Walmart has raised its annual forecast again after the company exceeded sales and profit forecasts in the third quarter.

Walmart reported revenue of $169.6 billion for the third quarter, an increase of 5.5 percent compared to the previous year and almost $2 billion above Visible Alpha's expectations. Operating profit rose by 8.2 percent to $6.7 billion, also above consensus estimates.

The Walmart stock rose by 3.6 percent after the earnings report and has already gained almost 60 percent in value this year, compared to a 24 percent increase in the S&P 500 index. Analysts attribute this to the increased confidence in the company's earnings prospects.

Walmart was able to further expand its market shares in the third quarter, particularly through households with an income of over $100,000, which accounted for three-quarters of new customer gains in the USA, as CEO Doug McMillon announced. "We had almost no inflation-related price increases in the USA this quarter," he explained.

In addition to low prices, services such as online orders and delivery options also attracted customers. According to John Furner, Walmart President for the USA, there was strong demand for higher-quality products such as gluten-free foods, organic products, and grass-fed beef.

In the third quarter, Walmart temporarily kept prices low for 6,000 products in its U.S. stores, about half of them in the food sector. 2,000 of these discounts were maintained permanently, according to CFO John David Rainey. In categories such as household goods and toys, prices fell by around 4 percent year-over-year.

Walmart was able to increase its US sales in stores open for at least a year by 5.3 percent, with transactions (excluding fuel) up 3.1 percent. The food division, in particular, recorded the highest sales growth in the past four years.

The company's international business, including Mexico, Canada, China, and India, achieved an 8 percent increase in sales to $30.3 billion. Online trade in the USA grew by an impressive 22 percent. The subsidiary Sam's Club, a membership warehouse concept, also gained market share in the categories of groceries, clothing, and consumer electronics.

Walmart now expects sales growth of 4.8 to 5.1 percent for fiscal year 2025. The adjusted operating profit is expected to increase by 8.5 to 9.25 percent. This exceeds previous expectations and underscores the company's resilience in a challenging economic environment.