By Sarah Nassauer

Walmart sales grew in the most recent quarter as shoppers looked for value and bought more online.

The retailer's U.S. comparable sales, those from stores and digital channels operating for at least 12 months, rose 4.1% in the three months ended May 1. Sales rose in its major segments and online, particularly from higher-income households, the company said.

Results got a boost from some of its newer businesses as U.S. e-commerce sales rose 26% in the quarter, pushed higher by growth of its advertising business and third-party sales online. The company left its financial expectations for the full year unchanged Thursday.

Walmart said that its sales gains in its U.S. business, its biggest sales unit, were driven by gains in its grocery business, as well as general merchandise, such as clothing and home goods. Those are areas that have lagged behind in recent years as some shoppers pulled back on discretionary spending.

Net revenue rose 7.3% to $177.8 billion in the most recent quarter.

Walmart's sales add to a string of strong or as-expected results from retailers this week as shoppers continue to spend, even as they navigate higher prices on some items such as fuel. Earlier this week Target reported its first solid quarterly sales lift in years.

Still, Walmart continues to try to grow faster through some of its newer businesses such as online delivery and advertising. Earlier this year Walmart said sales were growing solidly but lost its crown to Amazon as the country's largest company by annual revenue. On Thursday Walmart said its e-commerce sales, which includes advertising revenue, grew 26% in the most recent quarter. Globally e-commerce sales now represent nearly a quarter of Walmart's total sales.

Walmart said higher fuel prices increased the value of its inventory and ate into profits as transportation costs to stock stores and delivery online orders rose. Those costs were offset by higher sales and bigger gains from its nonretail businesses such as advertising, the company said.

Its net income grew nearly 19% to $5.3 billion in the most recent quarter.

The company left its full year financial estimates unchanged and said that for the current quarter it expects sales to increase by 4% to 5%.

Walmart will host a call Thursday morning to discuss its quarterly earnings.

Write to Sarah Nassauer at Sarah.Nassauer@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 21, 2026 07:02 ET (11:02 GMT)

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