Walmart’s market capitalization overtook Berkshire Hathaway’s for the first time since April 2013 after the retailer’s shares edged higher on Monday. The stock rose 0.33% to $127.92, valuing Walmart at about $1.02 trillion against roughly $1.017 trillion for Berkshire, and making it the ninth-largest US public company by market value. Berkshire’s figure combines both share classes; its Class B stock fell 0.53% to $472.08 while Class A slipped 0.68% to $706,750. Walmart shares have gained about 15% this year, lifting the company from around $887.9 billion at the start of 2026, and it now sits in the top nine for the first time since January 2021.
Analysts tie the run to improving fundamentals and stronger growth expectations. Walmart said last week that it will step up investment in its US stores, remodeling 650 locations and opening about 20 new ones by early 2027. Analysts recently upgraded the stock to buy, expecting sales and operating profit to exceed prior guidance. For fiscal 2027 the retailer guides to earnings of $2.75 to $2.85 per share, up from $2.64 in fiscal 2026, with operating income of $32.96 billion to $33.58 billion against $31.1 billion last year. Investors read the milestone as confidence in steady consumer demand and continued expansion.
Why it matters for the pet industry
Six hundred and fifty remodels is the number pet suppliers should track, not the trillion-dollar milestone. Remodels are when planograms get rebuilt, adjacencies shift and linear footage is reallocated, making them the best window a pet food or hard goods vendor gets to win or lose facings. A remodel cycle running into early 2027 sets the decision timetable, and vendors without a pipeline review scheduled this year will inherit whatever assortment the reset produces.
The capital picture matters too. Operating income guided as high as $33.58 billion gives Walmart room to fund price investment, which in pet typically lands as sharper opening price points on dry food and litter, compressing the gap regional pet specialty depends on.
What to watch
- Pet department linear footage changes across the 650 stores remodeled by early 2027.
- Whether fiscal 2027 earnings of $2.75 to $2.85 come with heavier price investment in pet.
- New store catchment overlap with existing pet specialty and independent pet retail locations.
FAQ
What is Walmart’s market capitalization versus Berkshire?
Walmart’s market capitalization reached about $1.02 trillion, overtaking Berkshire Hathaway’s roughly $1.017 trillion for the first time since April 2013 and making it the ninth-largest US public company. Its shares rose 0.33% to $127.92 and have gained about 15% this year from around $887.9 billion at the start of 2026.
How do Walmart remodels affect pet suppliers?
The 650 store remodels are the number pet suppliers should track, since planograms get rebuilt, adjacencies shift and linear footage is reallocated during resets. A remodel cycle running into early 2027 sets the decision timetable, and vendors without a pipeline review this year inherit whatever assortment the reset produces.
Will Walmart fund pet price investment in 2027?
Walmart guides FY2027 operating income of $32.96 billion to $33.58 billion, giving room to fund price investment that in pet typically lands as sharper opening price points on dry food. With EPS guided to $2.75 to $2.85 versus $2.64, the capital strength supports aggressive pet pricing through the remodel cycle.
Source intelligence adapted for the GlobalPetIndex pet-industry audience. Original publication: external brief.
