Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) EVP Latriece Watkins sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $575,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 110,432 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,699,680. The trade was a 4.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Walmart Stock Performance
Shares of WMT stock traded up $0.94 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $118.81. The stock had a trading volume of 20,604,799 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,941,198. The firm has a market cap of $942.61 billion, a PE ratio of 42.89, a PEG ratio of 4.49 and a beta of 0.58. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $108.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $116.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Walmart Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $98.88 and a fifty-two week high of $135.15.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. Walmart had a net margin of 3.00% and a return on equity of 21.83%. The business had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.68 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current year.
Walmart News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank upgraded Walmart to Buy and raised its price target to $136 from $113. The bank cited a favorable 2027 outlook, inflation-driven customer traffic and growth opportunities in advertising, marketplace services and Walmart+ membership income. Walmart is a buy as inflation attracts more customers, says Deutsche Bank
- Positive Sentiment: Investors are increasingly valuing Walmart’s higher-margin revenue streams. The retailer’s global e-commerce sales rose 23% in the latest quarter, while marketplace, advertising and membership growth could improve profitability beyond its traditional low-price retail model. Walmart also raised fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.80-$2.87. Walmart Stock Gets an Upgrade as Analyst Sees More Room to Run
- Positive Sentiment: Expanded employee benefits may support Walmart’s long-term investment story. The company added more than 250 free prescription drugs and up to 12 weeks of paid NICU leave. While benefits could raise costs, Deutsche Bank viewed the move alongside fee-based growth as evidence Walmart is investing in employee retention and more profitable operations. How Benefit Expansion At Walmart Has Changed Its Investment Story
- Neutral Sentiment: Recent operating results remain solid. Walmart’s latest quarterly revenue increased 5.9% year over year to $187.94 billion, and EPS exceeded analyst expectations. Faster pickup, delivery and digital initiatives could further support holiday sales and Walmart+ engagement, though the stock’s elevated valuation limits room for disappointment. Can Walmart’s Faster Shopping Options Boost Holiday Sales Growth?
- Negative Sentiment: Rising costs remain a risk. Walmart and Target are facing pressure from higher operating and merchandise costs, which could squeeze margins if the retailers cannot pass expenses on to consumers. Walmart, Target Face a New Price Problem as Costs Surge
- Negative Sentiment: Several executives reported stock sales, including CEO John Furner. The transactions were conducted under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans and executives retained substantial holdings, reducing their significance, but insider selling can still temper sentiment at recent highs.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Roth Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $126.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $132.41.
Get Our Latest Report on Walmart
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Walmart in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Montgomery Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the second quarter worth $32,000. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Copos Capital S.a r.l. purchased a new stake in Walmart during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. purchased a new stake in Walmart during the second quarter worth $34,000. 26.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc (NASDAQ: WMT) is a multinational retailer that operates supercenters, discount stores, neighborhood markets, warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms. Its merchandise includes groceries, apparel, electronics, home goods, health and wellness products, household essentials and general merchandise. Walmart also provides services such as grocery pickup and delivery, pharmacy services, financial products and digital advertising.
The company serves customers through its Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam’s Club segments.
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