The Rundown Walmart Posts First Profit Miss in Three Years, Meta Freezes AI Hiring
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Aug 21, 2025 Recent financial news reveals Walmart's surprising profit miss, raising questions about consumer spending and e-commerce trends. Meanwhile, Meta has decided to freeze AI hiring, reflecting shifts in the tech landscape. The discussion also touches on HPE's revenue growth due to acquisition, contrasted with Coty's declining beauty sales. Additionally, McDonald's is making price adjustments for its combo meals, illustrating the current state of marketing strategies amid economic changes.
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Tech-Led Sell-Off And Afternoon Bounce
- Tech stocks led Wednesday's decline with the S&P down 0.2% and NASDAQ down 0.7%.
- An afternoon rally shows buyers stepped in, leaving room for a late-week comeback.
Powell Speech Can Shift Rate-Cut Odds
- Jerome Powell's Jackson Hole speech could swing market expectations for a September rate cut.
- The CME FedWatch tool currently prices an 82% chance of a 25 bps cut at the September meeting.
Walmart Profit Miss But Sales Strength
- Walmart missed adjusted EPS by $0.06 due to one-time charges but reported strong sales growth.
- U.S. same-store sales rose 4.6% and U.S. e-commerce jumped 26%, signalling resilient shopper demand.