Manchester Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 17,208 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,949,000.
A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Walmart during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 57.4% during the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the first quarter worth about $37,000. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Walmart Stock Up 1.0%
WMT stock opened at $105.92 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $111.38 and a 200-day moving average of $120.08. Walmart Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $96.51 and a fifty-two week high of $135.15. The company has a market capitalization of $840.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.24, a PEG ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77.
Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart
In related news, EVP Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total value of $5,335,345.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 201,672 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,246,145.20. This trade represents a 20.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,710 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.10, for a total transaction of $419,601.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 626,299 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $70,834,416.90. This represents a 0.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several brokerages recently weighed in on WMT. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $130.00 price target (down from $140.00) on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $115.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Roth Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $131.88.
Key Stories Impacting Walmart
Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Opioid lawsuit ends with limited financial impact: Walmart agreed to pay approximately $50 million to resolve a Justice Department lawsuit involving its pharmacies’ opioid-distribution practices. The settlement is described as immaterial relative to Walmart’s profits and substantially below the potentially multibillion-dollar penalties once threatened, reducing a major legal overhang. Walmart escapes major legal penalty for a fraction of the cost
- Positive Sentiment: Marketplace growth remains strong: Walmart’s U.S. marketplace sales reportedly increased 52%, helped by a broader product assortment, increased fulfillment adoption and expansion into Mexico and Canada. Continued marketplace momentum could improve customer engagement and support higher-margin advertising and third-party seller revenue. Walmart’s Marketplace Momentum Builds
- Positive Sentiment: International digital operations are improving: Rising e-commerce penetration and reduced losses in Walmart International are improving the segment’s economics. However, ongoing investment and margin pressure could limit the near-term earnings benefit. Walmart International’s Digital Mix Rises
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst remains bullish: Tigress Financial reaffirmed its “buy” rating and set a $155 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. SAIC, Walmart And 3 Stocks To Watch
- Neutral Sentiment: Value comparison offers limited direction: Articles comparing Walmart with J. Sainsbury PLC focus on relative valuation rather than a new company-specific catalyst. Walmart’s strong operating profile is balanced by a comparatively elevated earnings multiple, making valuation-sensitive investors more selective. JSAIY vs. WMT: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?
- Negative Sentiment: EPS estimates were trimmed: Erste Group Bank lowered its fiscal 2027 earnings-per-share estimates for Walmart, reinforcing concerns that elevated investment, e-commerce costs or margin pressure could constrain profit growth. FY2027 EPS Estimates for Walmart Cut by Erste Group Bank
Walmart Company Profile
Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a broad portfolio of store formats and digital services. Its core business includes large-format supercenters, discount department stores, neighborhood grocery stores and a membership warehouse chain, Sam’s Club. The company’s merchandising mix covers groceries, household goods, apparel, electronics and pharmacy services, supplemented by private-label products and category-specific offerings. Walmart pairs its physical store network with online platforms and mobile applications to provide omnichannel shopping, fulfillment and delivery options for consumers and businesses.
The company was founded by Sam Walton, who opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962; it is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.
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