Walmart (WMT) is set to report earnings Thursday morning, with analysts expecting sales to rise year-over-year after the retail giant's fiscal 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:first-quarter results led the company to lift its full-year outlook.

Analysts expect a year-over-year bump of about 4% in sales, to $168.53 billion, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Net profit is projected at $5.19 billion, or 65 cents per share, compared with $7.89 billion, or 97 cents per share a year earlier – or 61 cents per share after the effect of unrealized investment gains that boosted the year-ago results is removed.

Key Metric: Market Share

In its 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:first-quarter earnings call in May, Walmart executives said the company was gaining market share across several income levels. Low-income consumers continued to be drawn to Walmart for its focus on value, while higher-income shoppers were drawn by a combination of price and increasing levels of convenience, company leadership said.

The increased share of higher-income customers has come at the expense of retail 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:competitors like Target (TGT), which reported a drop in same-store sales compared with the same time last year in 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:its first-quarter report.

Bank of America Securities analysts said they project Walmart will continue to gain market share across different income levels of consumers in the latest quarter thanks to its "strong value offering" and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:growing digital and autom🌸ation effo🗹rts.

Busin꧟ess Spotlight: Position Among Retail Landscape

Analysts are optimistic about Walmart's position in comparison with other 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:retailers, given its dominant position as a value-centric retailer as consumers pressured by inflation have pulled back on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:discretionary spending and sought𝔍 the lowest-cost option for essentials.

JPMorgan analysts called Walmart a "safe-haven stock" in a recent note, saying the company is "likely one of the few" retailers positioned to beat 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:analyst estimates and raise its guidance on earnings outlook for the rest of the year.

Deutsche Bank analysts wrote recently that they expect Walmart's earnings to help the retailer continue "distinguishing itself from the rest of retail with continued momentum—albeit with some moderation—amidst a slowing consumer backdrop."

Walmart shares rose more than 1% Monday, leaving the stock up more than 30% in 2024 and not far 🐬off record highs se🥂t earlier this year. They were off about 1% in early Tuesday trading.