The timing change is expected to weigh on Walmart’s third-quarter growth, with a similar benefit likely to flow into Q4
Walmart expects the shift in the timing of Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale in FY27 to weigh on its third-quarter sales growth, with the impact expected to reverse in the fourth quarter. The US retail giant expects the change in the timing of Flipkart’s flagship festive sale to create a headwind of more than 100 basis points to third-quarter sales growth, while the fourth quarter is expected to receive a similar boost.
“For Q3 sales guidance, we expect a headwind of over 100bps to growth related to a timing shift of Flipkart’s Big Billion Days between Q3 and Q4,” Walmart said in its second-quarter earnings statement.
Flipkart has not officially announced the dates for its Big Billion Days 2026 sale. According to media reports, the event is expected to begin on 23 September 2026, with early access for Flipkart Plus members on 22 September, and could run until 2 October.
Sale Timing Impacts Growth
The timing of this year’s event differs from the previous year, when Big Billion Days contributed to Walmart’s international sales growth in the third quarter of FY26. During Walmart’s Q2 FY27 earnings call, John David Rainey, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the change in timing would “impact the cadence of Q3 and Q4 sales” growth.
“This year, we expect a Q3 headwind of over 100 basis points in sales growth as we lap last year’s event. We expect that Q4 sales growth will benefit by a similar amount for this year’s event. Overall, for the enterprise, we expect sales growth in Q3 to be between 3 per cent and 3.75 per cent,” he said.
Walmart follows a February-January financial year. During the second quarter, India remained one of the key growth drivers for its international business.
Walmart International, which operates across 18 countries outside the US, reported sales of USD 33.7 billion in Q2 FY27, up 7.9 per cent. Walmart President and Chief Executive Officer John Furner said, “International was up 7.9 per cent, led by China and India”.
“The mix of eCommerce for Walmart International is now 30 per cent, with strong growth again this quarter in China, India, and Canada,” Furner said.
Flipkart Ads Supports Growth
Walmart’s advertising business also recorded strong growth during the quarter, with Flipkart Ads among the key contributors. The company said global advertising revenue increased 38 per cent, driven by Walmart Connect in the US and Flipkart Ads. Overall, its advertising business grew 20 per cent during the quarter.
Ecommerce sales in Walmart International increased 19 per cent, led by China, India and Canada.
Walmart owns more than 80 per cent of Flipkart, the Bengaluru-based ecommerce marketplace that operates the annual Big Billion Days sale, one of India’s largest festive shopping events.
The retailer acquired a 77 per cent controlling stake in Flipkart in 2018 through a USD 16 billion deal. It has since increased its holding to more than 80 per cent.
