Walmart keeps Thanksgiving meal prices same as last year

• "Customers that came to us less frequently in the past are now shopping with us more often, including higher income customers," McMillon said.
• CFO John David Rainey also reiterated how much households earning over $100,000 are driving grocery sales — nearly three quarters of the company's gains in grocery market share are coming from this income group.

Between the lines: The company is tinkering with prices to balance demand with inventory.

• And in the case of a pivotal holiday like Thanksgiving, it's cutting prices of products including whole turkeys to under $1 per pound (according to McMillon).

The big picture: Overall sales growth across Walmart stores in the U.S. reached 8.2% year-over-year in the third quarter, compared to 6.5% in the second quarter.

• And while the company raised its annual revenue and profit outlook, executives were tempered in their optimism.
• "We've seen incremental levels of inflation month over month be less significant, but it's not clear if this represents a sustainable trend," said Rainey.
• "[And] despite a good start to Q4, our guidance assumes that the consumer could slow spending, especially in general merchandise categories."

Of note: Walmart also announced it's agreed to pay $3.1 billion to settle several opioid-crisis lawsuits.

What to watch: Two back-to-back data points — last week's consumer price index and this morning's wholesale producer price index report for October — suggest inflation may be starting to ease.

• Walmart's stock popped nearly 8% in pre-market trading and rose more than 7% intraday.

Go deeper:

• Walmart reaches $3.1 billion deal to settle opioid lawsuits
• Walmart Q2 earnings boosted by more higher income customers
• Target says costs are eating into sustained consumer demand