NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Sells 11,840 Shares of Walmart Inc. $WMT

NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan lessened its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 16.1% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 61,760 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 11,840 shares during the quarter. Walmart comprises 0.7% of NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan’s holdings in Walmart were worth $6,365,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Collier Financial bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new position in Walmart during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Roble Belko & Company Inc boosted its holdings in Walmart by 212.6% in the third quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 322 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart in the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Walmart

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: WMT has rallied ~20% so far in 2026 and recently hit an all‑time high, drawing attention from momentum and large‑cap investors. Walmart Stock Surges 20% in 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Major funds have added to WMT stakes (Maverick Capital and Soros Fund Management), signalling institutional conviction and providing buying support. Maverick Capital Boosts Walmart Stake Soros Fund Management Boosts Walmart Stake
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts note Walmart’s defensive positioning — value pricing, e‑commerce strength and disciplined inventory — which could sustain resilience if consumer spending remains uneven. Walmart Holds the Edge in an Uncertain Retail Environment
• Neutral Sentiment: Market consensus and previews are focused on the Feb. 19 earnings print (est. Q4 EPS ~$0.73; revenue ~$188.5B), with attention on same‑store sales, ad revenue and AI/e‑commerce traction; results and guidance will likely drive near‑term moves. Wall Street Brunch: Walmart Weighs In As Q4 GDP Hits
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple previews and market calendars flag WMT as a headline event this week alongside macro data (inflation, PCE); expect volatility around macro prints and the earnings call. What to Expect in Markets This Week
• Negative Sentiment: Some coverage highlights structural shopper shifts and valuation concerns despite the rally — warnings that elevated multiples and changing customer behavior could pressure upside if growth softens. Walmart shopper shift is a brutal reality check for retail
• Negative Sentiment: Some market lists and commentators flag WMT as a potential sell or caution trade given stretched valuation after the run‑up, suggesting profit‑taking risk ahead of earnings. 1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Analog Devices, Walmart

Walmart Stock Performance

Shares of WMT stock opened at $133.89 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $118.51 and a 200-day moving average of $108.65. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $79.81 and a one year high of $134.65. The company has a market cap of $1.07 trillion, a P/E ratio of 46.81, a P/E/G ratio of 5.12 and a beta of 0.65.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The retailer reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.02. Walmart had a net margin of 3.26% and a return on equity of 21.31%. The firm had revenue of $179.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $175.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.58 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other Walmart news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.17, for a total value of $2,313,804.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 4,274,856 shares in the company, valued at $509,434,589.52. This represents a 0.45% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Donna Morris sold 76,181 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.79, for a total value of $9,430,445.99. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 402,072 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $49,772,492.88. This represents a 15.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 227,566 shares of company stock valued at $26,790,653 in the last ninety days. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMT has been the topic of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $121.00 target price on Walmart and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, January 18th. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and set a $140.00 price objective (up previously from $125.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Monday, February 9th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $132.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Thirty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $127.74.

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.