It’s official—Walmart is going all in on ditching doctor visits for humans and doubling down on fur babies. America’s retail behemoth is opening five more pet service centers this fall, offering everything from nail trims to vaccines, because apparently, your dog’s pedicure is more profitable than your healthcare. And honestly, I get it—people will spend on their pets and skip their own checkups. With the pet care industry expected to balloon to a wild $500 billion by 2030, Walmart is sniffing out every opportunity to cash in.

Walmart’s latest move comes after shutting down all 51 of its for-humans healthcare clinics. Why? Well, dealing with Fluffy is way easier (and cheaper) than handling your insurance woes. Kaitlyn Shadiow, Walmart’s VP of merchandising for pets, summed it up pretty perfectly: “Pet care is simpler and more profitable than human care.” Translation: It’s easier to offer a $30 dog vaccine than to navigate the maze of human healthcare. Also, let’s be real—your dog doesn’t need a co-pay.

These new pet-service centers are part of a bigger play to scoop up some of the growing pet market—and it’s genius. Since opening the first one last year, Walmart’s pet service locations have been a hit. The numbers are wagging their tails too: About 25% of customers who visited these centers hadn’t even shopped at Walmart for pet stuff before. But once they’re there for a quick vet visit, they end up grabbing pet food, toys, and whatever else their dog’s puppy eyes can convince them to buy. Call it the “I came for the vaccine, stayed for the chew toys” effect.

It’s not just about convenience, though. Walmart’s move is a calculated power play to sink its teeth into the market that Chewy and Petco have been growing. Petco has been expanding its in-store clinics, while Chewy just launched its own vet centers this year. With people spending more than ever on their pets—$1,500 per year in 2024, and rising to $1,733 by 2030—Walmart isn’t going to sit on the sidelines while competitors cash in on this four-legged frenzy.

And it’s not just your average budget shopper that Walmart is reeling in—Gen Z and high-income pet parents are also hopping on board. Gen Z is Walmart’s fastest-growing pet demographic, and the number of customers with a household income over $100,000 shopping the pet section surged by 36% last year. It’s clear that no matter the income bracket, people will always find room in the budget to spoil their pets.

The bottom line? Walmart’s new focus on pet care is paying off big time. They’ve realized that pet owners are more likely to fork out cash for their fur babies than for their own doctor’s appointments. And with dedicated entrances for these centers and vet telehealth becoming a permanent feature for Walmart+ subscribers, they’re making it as easy as possible to keep customers—and their pets—coming back for more.

Now, let’s talk numbers. Walmart’s stock is looking like a solid buy right now, and the analysts agree. After posting a solid 77% jump over the past year, 27 out of 30 analysts have slapped a “Strong Buy” rating on the stock. The price per share currently sits at $79.67, with analysts projecting a 6.41% upside, despite all the headwinds in the retail sector. 

With Walmart’s continued push into the pet care industry (and people spending more on their pets than ever), they’re well-positioned to keep growing. If you’re looking to fetch some gains, Walmart’s stock might just be the one you’ve been searching for.

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Stock.News has positions in Walmart, Chewy, and Petco.