security-related events could be widely publicized and could materially adversely affect our reputation with our customers, members, associates, vendors and shareholders, could harm our competitive position particularly with respect to our eCommerce operations, and 19 could result in a material reduction in our net sales in our eCommerce operations, as well as in our stores, thereby materially adversely affecting our operations, net sales, growth rates, operating income, results of operations, financial position, cash flows and liquidity.
- Changes in third-party reimbursements and contracts,
typetype, or scope of offerings of our health and wellness business could adversely affect our overall results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. - Our retail pharmacy operations are subject to numerous risks, including: reductions in the third-party reimbursement rates for drugs; changes in our payer mix (i.e., shifts in the relative distribution of our pharmacy customers across drug insurance plans and programs toward plans and programs with less favorable reimbursement terms); changes in third-party payer drug formularies (i.e., the schedule of prescription drugs approved for reimbursement or which otherwise receive preferential coverage treatment); growth in, and our participation in or exclusion from, pharmacy payer network arrangements, including exclusive and preferred pharmacy network arrangements operated by PBMs and/or any insurance plan or program; increases in the prices we pay for brand name and generic prescription drugs we sell; increases in the administrative burdens associated with seeking third-party reimbursement; changes in the frequency with which new brand name pharmaceuticals become available to consumers; introduction of lower cost generic drugs as substitutes for existing brand name drugs for which there was no prior generic drug competition; changes in drug mix (i.e., the relative distribution of drugs customers purchase at our pharmacies between brands and generics); changes in the health insurance market generally; increased governmental focus on reducing drug prices including most favored nation pricing policies, maximum fair price negotiations, and direct-to-consumer pharmacy delivery models; changes in the scope of or the elimination of Medicare Part D or Medicaid drug programs; increased competition from other retail pharmacy operations including competitors offering online retail pharmacy options and/or home delivery options; further consolidation and strategic alliances among third-party payers, PBMs or purchasers of drugs; overall economic conditions and the ability of our pharmacy customers to pay for drugs prescribed for them to the extent the costs are not reimbursed by a third-party; failure to meet any performance or incentive thresholds to which our level of third-party reimbursement may be subject; changes in laws or regulations or the practices of third-party payers and PBMs related to the use of third-party financial assistance to assist our pharmacy customers with paying for drugs prescribed for them; and any additional changes in the state or federal regulatory environment for the retail pharmacy industry and the pharmaceutical industry, including as a result of health reform efforts and other changes to or novel interpretations of existing state or federal laws, rules and regulations that affect our retail pharmacy business. 20 If the supply of certain pharmaceuticals provided by one or more of our vendors were to be disrupted for any reason, our pharmacy operations could be severely affected until at least such time as we could obtain a new supplier for such pharmaceuticals.
- Our Consolidated Financial Statements are denominated in U.S. dollars, and to prepare those financial statements we must translate the amounts of the assets, liabilities, net sales, other revenues and expenses of our operations outside of the U.S. from local 21 currencies into U.S. dollars using exchange rates for the current period.
Inrecentyears,fluctuationsincurrencyexchangeratesthatwereunfavorablehavehadadverseeffectsonourreportedresultsofoperations.22As a result of such translations, fluctuations in currency exchange rates from period-to-period that are unfavorable to us may also result in our Consolidated Financial Statements reflecting significant adverse period-over-period changes in our financial performance or reflecting a period-over-period improvement in our financial performance that is not as robust as it would be without such fluctuations in the currency exchange rates.- During fiscal
2025,2026, our Walmart International operations generated approximately18%19% of our consolidated net sales. - Any such violations, even if prohibited by our 22 internal policies, could subject us to fines and penalties and adversely affect our business or financial performance and our reputation.
23Changesintaxandtradelaws,regulationsandinterpretationscouldmateriallyadverselyaffectourfinancialperformance. - In fiscal
2025,2026, our Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club U.S. operating segments generated approximately 82% of our consolidated net sales. - In addition, legislatures and taxing authorities in many jurisdictions in which we operate may enact changes
toto, or seek to enforce novel interpretationsoftheirof, existing taxrules.laws, including both temporary and permanent measures. - For example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the
"OECD"),theEuropeanUnion"OECD") and other countries (including countries in which we operate) have committed to enacting substantial changes to numerous long-standing tax principles impactinghowtaxation of large multinationalenterprisesaretaxed.enterprises. - The impact of these
potentialnewrulesdevelopments, as well asanyother changes in domestic and international taxruleslaws and regulations could have a material effect on our cash taxes, affect our effective taxrate.rate and increase our compliance, audit and controversy costs, any of which could materially adversely affect our financial performance. - In addition, the degree of regulatory, political, and media scrutiny we face increases the likelihood that our efforts to adhere to our practices and procedures to comply with 23 these laws and legal requirements may be subject to frequent or increasing challenges.
- Our health and wellness operations in the U.S. are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those related to: licensing; reimbursement arrangements and other requirements and restrictions; registration and regulation of pharmacies; dispensing and sale of controlled substances and products containing pseudoephedrine; governmental (including Medicare and Medicaid) and commercial reimbursement; data privacy and security and the sharing
24and interoperability of data, including obligations and restrictions related to health information (such as those imposed under HIPAA); protection of consumer health data; billing and coding for healthcare services and properly handling overpayments; debt collection; necessity and adequacy of healthcare services; relationships with referral sources and referral recipients and other fraud and abuse issues, such as those addressed by anti-kickback and false claims laws and patient inducement regulations; qualification of healthcare practitioners; quality and standards of medical services and equipment; and the practice of the professions of pharmacy and optometry. - Additionally, through various financial service partners and our
ONEOnePay fintech venture, we offer various services such as money transfers, digital payment platforms, bill payment, money orders, check cashing, prepaid access, co-brandedcreditscredit cards, limited access to cryptocurrency and equity investment products, installment lending and earned wage access. - These products and services require us to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including those intended to help detect and prevent fraud and other illicit activity, the sale and custody of equity and cryptocurrency products, privacy, information security, anti-money laundering and sanctions regimes and consumer protection under U.S. state and federal laws and regulations, as well as those of certain other countries.
- We are also governed by foreign, national and state laws and regulations of general applicability, including laws and regulations related to competition and antitrust matters; protection of the environment and health and safety matters, including exposure to, and the management and disposal of, hazardous substances; food and drug safety, including drug supply chain security requirements; consumer protection, and safety, including the availability, sale, price label accuracy, membership subscription and cancellation; advertisement and promotion of products we sell and the financial services we offer (including through our digital channels, stores and clubs, as well as our
ONEOnePay fintech venture); anti-money laundering prohibitions; consumer financial protection laws; economic, trade and other sanctions matters; licensure, including supply chain logistics licensure, certification and enrollment with government programs; cross border data transfer; data privacy,cybersecurityandthecybersecurity, sharing and interoperability ofdata;data and use of AI technology; working conditions, workplace health and safety, equal employment opportunity, worker classification, employee benefit and other labor and employment matters; and health and wellness related regulations for our pharmacy and optometry operations. - Governmental and societal attention to
ESGsocial and environmental matters, including expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting diligence, and disclosure topics such as climate change, sustainability (including with respect to our supply chain), 24 natural resources, waste reduction, energy, human capital and risk oversight could change the nature, scope and complexity of matters that we are required to control, assess and report. RecentlyenactedstateState laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA"), in a number of states that have become effective, or will soon be effective, have created a substantially more complex regulatory regime associated with data-handling practices.- Certain of these laws have required us to modify our data processing practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and
25expenses to comply, which we anticipate will continue in the future. - Further, PIPL raises the requirements for processing personal information and requires our China business to undergo a cybersecurity assessment and obtain approval from the Cyberspace Administration of China ("CAC") as well as consent from the personal information owner before personal information collected in China may be transferred to, or accessed from, outside of China.
- The impact of new laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations, as well as changes in enforcement practices or regulatory scrutiny as to existing laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, in the U.S., shifting enforcement priorities for existing antitrust, competition and pricing
laws,laws (including new or expanded laws relating to dynamic and algorithmic pricing), use and disposal of plastics, recycled plastics or other packaging materials,ESG,social and environmental initiatives, consumer protection and AI technology, as well as proposed new rules and regulations) generally cannot be predicted, and changes in applicable laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices of existing laws and regulations may require extensive system and operational changes, be difficult to implement, increase our operating costs, require significant capital expenditures, adversely impact the cost or attractiveness of the products or services we offer, or result in adverse publicity and harm our reputation. TheVIZIOOrderremainsineffectHolding Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively "VIZIO") are subject to a stipulated order with the Federal Trade Commission and the New Jersey Attorney General until 2037andthat requires VIZIO to comply with specified obligations related toitsVIZIO's collection and use of certain consumer data and information collected from a VIZIO internet-connected device.OurownershipofVIZIOandthesecomplianceobligationsarenew,andifIf we fail toadequatelydesignorimplementcontrolsforthesematters,comply with the terms of the order, we may face additional regulatory action, penalties or monetary fines, any of which could have a substantial negative impact on our business, operations and financial performance.- Failure to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements in the U.S. or in any of the countries in which we operate could result in significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial position and results of operations. 25 We are subject to risks related to litigation claims, and other legal proceedings that may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and liquidity.
- We operate globally in a highly regulated and litigious environment.
- We may also be involved in legal proceedings brought by regulatory authorities, organizations and individuals relating to products, product claims or product packaging, including that such products or packaging
isare made of plastic,isdo not meet required safety standards, contain PFAS or other chemicals, are not appropriately disposed,containsPFAS,contain incorrect weight orcontainsmeasurement, or contain misrepresentations aboutitscountry of origin or assembly, recyclability, compostability, biodegradability or reusability. - We may also have indemnification obligations for legal commitments of certain business customers we contract with and businesses we have
26divested. Forexample,weWe arecurrentlya defendant in a number of cases containing class, representative or collective action allegations in which the plaintiffs have brought claims under federal, state and local wage and hour and employment laws, as well as a number of cases containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs have brought claims under federal and state competition and consumer protection laws.- We cannot
reasonablyestimateanylossorrangeoflossthatmayarisefromthesemattersandcanprovidenoany assurance as to the scopeorand outcome ofanyproceedingthatmightresultfromtheNoticeortheRequeststhese matters andfurthercanprovideno assurance thatitsour business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows will not be materially adversely affected. - Legal Proceedings " and in Note
109 in the "Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements," which are part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. - However, this provision does not affect the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction of federal courts over actions brought under the federal securities laws, including the Exchange Act, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 26 Not satisfying stakeholder expectations with respect to our social and environmental efforts could adversely affect our reputation or subject us to regulatory or litigation risk.
- We periodically publish information about our shared value priorities, strategies, progress and challenges through our online
ESGsocial and environmental reporting, which is not incorporated by reference into and does not form any part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. - Consequently, it is possible that we may fail, or be perceived to have failed, in the achievement of our
ESGsocial and environmental goals and certain customers, associates, shareholders, investors, suppliers, business partners, government agencies and non-governmental organizations might not be satisfied with our progress. - Furthermore, federal, state and local regulatory authorities, private organizations and individuals may challenge our approach to
ESGsocial and environmental issues, including allegations that we failed in our efforts, should not have undertaken such efforts or that we improperly engaged with other entities in our approach toESGsocial and environmental issues.
Removed since the previous 10-K 54
- Natural disasters, weather conditions, geopolitical tensions and other catastrophic events may have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial performance.
- In fiscal 2025, Hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted our stores, operations and supply chains in the Southeastern U.S., although such events did not materially impact our consolidated financial performance.
- Furthermore, the long-term impacts of climate change, whether involving physical risks (such as extreme weather conditions, drought or rising sea levels) or transition risks (such as regulatory or technology changes) may be widespread and are unpredictable.
- Certain impacts of physical risk may include: temperature changes that increase the heating and cooling costs at stores, clubs and distribution or fulfillment centers; extreme weather patterns that affect the production or sourcing of certain commodities; flooding and extreme storms that damage or destroy our buildings and inventory; disruption of electrical grids or utilities required to operate our stores, clubs and information systems; and heat and extreme weather events that cause long-term disruption or threats to the habitability of the communities in which we operate.
- Relative to transition risk, certain impacts may include: changes in energy and commodity prices driven by climate-related weather events; prolonged climate-related events affecting macroeconomic conditions with related effects on consumer spending and confidence; stakeholder perception of our engagement in climate-related policies; and new regulatory requirements resulting in higher compliance risk and operational costs.
- Any issue regarding the quality or safety of products we sell, regardless of the cause, could adversely affect our brand, reputation and financial performance.
- Increasingly, customers are using computers, tablets and smart phones to shop with us and with our competitors and to do comparison shopping.
- We use social media, online advertising and email to interact with our customers and as a means to enhance their shopping experience.
- Further, we recently acquired VIZIO Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries, which collects certain consumer data, including certain television viewing data.
- Some of this information is stored digitally in connection with the digital platforms and technologies that we use to conduct and facilitate our various businesses.
- If the supply of certain pharmaceuticals provided by one or more of our vendors were to be disrupted for any reason, our pharmacy operations could be severely affected until at least such time as we could obtain a new supplier for such 21 pharmaceuticals.
- Significant changes in tax and trade policies, including tariffs, trade barriers, other restrictions on the exportation and importation of goods and government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries where we source many of the products we sell in our stores and clubs could have an adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
- Any such actions, including the imposition of further tariffs on imports could increase the cost to us of such merchandise (whether imported directly or indirectly) and cause increases in the prices at which we sell such merchandise to our customers, which could materially adversely affect the financial performance of our U.S. and international operations as well as our business.
- These changes could include modifications that have temporary effect and more permanent changes.
- In particular, the OECD's Pillar Two initiative introduces a 15% global minimum tax applied on a country-by-country basis, which became effective in many jurisdictions in which we operate starting January 1, 2024.
- For example, in the case of noncompliance with a material provision of the GDPR (such as non-adherence to the core principles of processing personal data), regulators have the authority to levy a fine in an amount that is up to the greater of 20 million or 4% of global annual turnover (i.e., revenue) in the prior year.
- Further, PIPL took effect in China in November 2021.
- Walmart obtained CAC approval in September 2023.
- Fines for PIPL violations range from approximately RMB 50 million to up to 5% of the infringing company's previous year's revenues generated from within China.
- We acquired VIZIO Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively "VIZIO") in December 2024.
- As part of its business, VIZIO collects certain consumer data, including viewing data from its opted-in internet-connected televisions.
- In 2017, VIZIO stipulated to the entry of a judgment in federal district court with the Federal Trade Commission and the New Jersey Attorney General to settle alleged violations related to certain of its business practices (the "VIZIO Order").
- We are subject to risks related to litigation and other legal proceedings that may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and liquidity.
- We have been responding to subpoenas, information requests and investigations from governmental entities related to nationwide controlled substance dispensing and distribution practices involving opioids.
- We are a defendant in numerous litigation proceedings related to opioids, including the multidistrict litigation entitled In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804) currently pending in the U.S.
- District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, cases pending in various state and federal courts, and a lawsuit filed against us by the U.S.
- Department of Justice in the District of Delaware in 2020.
- We cannot predict the ultimate number of opioids-related claims that may be filed or their outcomes and cannot reasonably estimate any loss or range of loss that may arise from opioids-related matters.
- In addition, we have been responding to subpoenas, information requests and investigations from governmental entities regarding the independent contractor classification of drivers and payment and operational practices with respect to our driver platform, as well as defending putative class and representative action civil litigation relating to driver classification and defending other civil litigation and arbitration claims in connection with the driver platform.
- On December 23, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") filed a lawsuit against the Company and Branch Messenger, Inc. in the District of Minnesota alleging the Company violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act by allegedly requiring independent contractor drivers on the Spark platform to receive payments through a financial product offered by Branch.
- The CFPB seeks an injunction and unspecified restitution, damages and civil penalties.
- On February 20, 2025, the Court entered an order that indefinitely stays the case and vacates all deadlines.
- We cannot predict the outcome of the investigations by the governmental entities or the civil litigation and arbitration matters.
- In July 2021, the Directorate of Enforcement in India issued a show cause notice to Flipkart Private Limited and one of its subsidiaries ("Flipkart"), and to unrelated companies and individuals, including certain current and former shareholders and directors of Flipkart.
- The notice requests the recipients to show cause as to why further proceedings under India's Foreign Direct Investment rules and regulations (the "Rules") should not be initiated against them based on alleged violations during the period from 2009 to 2015, prior to our acquisition of a majority stake in Flipkart in 2018 (the "Notice"), in addition to more recent requests for information from the Directorate of Enforcement to Flipkart for periods prior and subsequent to April 2016 regarding the Rules, including the most recent request in February 2025 (the "Requests").
- The Notice is an initial stage of proceedings under the Rules which could, depending upon the conclusions at the end of the initial stage, lead to a hearing to consider the merits of the allegations described in the Notice.
- If a hearing is initiated, whether with respect to the Notice or from further proceedings related to the Requests, and if it is determined that violations of the Rules occurred, then the regulatory authority has the authority to impose monetary and/or non-monetary relief, such as share ownership restrictions.
- We are unable to predict whether the Notice will lead to a hearing on the merits or, if it does, the final outcome of the resulting proceedings, as well as whether any further proceedings will arise with respect to the Requests.
- On January 13, 2020, the Competition Commission of India ("CCI") ordered its Director General (the "DG") to investigate certain matters alleging competition law violations by certain subsidiaries of Flipkart in India and other parties.
- On September 13, 2024, those subsidiaries received a non-confidential version of the DG's Investigation Report (the "Report"), alleging certain competition law violations.
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- CCI is not bound by the Report, and will conduct its independent analysis of the allegations, including hearing objections from the subsidiaries and other parties before issuing its final order in the matter, which could include monetary and non-monetary relief.
- CCI's final order would also be subject to appropriate appellate proceedings.
- We can provide no assurance as to the scope and outcome of this matter, cannot reasonably estimate any loss or range of loss that may arise, and can provide no assurance that its business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows will not be materially adversely affected.
- Also, in October 2023, the main Mexican operating subsidiary of Wal-Mart de M xico, S.A.B. de C.V.
- ("Walmex") was notified of the initiation of a quasi-judicial administrative process against it for alleged relative monopolistic practices in connection with the supply and wholesale distribution of certain consumer goods and retail marketing practices of such consumer goods and related services.
- On December 12, 2024, the Comisi n Federal de Competencia Econ mica of M xico ("COFECE") issued a split decision that Walmex's subsidiary had engaged in a single relative monopolistic practice in relation to the negotiation of two types of contributions with its suppliers.
- The resolution imposed a monetary penalty on Walmex's subsidiary and certain non-structural conduct measures.
- Walmex and its business operations may continue to be closely 27 monitored and subject to heightened scrutiny from regulatory authorities on these matters leading to possible negative publicity, additional litigation proceedings and reputational harm, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial position and results of operations.
- We are also a defendant in litigation with the Federal Trade Commission regarding our money transfer agent services and are also cooperating with and responding to subpoenas issued by the U.S.
- Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of the U.S.
- Department of Justice regarding our consumer fraud prevention program and anti-money laundering compliance related to our money transfer services, where we are an agent.
- We are unable to predict the outcome of the litigation or investigations or any other related actions by governmental entities regarding these matters and can provide no assurance as to the scope and outcome of these matters and whether our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows will not be materially adversely affected.
- We discuss in more detail these cases and other litigation to which we are party below under the caption " Item 3.
- Not satisfying stakeholder expectations with respect to our ESG efforts could adversely affect our reputation or subject us to regulatory or litigation risk.
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