Investors are looking past Walmart’s and Target’s latest holiday earnings to assess how newly appointed insider CEOs John Furner and Michael Fiddelke will navigate diverging fortunes, shifting consumer spending, digital transformation and turnaround pressures as the big-box rivals head into a pivotal 2026.
Key Takeaways
-
Diverging performance trajectories: Walmart enters 2026 from a position of strength, with strong stock gains and rising sales, while Target faces declining traffic and a projected sales drop that has weighed on its share price.
-
Continuation vs. reinvention: Furner’s mandate at Walmart is to sustain momentum in e-commerce, grocery and higher-margin businesses, whereas Fiddelke must reset strategy, restore growth and “sell the Target of the future” after several years of flat or falling demand.
-
Tech and merchandising priorities: Walmart is doubling down on AI partnerships and omnichannel capabilities to keep expanding its customer base, while Target’s early moves emphasize stronger merchandising, better store experience, workforce changes and more focused investments in staffing and leadership.
