Breaking News

After years of resisting Apple’s mobile payment system, Walmart is finally rolling out Apple Pay and other contactless options.

The world’s largest retailer announced Friday that it will begin accepting Tap to Pay — including Apple Pay — at select U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations starting August 24, 2026. The company plans to expand the feature to all its U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026, with fuel stations following by mid-2027. The new options will also work on Walmart’s websites and apps.

Customers and members will be able to pay by tapping eligible contactless cards, phones, or smartwatches. They can also add their Walmart, Sam’s Club, and OnePay cards to digital wallets for easier use. Walmart framed the move as part of a broader effort to give shoppers more choice and make checkout simpler and more convenient, alongside existing methods such as cash, traditional cards, Walmart Pay, and Sam’s Club’s Scan & Go.

In a nutshell: after a long holdout, Walmart is finally getting Apple Pay. The retailer had long preferred its own payment tools and other systems, making the embrace of contactless digital wallets a notable change in its checkout strategy.

As a general rule of thumb, we avoid Walmart due to olfactory sensitivity not limited just to Chinese plastics.

‎

.

Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/08/24/walmart-finally-adds-apple-pay-in-major-contactless-payment-capitulation/

Rothschild & Co Redburn has upgraded Apple (AAPL) to Buy from Neutral and raised its price target to $400 from $260, citing stronger-than-expected iPhone growth driven by the company’s planned entry into the premium foldable smartphone market.

Analyst Timm Schulze-Melander and the firm project iPhone sales growing at a 12% compound annual rate through fiscal 2030 — up to 14% above consensus expectations. The key catalyst is the anticipated launch of the iPhone Ultra, Apple’s first foldable device, expected to expand the premium segment and lift average selling prices.

Rothschild forecasts the foldable model will contribute meaningfully to unit growth with limited cannibalization of traditional iPhone sales. The firm’s iPhone earnings estimates run ahead of consensus, and a “strategic reset” in Apple Intelligence further supports its outlook, leaving overall fiscal 2030 estimates roughly 18% above the Street. Rothschild expressed confidence that Apple’s relative valuation multiple remains well supported.

Beyond hardware, the firm sees opportunity for Apple to position itself as a gatekeeper of consumer AI. By potentially leveraging a fleet of open-source models and monetizing through Apple Pay and other payment platforms, Apple could strengthen its high-margin Services business while reducing reliance on third-party closed models.

The upgrade comes as Apple trades near recent levels around $305, implying significant upside to the new $400 target. While risks such as production challenges for the foldable device remain, Rothschild views the combination of product innovation and AI optionality as underappreciated by the market.

From Schulze-Melander’ lips to Mr. Market’s ears!

‎

.

Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/08/17/rothschild-co-redburn-upgrades-apple-to-buy-raises-price-target-to-400/