Walmart Shares Plunge 9% as Retail Giant Finally Embraces Apple Pay, Google Pay

Walmart shares plunged nearly 9% after the retail giant reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its full-year guidance, with investors focusing on concerns over the company’s outlook.

The stock dropped from $114.30 to $103.84, marking its fourth consecutive earnings-day decline. Despite Walmart’s strong results, the market reaction suggested that investors were looking beyond the latest numbers and weighing expectations for future performance.

Walmart finally opens the door to Apple Pay

At the same time, Walmart announced a major shift in its payment strategy. The company will begin accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay at Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, ending years of resistance to popular contactless payment services.

The rollout is scheduled to begin August 24 at select stores and clubs. Walmart plans to make the feature available across all of its Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by the end of 2026.

The company will then extend Tap to Pay to its fuel stations, with nationwide availability expected by mid-2027.

Why Walmart avoided Apple Pay

Walmart had traditionally encouraged shoppers to use its own digital payment tools, particularly Walmart Pay and Scan & Go, rather than third-party services such as Apple Pay.

The retailer had even backed an effort to develop an alternative mobile payment system. Walmart joined several other major retailers in supporting CurrentC, which was designed to compete with emerging services such as Apple Pay. The initiative failed to gain widespread adoption and was shut down in 2016.

Walmart continued promoting its own payment ecosystem even as contactless payments became increasingly popular across the US.

Customers will now get more payment choices

The decision to support Apple Pay and Google Pay brings Walmart closer to other major US retailers that already offer contactless payments. Apple says Apple Pay is accepted at 85% of retailers across the US, highlighting how widespread the technology has become.

Walmart’s new system will allow shoppers to pay using compatible smartphones and other supported devices. Existing options, including cash, cards and Walmart Pay, will remain available.

The company said the change is intended to give customers and members more flexibility rather than replace its existing payment services.

What comes next for Walmart

The introduction of Apple Pay and Google Pay marks a significant change in Walmart’s long-standing payments strategy. Instead of directing shoppers exclusively toward its own digital tools, the retailer is now making room for widely adopted third-party payment platforms.

For customers, the change means easier access to contactless payments at Walmart and Sam’s Club. For investors, however, the bigger issue remains the sharp stock sell-off following an otherwise strong earnings report.

The Tap to Pay rollout begins August 24, with expansion to Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by the end of 2026 and Walmart fuel stations by mid-2027.