U.S. stock index futures traded little changed on Wednesday evening as investors digested mixed signals from the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes. The minutes revealed policymakers were split on the path forward for interest rates, with some warning that inflation may take longer to reach the Fed's 2% target. Walmart Inc shares fell 1.73% in premarket trading ahead of its fourth-quarter earnings report.

Wall Street indexes had advanced during the regular session, led by a rebound in technology shares, but gains were capped by caution over the Fed's next moves. The minutes showed officials unanimously agreed to keep rates steady at 3.50%-3.75%, but several indicated that further rate hikes could be warranted if inflation remains elevated. The central bank also expressed uncertainty about artificial intelligence's impact on inflation, with policymakers divided on whether the fast-growing industry would boost or dampen price pressures.

The retail giant is expected to report earnings per share of $0.7269 on revenue of $190.4 billion, according to Investing.com data. As the world's largest retailer by valuation, Walmart is closely watched as a bellwether for U.S. consumer spending amid signs of strain from persistent inflation. Beyond Walmart, December housing starts and building permits data are also due Thursday, offering additional clues about the health of the U.S. economy.