Walmart Stock (WMT) Wobbles on Leak That it Prefers Microsoft to Google

Shares in retail giant Walmart (WMT) slipped 0.6% today despite reports that it is stepping up its use of AI.
Confident Investing Starts Here:
Rock and Rolling With MSFT
The revelation that Walmart was looking at using Microsoft's (MSFT) Entra and AI Gateway services came as a result of a mistake at a talk by the tech giant's head of security for AI.
Neta Haiby revealed confidential messages about Walmart's plans at a Build talk after the livestream was interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters.
After the protesters were escorted out, the livestream session restarted and the sensitive messages were seen on Microsoft Teams.
'Walmart is ready to rock and roll with Entra Web and AI Gateway,' said one of Microsoft's cloud solution architects in the Teams messages. The chat session also quoted a Walmart AI engineer, saying: 'Microsoft is WAY ahead of Google (GOOGL) with AI security. We are excited to go down this path with you.'
Walmart is already a major Microsoft customer using the company's Azure OpenAI service for some of its AI work.
Game-Changing AI
According to Microsoft, Entra offers users secure access for their workforce, workload, and customer identities to multicloud and on-premises resources.
In its website blurb, it offers users the chance to take advantage of game-changing generative AI, risk-based access policies, and phishing-resistant, password-free authentication to block attacks and protect your workforce, customers, and machine identities.
Cyber attacks on retailers are in the news with the U.K.'s Marks & Spencer reeling from a recent and still ongoing hit which is likely to cost it £300 million in lost profits.
An API Gateway can help streamline the integration of multiple AI models. This is an area Walmart is keen to invest in, including operationally in the production of clothes and to boost customer service.
Is WMT a Good Stock to Buy Now?
On TipRanks, WMT has a Strong Buy consensus based on 28 Buy and 2 Hold ratings. Its highest price target is $120. WMT stock's consensus price target is $109.31 implying an 12.62% upside.
See more WMT analyst ratings
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CBC

2 hours ago

• CBC

As corporate sponsors walk away from Pride, some call for a return to its activist roots

Despite major sponsors pulling their support from this year's Toronto Pride festivities, one advocate says that it might actually be a chance to put a new focus on Pride's raison d'etre. "The focus of Pride as an overall event must be ... the people," Nicki Ward, an advocate who's worked on 2SLGBTQ+ housing and disability issues in Canada for over 25 years, told CBC Radio's Day 6. "Maybe it's time for a little more authenticity. And if company XYZ doesn't want to get involved, well then, too bad." Earlier this month, Pride Toronto said it's facing a $900,000 funding gap due to sponsors — including Google, Nissan, Home Depot and Clorox — pulling support, and the rising costs of running the festival. Executive director Kojo Modeste linked the corporate withdrawals to backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States under President Donald Trump's administration. Toronto isn't the only city with Pride festivals facing similar challenges. Organizations across Canada are grappling with a chilled enthusiasm among sponsors and donors this year, even as a new poll suggests Canadian support for 2SLGBTQ+ rights hasn't waned. Now, organizers are forced to search for the delicate balance between growing Pride's audience and staying true to its activist roots fighting for 2SLGBTQ+ rights Zac Rempel, managing director of the Vancouver Pride Society, says their sponsorships this year are down about 50 per cent compared to last year. Their programming has been cut from a 10-day festival last year to a three-day weekend because of the lack of funds. "We are running on a skeleton crew right now," said Rempel. In a statement posted online, Halifax Pride says it chose to part ways with some longtime sponsors and parade participants, while others stepped back "for reasons we weren't told, but we can read the room." In the U.S., major corporations like MasterCard, Pepsi and Deloitte pulled out of Pride events in New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. According to research cited by Axios, a majority of the corporations surveyed about their reasons for pulling out cited the Trump administration, and conservative activists and policymakers. Corporate pinkwashing According to Ward, the transformation of many Pride festivals from a protest march to a major parade with corporate sponsors, including some flying their company logos at a parade, didn't happen overnight. Some of the earliest companies to sponsor Pride events were local breweries or other alcohol businesses, simply because the marches and parades were also big parties. "Later on, some of the banks got involved, which I actually think they came with good hearts, to try to make sure that their employees felt that they could bring their whole selves to work," she said. Later, however, corporate motives became more capitalistic as Pride's audience and the amount of money involved increased. "People would pay, basically, to pinkwash their companies and be gay for a day. [As if to say], 'Yeah, sure, we tolerate them,'" she said. Pinkwashing is a term used to describe corporations appealing to 2SLGBTQ+ communities, despite engaging in activities or practices that might harm those communities. That's led to tensions between multiple camps who disagree about what Pride should look like. In Montreal, for example, several 2SLGBTQ+ groups cut ties with Fierté Montréal, accusing it of prioritizing image over activism. Tom Hooper, an assistant professor in the department of human rights and equity studies at York University, said he thinks major corporations sponsoring or marching in Pride events gave many people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community a sense of acceptance and even safety, especially for people who worked at those corporations. But when they pull out en masse, it puts doubt on why they joined in the first place. "Did they just see us as this market to feed their bottom line? Was this just an opportunity to advertise?" he said. 'Pride is not just a party' Fiona Kerr, executive director of Halifax Pride, thinks so — especially when it comes to the bigger, multinational corporations who aren't as vulnerable to financial constraints as smaller sponsors with ties to their local communities. "I think a lot of larger sponsors are reckoning with the fact that Pride is not just a party and are choosing to walk away because of it. It's not the happy, fun dance party they originally signed up for," Kerr said in an email. "A lot of Pride organizations are taking stronger political stances and active steps to protect our community, and those are things these companies don't want to truly align themselves with." WATCH: Is Trump's anti-DEI agenda hurting Pride funding in Canada? Pride Toronto links funding woes to Trump's anti-DEI agenda 10 days ago Duration 2:01 Pride Toronto says the festival faces a major financial shortfall after multiple corporate sponsors pulled their support, which the festival's executive director links to American companies moving away from DEI efforts under the Trump administration. Hooper said that while the Trump factor looms large on the situation, it shouldn't be seen as the only factor. "We have our own Canadian versions of attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion," he said, noting that some political candidates in the spring's election took aim at so-called "woke" policies. "Canada's not immune from a lot of these policies that are aimed at gender-affirming care, that are aimed at school curriculum. We're having these same debates," he said. Meanwhile, an Ipsos poll released Friday suggests that a majority of Canadians support 2SLGBT+ visibility, rights and protections, at rates "far higher" than the average of 26 countries covered in the poll. Seventy-eight per cent of Canadians surveyed said that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally, and 79 per cent supported protections for 2SLGBT+ against discrimination in employment, housing and access to businesses. The poll, conducted online with about 1,000 participants in each country from April 25 to May 9, did find support for specific transgender protections, such as for health insurance coverage of gender transition, was divided. It also found that women were largely more supportive of 2SLGBT+ rights than men, and that difference was greatest among respondents under 35 years old. A parade? A march? Both? Ward and others told CBC that while the latest challenges have forced a rethink about what partnerships Pride festivals take on in the future, they're not ruling them out entirely. Kerr says Halifax Pride held community consultations on how to fill funding gaps that, while they "wouldn't totally fill the gap" left by sponsors who have withdrawn their support or might do so in the future, will help them be less dependent on corporate sponsors. "Money and spirituality can mix, but boy, it's awfully tricky," said Ward. She believes "a less commercial, more people-based Pride" could work, and even attract audiences who yearn for "a more authentic, less gaudy but more fabulous" festival compared to recent years. She said Toronto's Trans March has managed to keep its "spiritual centre" because it's still a walking march and not a parade with floats or other accoutrements. But that doesn't mean wiping away the parades, parties and fun of Pride entirely — in fact, it's a deeply important part of its DNA. "They want that celebration. They want that joy, which is completely valid," said Rempel. "Joy is radical in and of itself."

National Post

2 hours ago

• National Post

Daily Horoscope - Sunday, June 22, 2025

Moon Alert Avoid shopping or major decisions from 9:30 PM to 11:15 PM EDT today (6:30 PM to 8:15 PM PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Taurus into Gemini. Article content The Stars Rate Your Day 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult Article content Article content Aries (March 21-April 19) *** You can get a lot done today because you feel positive and enthusiastic about what you're doing. Real-estate opportunities along with anything related to your job, your health, or a pet will be worthwhile exploring. Whatever begins now will probably turn out well. Article content Taurus (April 20-May 20) **** You feel confident today, especially about financial speculation or risky ventures. (You feel blessed by Lady Luck.) Enjoy shopping for wardrobe items for yourself. Likewise, social outings, sports events and fun times with children will be rewarding. Article content Gemini (May 21-June 20) **** An effort to improve where you live will go well today. Some of you might also entertain or have a group to your home for a specific reason. This is because all kinds of collaborative activity related to home and family will be positive. In fact, this could be the beginning of something successful! Article content Cancer (June 21-July 22) ***** Everything is in your favour today because you're effective in all your communications with others. Not only will you be forthright and direct, you'll also be warm hearted and inspirational. You can be the Pied Piper if you want to set your army marching. Article content Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) **** Trust in your ability to do something to boost your income today. You might even 'feel' richer because you will purchase something that makes you feel special. Listen to your moneymaking ideas. Whatever you initiate today could grow into something that is successful in the future. Article content Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) **** This is an excellent day for business and commercial ventures. For starters, your objectives and goals are clearer to you than usual, and this enables you to deal intelligently with others. The result of this is you can get the best deal possible for yourself. Article content Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) **** Some ideas that might be percolating in the back of your head or perhaps some kind of private, behind-the-scenes activity could ultimately boost your reputation, and your career in a successful way. Trust your instincts. Whatever you do now can bring opportunities for personal growth. Article content Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) **** Your success in dealing with friends and groups today could lead to future travel opportunities or a chance to deal favourably, especially with legal matters. Be patient. See what develops. Nevertheless, expect successful results. Accept the help of others. Article content Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) **** This is a powerful day for you because fiery Mars is at the top of your chart dancing beautifully with your ruler lucky Jupiter. This influence could bring money or practical help to you from others, especially partners. This might be an inheritance, or financial favours, or practical help. Article content Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) **** Act on any travel plans you have today because this is the day to set things in motion. This could be travel for pleasure. Or it might be related to family matters, a friend, spouse or your job. Meanwhile, legal and medical issues will improve. Article content Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) **** Work-related travel will be successful for many of you today. Others might see ways to expand, perhaps with connections with other countries. This is a good time to either improve your existing job, or look for a better one because everything is in your favour. Article content Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) **** Today your physical energy is high, which means you are probably enjoying good health and good spirits. Business and commercial ventures are blessed. Relations with partners and close friends will be positive because you're full of buoyant optimism for your future plans. (And we both know that enthusiasm is contagious!) Article content

Globe and Mail

7 hours ago

• Globe and Mail

New Strong Sell Stocks for June 16th

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