1 Retail Stock Set to Soar This Holiday Season and Beyond
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By Marc Guberti – Dec 11, 2025 at 12:23AMKey PointsE-commerce sales growth and higher margins from online ads can propel Walmart stock to new highs.Walmart's 10,000+ locations let the company offer same-day deliveries, which helps it stand out from the competition.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NYSE: WMTWalmartMarket Cap$902BToday's Changeangle-down(-1.63%) $1.88Current Price$113.18Price as of December 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM ETWalmart is on the verge of becoming a $1 trillion company.The holiday season is a great time for retail stocks, but not all of them carry that rally into the new year. And then some retailers continue to post excellent sales numbers regardless of the time of year. Walmart (WMT 1.63%) is in that category. It's the everything store for a lot of people. Walmart's global e-commerce sales continue to grow, and online ads are boosting its profit margins. Walmart's store locations assist with e-commerce growth Image source: Getty Images. Walmart stores aren't just stores. They are also distribution facilities that help the company fulfill same-day deliveries for online orders. Walmart has more than 10,000 stores, which makes it easier to distribute goods to more people. ExpandNYSE: WMTWalmartToday's Change(-1.63%) $-1.88Current Price$113.18Key Data PointsMarket Cap$902BDay's Range$112.99 - $116.2352wk Range$79.81 - $116.27Volume23MAvg Vol18MGross Margin23.90%Dividend Yield0.81% The number of stores and its wide range of products helped Walmart deliver 27% year-over-year global e-commerce sales growth in Q3 FY26. Walmart's growing e-commerce business helps it compete with Amazon (AMZN +1.74%). Digital ads can boost long-term profits One of the weaknesses of retail stores is that they have low profit margins. Walmart offers low prices to attract customers and make it harder for competitors, but the company's net profit margin usually hovers at 3%.Advertisement Walmart is on the cusp of a $1 trillion valuation, and digital ads online and in stores may be the next catalyst. Ads have a higher margin than retail sales, which can help Walmart boost profits in the future. The global retailer's ad segment increased by 53% year-over-year in Q3 FY26. It's still a small part of the business, but that growth rate suggests Walmart ads can make up a larger slice of the pie soon. Online ads can propel Walmart's profit margins and make the stock more attractive. Walmart stock should do well this holiday season, but the company can continue to perform well in 2026 and beyond.About the AuthorMarc Guberti is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor and has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst since 2025. He has written for several finance publications. Marc graduated from Fordham University with a finance degree. He is an avid marathon runner who aims to complete more than 100 marathons in his lifetime. His fastest marathon time is 2:40.TMFmarcgubertiRead NextDec 9, 2025 •By Marc Guberti2 Catalysts That Can Drive Walmart Stock Higher in 2026Dec 8, 2025 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerBest Stock to Buy Right Now: Walmart vs. TargetDec 6, 2025 •By Stefon WaltersWhere Will Walmart Stock Be in 5 Years?Dec 4, 2025 •By Jennifer SaibilRead This Before Buying Walmart StockDec 3, 2025 •By David Jagielski, CPAWalmart vs. Costco: What's the Better Retail Stock to Buy Right Now?Dec 1, 2025 •By Sean WilliamsWalmart Will Make Stock Market History on Dec. 9 -- and It Can Top This Feat in 2026