Squawk on the Street Walmart Beats, OpenAI's Altman and Anthropic's Amodei Talk Exclusively to CNBC 2/19/26
Feb 19, 2026
Market reaction to Walmart’s surprise Q4 beat and what the new CEO said about consumer spending. A tense AI summit photo moment and candid comments from OpenAI and Anthropic leaders on China competition and job displacement. Big fundraising buzz around OpenAI and fresh pressure on software stocks. Corporate moves include Etsy's Depop sale and a Blue Owl redemption scare.
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Walmart As An Inflation Fighter
- Walmart is viewed as the country's leading inflation fighter with broad reach and strong earnings potential.
- Jim Cramer argues Walmart can deserve higher multiples as earnings growth outpaces expectations.
Consumer Split By Income
- Walmart reported share gains largely from households earning over $100K while lower-income wallets remain stretched.
- Even lower-income shoppers increasingly prioritize convenience nearly as much as price, per new CEO John Furner.
AI Boosts Average Order Value
- Walmart's shopping assistant users have a 35% higher average order value, highlighting AI-driven revenue lift.
- E‑commerce growth offsets negative in-store traffic, concentrating Walmart's digital momentum.
