NEW YORK — Walmart became one of the few lifelines to millions of people as the coronavirus spread, leading to surging profit and sales during the fiscal first quarter.

Online sales in the U.S. jumped 74 percent for the quarter ended April 30, which captured the brunt of the pandemic. Same-store sales rose 10 percent at U.S. Walmart stores on strong sales of food, health and wellness goods.

The nation’s largest retailer stayed open while most stores temporarily shut down. And unlike its online rivals like Amazon, Walmart has a network of nearly 5,000 physical stores and a variety of delivery and pick-up options that it ramped up to meet demand for essential goods.