How They Make Money

How They Make Money

๐Ÿ“Š PRO: This Week in Visuals

WMT ADI NTES TGT AS KLAR

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App Economy Insights
Aug 22, 2026
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Welcome to the Saturday PRO edition of How They Make Money.

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In case you missed it:

  • โ˜๏ธ Neocloud Economics

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Wall Streetโ€™s Top Stocks in Q2


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Today at a glance:

  1. ๐Ÿ›’ Walmart: Digital Outruns Stores

  2. โš™๏ธ Analog Devices: Grid-to-Chip Breakout

  3. ๐ŸŽฎ NetEase: Evergreen Games Deliver

  4. ๐ŸŽฏ Target: Traffic Holds Up

  5. โ›ท๏ธ Amer Sports: Wilson Joins In

  6. ๐Ÿ’ณ Klarna: GMV Reset


1. ๐Ÿ›’ Walmart: Digital Outruns Stores

Walmart Q2 FY27 revenue rose 6% Y/Y to $187.9 billion ($1.1 billion beat), with adjusted EPS of $0.81 ($0.07 beat). Walmart US comps slowed to 2.6%, the weakest growth in more than six years and below the 3.7% consensus, sending shares sharply lower. Transactions still grew 1.5%.

The headline slowdown is somewhat misleading. New federal drug-pricing rules created a roughly 125 bps drag on US comps. Excluding Health & Wellness, comps grew 3.4%. Walmart also used some of its tariff refunds to cut prices on more than 11,000 items. The company continues gaining share, particularly in grocery and among higher-income households.

Meanwhile, the businesses increasingly driving Walmartโ€™s economics remain much stronger than store sales:

  • Global e-commerce grew 23%.

  • Advertising surged 38%.

  • Membership fee revenue increased 17%.

Walmart US e-commerce has now grown above 20% for 10 consecutive quarters, with profitability improving as stores increasingly function as fulfillment hubs rather than simply physical retail locations.

Fuel remains a challenge, with FY27 incremental fuel costs now expected above $2 billion. Walmart is also expected to continue reinvesting tariff refunds into lower prices, contributing to Q3 adjusted EPS guidance of $0.62โ€“$0.64, which is below consensus.

Despite that reinvestment, Walmart raised FY27 sales growth guidance to 4%โ€“5% (from 3.5%โ€“4.5%) and adjusted operating income growth to 7%โ€“8.5% (from 6%โ€“8%).

Bottom Line: Slower US comp reflects pharmacy pricing rather than lost share. The more important shift continues underneath, with e-commerce, advertising, membership, and marketplace growing far faster than traditional stores. Walmart increasingly looks less like a retailer with digital businesses attached and more like an omnichannel platform funded by retail.


2. โš™๏ธ Analog Devices: Grid-to-Chip Breakout

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