Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Flipkart Sale Shift Creates Walmart Q3 Sales Headwind
Walmart owns most of the Indian shopping company Flipkart.
Flipkart holds a large shopping event called Big Billion Days every year.
This year, the event is expected to happen later than it did last year.
Because of that change, Walmart expects its third-quarter sales growth to be more than one percentage point lower.
Walmart expects the next quarter to receive a similar boost instead.
The change affects when sales are counted, not necessarily how many sales happen overall.
Walmart expects total company sales growth of 3% to 3.75% in the third quarter.
India and China were important drivers of Walmart’s international growth.
Flipkart’s advertising business also helped Walmart’s advertising revenue increase.
Walmart expects Flipkart’s Big Billion Days timing shift to reduce Q3 sales growth by more than 100 basis points.
The shift is expected to provide a similar sales-growth benefit to Walmart’s Q4.
Walmart projects Q3 enterprise sales growth of 3% to 3.75%.
Flipkart’s reported 2026 sale dates are September 23 through October 2, but the company has not officially announced them.
Walmart said India helped drive 7.9% growth in its international business, while Flipkart Ads contributed to advertising growth.
- Who
- Walmart Inc. and its Indian e-commerce subsidiary Flipkart; Walmart executives John David Rainey and John Furner discussed the outlook.
- What
- The expected timing shift of Flipkart’s Big Billion Days is forecast to create a Q3 sales-growth headwind of more than 100 basis points and a similar Q4 benefit.
- When
- The comments were reported on August 21, 2026, during Walmart’s second-quarter FY27 reporting; the sale was reportedly expected to begin September 23, 2026.
- Where
- The impact concerns Walmart’s international business, particularly Flipkart’s operations in India.
- Why
- Moving the sales event between Walmart’s third and fourth fiscal quarters changes when the event’s sales are recorded.
- Q3 sales impact
- More than 100-basis-point headwind to sales growth
- Q4 sales impact
- Expected similar boost to sales growth
- Q3 enterprise guidance
- Sales growth of 3% to 3.75%
- International business
- Revenue rose 7.9% to USD 33.7 billion in Q2 FY27
- International e-commerce
- Growth rose 19%, led by China, India and Canada
- Advertising business
- Global advertising revenue increased 38%; overall advertising grew 20%
- Flipkart ownership
- Walmart owns more than 80% of Flipkart, after acquiring a 77% controlling stake in 2018