Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) Stock Price Up 2.1% – Here’s What Happened

Shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) were up 2.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday. The company traded as high as $121.72 and last traded at $121.25. 15,762,077 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 36% from the average daily volume of 24,817,566 shares. The stock had previously closed at $118.77.

More Walmart News

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Walmart received approximately $36.2 million in net ETF buying on Tuesday, suggesting some institutional demand and providing support for the shares. Walmart Sees $36.2 Million in Net ETF Buying
• Positive Sentiment: The retailer expanded its Better Care Services platform into a broader healthcare marketplace. By connecting customers with third-party providers through its stores and digital channels, Walmart is pursuing additional service revenue and deeper customer engagement. Walmart Launched a Healthcare Services Marketplace
• Positive Sentiment: Walmart and Care Access plan to add three clinical-trial centers, extending the company’s healthcare footprint and potentially creating new customer and provider relationships. Walmart and Care Access to Add Three New Clinical Trial Centers
• Neutral Sentiment: Walmart lowered the price of its holiday meal basket by $5. The move reinforces its value proposition and could support traffic during the holiday season, although it may also pressure retail margins. Walmart Lowers Holiday Meal Basket by $5
• Neutral Sentiment: Walmart’s AI training program is reportedly increasing technology confidence among its 2.1 million associates. Improved adoption could help productivity over time, but the financial benefit is not yet quantified. Walmart Says AI Training Is Boosting Worker Confidence
• Negative Sentiment: The Federal Trade Commission ordered Walmart to provide information on how it uses consumer data for personalized pricing and pay decisions. The inquiry could increase compliance costs, invite further regulation and create reputational risk, though no wrongdoing has been established. FTC Demands Data on Personalized Pricing
• Negative Sentiment: DoorDash’s planned $17 billion acquisition of Instacart highlights intensifying competition in delivery and digital grocery, potentially challenging Walmart’s e-commerce reach and customer economics. DoorDash Makes $17 Billion Instacart Bet

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on WMT. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $126.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Truist Financial set a $114.00 price target on shares of Walmart and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Roth Capital reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $132.41.

Walmart Stock Up 2.1%

The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $109.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $118.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market capitalization of $961.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.77, a PEG ratio of 4.33 and a beta of 0.58.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%. The company had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter 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. Equities research analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.88 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total transaction of $5,335,345.40. Following the completion of the sale, 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 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 Latriece Watkins sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $575,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 110,432 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,699,680. This represents a 4.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders sold 102,244 shares of company stock valued at $11,112,044. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walmart

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Compton Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Compton Financial Group LLC now owns 2,081 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $259,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the period. Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 0.3% during the first quarter. Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,443 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,162,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Walmart by 0.9% during the first quarter. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC now owns 9,577 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,190,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Kassira Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Walmart by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Kassira Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,538 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,199,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bernicke Wealth Management Ltd. raised its holdings in Walmart by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Bernicke Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 12,548 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,421,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc (NASDAQ:WMT) operates a global retail business through a network of supercenters, supermarkets, discount stores, neighborhood markets, warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms. Its stores and websites sell a broad assortment of merchandise, including groceries, consumables, health and wellness products, apparel, electronics, home goods, toys and other general merchandise.

The company organizes its operations into Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam’s Club U.S. Walmart U.S.