Walmart Suffers $22 Billion Valuation Drop On A Single Day Amid Declining Consumer Confidence

Walmart Inc. WMT has witnessed a massive $22 billion loss in market capitalization following declining consumer confidence data.

What Happened: Walmart’s stock price fell by 3.1% at market close on Tuesday, leading to a sharp decline in its market value to nearly $680 billion. The retail giant suffered the largest valuation drop on Tuesday, surpassing Nvidia‘s NVDA $17 billion market cap loss on the same day, reported Newsweek.

This decline aligns with the Conference Board’s monthly report on American consumer confidence, which recorded a drop for the fourth consecutive month. In March, the Consumer Confidence Index fell to 92.9 points, marking its lowest level since early 2021.

The Expectations Index, which gauges consumers’ short-term outlook on income, business, and labor market conditions, also dropped to a 12-year low of 65.2, below the 80-point threshold, which typically signals a looming recession.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon had previously noted in February that customers were displaying “stressed behaviors” and reducing their spending. However, on tariffs, McMillon seemed unfazed and stated, "Tariffs are something we've managed for many years, and we'll just continue to manage that.”

Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, attributed the falling consumer confidence to “layoff headlines, a falling stock market, and tariff fears.”

Why It Matters: Consumer confidence in the U.S. has been on a downward trend, with the Consumer Confidence Index falling to its lowest level since late 2022. This decline is attributed to fears of inflation, stock market volatility, and tariff-driven price hikes.

Furthermore, Walmart’s operations in China have been under pressure, which could potentially lead to higher prices for U.S. customers, as reported by CNN Business. On this, a Walmart spokesperson told CNN, “Our conversations with suppliers are all aimed at making our purpose a reality for millions of customers, and we will continue to work closely with them to find the best way forward during these uncertain times."

These factors, combined with the declining consumer confidence, could further impact Walmart’s performance in the coming months. Kelly LaVigne, Vice President of consumer insights at insurance company Allianz Life, told Fortune, "That means inflation will continue to erode your purchasing power unless you have a long-term strategy to address it."

Walmart holds a momentum rating of 86.91% and a growth rating of 54.55%, according to Benzinga's Proprietary Edge Rankings. The Benzinga Growth metric evaluates a stock’s historical earnings and revenue expansion across multiple timeframes, prioritizing both long-term trends and recent performance. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities, sign up for Benzinga Edge.

Walmart stock edged 0.53% higher to close at $85.21 on Wednesday. Over the past month, the stock lost over 11%.