Lagging behind the previous results, the company sent jitters among investors, with shares tumbling more than 9% on Tuesday, 20th of February 2018.
Some analysts and industry experts consider that Walmart is planning a number of investments in its website and overall ecommerce operations that should start to take hold later in 2018.
A 23% increase in ecommerce sales during the Q4 is way behind the reported growth of 50% in the Q3 of 2017. Walmart also saw growth of 60% in the two periods prior to that.
Walmart acquired Jet.com more than one year ago, which gave the company an initial ecommerce boost. Walmart is trying to shift marketing spend on the millennial-centric upstart to reach younger shoppers directly via Walmart.com.
Walmart will reveal a revamped website with a focus on fashion and home goods in the spring of 2018. In partnering with Hudsons Bay-owned Lord & Taylor, Walmart will bring high-end clothing items to its website, in addition to its less-expensive banners, which are also getting a refresh.
Soon, Walmart.com will also feature the smart cart technology made famous on Jet.com. The platform grants shoppers cheaper prices if they pack more items together in one box, use a debit card when paying for purchases or opt out of returns.
In addition to fashion, grocery is expected to be one of Walmarts biggest areas of investment in 2018.
Looking to the full year of 2018, Walmart expects US ecommerce sales to grow 40% in the fiscal year 2019.
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