Walmart falls after maintaining annual forecast, Q1 sales target

Shares of retail bellwether Walmart WMT.N down about 1% premarket at $81.39

WMT reaffirms annual forecast and Q1 sales outlook ahead of its investor meeting on Wednesday

Co says "range of outcomes" for Q1 operating income growth has widened due to less favorable category mix, higher casualty claims expense, and the desire to maintain flexibility to invest in price as tariffs are implemented

In February, WMT had targeted Q1 adjusted operating income rise in 0.5%-2% range, while it forecast Q1 sales to grow 3-4%

Walmart's shares are down about 9.5% so far this year