You’ve probably seen the headlines. Maybe you caught a glimpse of a drone hovering over a Houston suburb or heard that the person running Walmart International is packing their bags. It’s a lot to keep track of. Honestly, if you still think of Walmart as just a place with greeters and cheap plastic bins, you’re missing the actual story of what’s going on in Bentonville right now.
The retail giant is currently in the middle of a massive identity crisis—but the good kind. They’re basically trying to out-Amazon Amazon while keeping their crown as the world's biggest physical grocer.
What Happened With Walmart and the Great Leadership Shuffle
Just this week, the company dropped a bombshell. Kathryn McLay, who has been steering the ship for Walmart International, is leaving. That’s a huge deal because she’s been the one pushing their digital and tech transformation across the globe. But they aren't slowing down. Starting February 1, 2026, John Furner is stepping up as the new President and CEO of Walmart Inc., and he’s bringing a whole new "Executive Council" with him.
It’s a "People Led, Tech Powered" vibe.
They’re moving Seth Dallaire into a new Chief Growth Officer role to oversee things like Walmart+ and their advertising wing, Walmart Connect. Meanwhile, David Guggina is taking the reins as President and CEO of Walmart U.S. Why does this matter to you? Because these are the people deciding if your local store becomes a "Store of the Future" or stays stuck in 2015.
The Sky Is Literally Falling (With Groceries)
If you live in Los Angeles, Miami, or St. Louis, your milk might start arriving via the clouds. One of the wildest things about what happened with Walmart recently is their massive bet on drones. They just announced a partnership expansion with Wing—that’s Alphabet’s drone company—to 150 more stores this year.
They want 270 drone-enabled locations by 2027.
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It’s not just a gimmick. In Dallas-Fort Worth, people are already using this stuff multiple times a week. We’re talking about getting a forgotten onion or a bottle of Tylenol dropped in your yard in under 30 minutes. It feels very "2026," but it’s becoming a normal Tuesday for millions of people.
Why the Stock Is Hitting All-Time Highs
Investors are kind of obsessed with Walmart right now. While other retailers are sweating because of "inflation fatigue," Walmart’s stock (WMT) hit a 52-week high of $120.51 just a few days ago.
Why? Because rich people are starting to shop there.
Seriously. About 75% of Walmart’s recent market share gains came from households making over $100,000 a year. When the "value-seeking affluent consumer" decides that spending $7 on eggs elsewhere is stupid, they head to Walmart. That shift has helped the company outperform the S&P 500 significantly over the last year.
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The Health Clinic Flop
It hasn't all been wins, though. You might remember they tried to open these fancy Walmart Health centers. Well, that’s over. They realized they couldn't make the math work with "challenging reimbursement environments" (aka, insurance is a headache) and high operating costs. They closed all 51 clinics.
They’re sticking to what they know:
- Pharmacies: Still there, nearly 4,600 of them.
- Vision Centers: Over 3,000 locations and actually growing.
- Testing and Treatment: They're keeping the basic medical services but ditching the full-scale primary care clinics.
The "Store of the Future" Remodel
Walk into a newly renovated Walmart in Florida or Texas, and you’ll see what they’re trying to do. They’re spending billions to remodel 650 stores. These "Stores of the Future" have better lighting, wider aisles, and these weirdly sleek "Grab & Go" sections for sandwiches and drinks.
They also bought Vizio. Yeah, the TV company.
They didn't buy it just to sell you more TVs; they bought it for the data. By owning the software on your TV, they can show you ads for the exact same chips you usually buy in the store. It’s a bit creepy, but it’s the reason their advertising business grew 27% last year, reaching over $4 billion.
What This Means for Your Wallet
If you're an employee, things are changing too. They bumped the minimum wage to $11 (though it's higher in many regions) and added better family benefits, like $5,000 for adoption assistance. They’re even piloting an AI-supported medical plan in eight states.
But for the average shopper, what happened with Walmart boils down to one thing: convenience. They’ve reached a point where 95% of U.S. households can get delivery in under three hours.
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They aren't just a store anymore; they're a logistics company that happens to sell bananas.
Actionable Insights for 2026
- Check your drone status: Go to Wing’s website and see if your zip code is on the 2026 expansion list for Los Angeles, Cincinnati, or Miami.
- Maximize Walmart+: If you’re paying for the membership, use the "Scan & Go" feature. It’s finally getting the Gemini AI upgrade which makes checkout basically instant.
- Watch the "Rollbacks": With the new leadership team focusing on "Every Day Low Prices" to fight inflation fatigue, expect more aggressive pricing in the grocery aisle through Q1.
- Update your Vizio: If you own a Vizio TV, keep an eye on the interface—Walmart is likely going to integrate more shopping features directly into the home screen this year.
Walmart is currently the definitive winner of the retail wars because they stopped trying to fight the internet and started using their 4,000+ stores as giant vending machines. Whether you love them or hate them, the strategy is working. The "Amazon effect" didn't kill them; it just turned them into a different kind of beast.