Highlights

  • Walmart shares rose 3% to USD 117.97 following its Nasdaq-100 listing announcement.
  • Trading surged to 47.4M shares, 143% above its three-month average.
  • The company partnered with Alphabet for AI shopping assistant and drone delivery.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT), the global retailer, saw its stock climb 3% to close at USD 117.97 on Monday, January 12, 2026. The increase came as investors reacted to Walmart’s recent inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 following its switch from the New York Stock Exchange

This inclusion highlights Walmart’s ongoing shift towards integrating technology into its operations. While the Nasdaq-100 listing itself does not affect Walmart’s business fundamentals, it reflects the company’s strategic focus on AI and tech-based initiatives.

Market Context and Peer Performance
The broader markets saw modest gains, with the S&P 500 rising 0.15% to finish at 6,977 and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.26% to close at 23,734. Among discount retailers, Costco Wholesale and Target also reported gains, rising 1.97% and 0.61%, respectively. These moves show renewed investor interest in established consumer-focused companies during a relatively calm trading session.

Walmart Expands AI and Technology Partnerships
In addition to the Nasdaq-100 listing, Walmart announced two new partnerships with Alphabet. One involves integrating Google’s Gemini AI chatbot as a shopping assistant and purchasing platform. The other partnership with Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary, focuses on expanding Walmart’s drone delivery capabilities. These deals follow closely on the heels of its exchange switch and illustrate Walmart’s increasing engagement with technology-focused initiatives in retail and logistics.

Trading Insights
Monday’s trading session emphasized Walmart’s “countdown” to Nasdaq-100 inclusion. The stock’s surge and heavy volume indicate active interest from institutional and retail investors. While inclusion in the index is symbolic, it may lead to increased visibility among tech-oriented funds and ETFs that track the Nasdaq-100.