Walmart’s eCommerce Business Posts $1B Loss

Walmart’s eCommerce division is projecting losses of $1 billion in its bid to catch up with Amazon, which is causing tensions between the leader of the division and Walmart U.S. CEO Greg Foran, according to reports.

The company has been acquiring companies like Jet.com ($3.3 billion) in attempts to compete, but it hasn’t helped profitability. The division, which is led by Marc Lore, has sales of around $21 billion.

As the eCommerce division loses money, Lore is being pressured to sell off some of the company’s online properties, like Bonobos and Modcloth, which Walmart will probably sell this year at a loss.

Eloquii (a plus-size fashion brand), Modcloth and Bonobos are all unprofitable. Walmart’s eCommerce division also reportedly won’t acquire any new companies in the foreseeable future, “barring an incredible acquisition opportunity that is just too good to pass up,” according to sources.

Walmart has previously said it was anticipating the losses from the division.

Foran wants to divert more resources toward brick-and-mortar stores and cutting prices, and is reportedly at odds with the fact that Lore gets credit for Walmart’s flourishing online grocery business, which relies on stores for sales. This has led to talk of Lore’s departure.

Last year, Lore said he was “absolutely not” leaving the company and that the division was “just getting started.” Lore, who joined Walmart from Jet, said he would stay on at least until the fall of 2021.

Foran’s performance bonus every year is directly connected to the operating profit of the U.S. business, which includes the eCommerce division, Vox reported. However, Lore’s yearly bonus is not.

Lore is still owed $291 million over the next three years from the company’s acquisition of Jet, as well as Walmart stock that is worth almost $300 million.

The company plans to focus on its grocery business even more in the future, aiming to offer grocery pickup from 3,100 stores and same-day delivery service from 1,600 stores.