Walmart spreading some pre-holiday cheer. Domestic same-store sales at the world's largest retailer rose for the 21st straight quarter and beat analysts expectations. Walmart grew its market share in food and groceries as shoppers spent more money at its stores.

What's more, the company sees the momentum continuing, lifting its annual earnings forecast. Its CFO said the consumer remains in "pretty good shape" - comforting words for a Wall Street concerned about the risks of a recession.

Walmart also managed to buck the impact of tariffs on Chinese goods. Analysts point out that the retailer earns more than half of its revenue from sales of food and groceries, enabling it to manage the pressure from tariffs better than many of its rivals.

President Donald Trump used Walmart's results to argue that the tariffs he slapped on China have had little impact on consumers, tweeting, "Walmart announces great numbers. No impact from Tariffs."

Online sales rose 41%, but it wasn't all rosy. Walmart's online expansion has come at a cost to profitability. Its investment in its e-commerce business drove down operating income.

But investors overlooked that, sending Walmart's shares higher in early Thursday trading.