Stack Financial Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 1,014,994 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,573 shares during the period. Walmart accounts for about 9.0% of Stack Financial Management Inc’s investment portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Stack Financial Management Inc’s holdings in Walmart were worth $114,958,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Entrust Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walmart during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC grew its position 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 worth $32,000 after buying an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. 26.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Walmart Stock Down 0.4%
WMT stock opened at $115.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.42 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $114.34 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $121.52. The firm has a market cap of $917.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.45, a PEG ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.61.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several analysts recently issued reports on WMT shares. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Walmart from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $145.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Walmart from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Finally, Tigress Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $155.00 price target (up from $150.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, May 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.56.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on Walmart
Insider Activity
In other news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,710 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.10, for a total transaction of $419,601.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 626,299 shares in the company, valued at approximately $70,834,416.90. This represents a 0.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.63, for a total value of $2,303,320.08. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,174,579 shares in the company, valued at approximately $495,230,306.77. This trade represents a 0.46% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 70,189 shares of company stock valued at $8,377,320 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Trending Headlines about Walmart
Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s e-commerce business continues to be viewed as a significant growth engine, with its digital capabilities increasingly resembling a broader commerce platform rather than a traditional big-box retailer. Walmart’s E-Commerce Engine Roars
- Positive Sentiment: Jefferies said potential tariff refunds could support Walmart’s price-leadership strategy. Reinvesting the money in lower prices could widen its price gap with competitors and help drive market-share gains, particularly in consumables. Walmart set for in-line Q2
- Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “Outperform” rating, providing some support for the long-term investment case despite near-term sales concerns. RBC Reaffirms Outperform Rating
- Neutral Sentiment: Walmart is expected to deliver largely in-line second-quarter results. The key catalysts are management’s second-half outlook, tariff-refund treatment and the potential effect on pricing and margins. Walmart Q2 earnings preview
- Neutral Sentiment: The company will release results before the market opens on August 20 and host a conference call with CEO John Furner and CFO John David Rainey. Walmart to Host Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call
- Negative Sentiment: Deutsche Bank expects Walmart to miss second-quarter comparable-sales estimates, while high gasoline prices are pressuring household budgets and raising the retailer’s operating costs. Walmart Seen Missing Comparable Sales Estimates
- Negative Sentiment: Analysts have cited elevated fuel costs, rising expenses and valuation concerns as reasons for Walmart’s recent weakness, despite solid revenue growth and e-commerce momentum. Walmart Stock Slides About 12% in 3 Months
- Negative Sentiment: Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa shopping tools could intensify competition for grocery-list creation and digital shopping relationships, areas strategically important to Walmart’s e-commerce growth. Amazon’s Alexa Shopping Strategy
About Walmart
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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