Walmart ve 2. fiskálním čtvrtletí 2027 zvýšil globální reklamní příjmy o 38 % meziročně, zatímco e-commerce vzrostl o 23 %. Hrubá marže stoupla o 96 bazických bodů na 25,4 % díky příznivějšímu mixu taženému reklamou.
Key Takeaways Walmart's global advertising business grew 38% in fiscal Q2 2027 as e-commerce sales rose 23%. Walmart's gross profit rate rose 96 basis points to 25.4%, helped by a favorable ad-driven business mix. Vibe expands Walmart's ad reach but is expected to create a 20-basis-point operating income headwind. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is increasingly building advertising into the economics of its digital business, adding a faster-growing revenue stream alongside e-commerce operations. The business is gaining scale across U.S. and international platforms while contributing to a more favorable mix of higher-margin commerce solutions.
In second-quarter fiscal 2027, Walmart’s global advertising business grew 38% year over year. Walmart U.S. advertising, including VIZIO, also increased 38%, led by a 43% rise in Walmart Connect. International advertising advanced 20%, driven by Flipkart Ads. The gains came as global e-commerce sales increased 23%, including 24% growth at Walmart U.S. and 19% internationally.
The profit contribution is becoming more relevant as digital businesses scale. Walmart’s gross profit rate expanded 96 basis points to 25.4%, with the improvement also reflecting a favorable business mix led by global advertising. Adjusted operating income increased 17.4% in constant currency, supported in part by improved incremental margins in digital and strength in high-margin commerce solutions, although tariff refunds were a significant benefit.
Walmart is widening its advertising opportunity through the acquisition of Vibe. The deal expands access to small and medium-sized advertisers through self-service tools and adds measurement capabilities tied to shopping behavior. However, acquisition and integration costs related to Vibe are expected to create an approximately 20-basis-point headwind to fiscal 2027 operating income growth.
Advertising’s growth is helping improve Walmart’s business mix. Its expansion adds a higher-margin commerce solution to the profit mix, although Vibe-related costs will weigh on fiscal 2027 operating income growth.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares gain 4.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 3.5% growth. Shares of Costco have dipped 5.8%, while Target has surged 79.7% in the aforementioned period.
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From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 34.75, higher than the industry’s 31.79. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.8) while trading at a discount to Costco (44.77).
Walmart rozšiřuje doručování z restaurací díky partnerství s Dunkin' a míří tak proti DoorDash a Uber Eats. Firma uvedla, že postupně nabídne doručení z většiny z 10 000 poboček Dunkin' v USA.
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Walmart's main business is still its stores, but the company is always trying new things too. Bloomberg/Getty Images Walmart got its start in 1962 selling general merchandise as a discount store in Rogers, Arkansas.
Founder Sam Walton was constantly on the lookout for new retail concepts to try, and he wasn't shy about borrowing ideas from other successful entrepreneurs.
"He just tried things, and he would learn, and if it didn't work, it wasn't a failure," CEO John Furner said during a conversation with reporters at Walmart's headquarters in June. "We just learned from it."
Last week, Walmart moved to grow its delivery service in a partnership with Dunkin', putting the company on a collision course with delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats. The retailer will eventually offer delivery from most of the 10,000 Dunkin' locations across the US, moving onto turf long dominated by DoorDash and Uber Eats.
Walmart described itself as "a rapidly emerging contender in the restaurant delivery business."
That delivery experiment is a continuation of a pattern that Furner says is part of Walmart's DNA.
"We constantly want to learn. We see where the world's going. Some things apply, some things don't," he said. "We'll learn from it and figure out the best way that we can accelerate the business."
Here are eight bets Walmart has placed over the years in its bid to grow beyond traditional discount retailing.
Home improvement
Walmart's experiment in home improvement retail was short-lived. Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images One of Walmart's first attempts at branching out came in 1975 with the launch of the Sav-Co Home Improvement Center chain. The brand didn't take off, and Walmart shifted its focus to adding new features to its stores.
While local hardware stores were common in this era, large-store formats were relatively uncommon. Home Depot didn't open its first stores until 1979.
Pharmacy
Walmart has one of the largest pharmacy operations in the US. John Gress/Corbis via Getty Images One of Walmart's early in-store experiments was in the pharmacy business, which began in 1978 and has since grown into one of the company's key business lines.
Walmart dispensed an estimated $36.8 billion in prescriptions last year, making it the fifth largest pharmacy in the US, according to the Drug Channels Institute, which tracks the pharmaceutical industry.
More recently, Walmart has stepped up prescription delivery speeds, with some orders filled in 30 minutes or less.
Auto service
Nearly 2,600 Walmart locations include auto service centers. Dominick Reuter/Business Insider Walmart opened its first auto care center in Oklahoma in 1979 and the service has expanded to nearly 2,600 locations across the US.
Walmart's auto centers have also served as a testing ground for the company's expanding third-party marketplace, with customers able to order products like tires online that are shipped to a local store for scheduled installation.
Warehouse club
Sam's Club delivered $93 billion in sales last year. Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images The 80's were a busy decade for Walmart and Sam Walton in terms of experimentation.
"'82, '83 I think he opened four different formats in that two year period," Furner said in June. "Sam's Club came out of it and was really successful, and the others we decided not to go forward with."
Walton's approach to the wholesale club was modeled on Saul Price's concepts FedMart and Price Club, the latter of which also inspired and eventually merged with Costco.
Sam's Club now has more than 600 US locations with $90 billion in sales last year.
Grocery
Walmart is America's grocery king. Scott Olson/Getty Images The Walmart supercenter is a quintessentially American phenomenon, but Walton famously modeled the concept off the European hypermarket format, which combined general merchandise retail with groceries under a single roof.
"It took probably five or six years until there was a store in Washington, Missouri, that worked," Furner said of Walton's attempts to adapt the hypermarket concept to the US.
It still took Walmart opening about a dozen more supercenters for the idea to really gain traction, he added.
There are now more than 3,500 supercenters and more than 650 neighborhood market grocery stores in the US. Walmart is the largest grocery chain in the country, pulling in roughly one in five dollars spent in the category, according to consumer analytics firm Numerator.
Specialty retail
Walmart dabbled in specialty retail but ultimately sold those brands. Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images About a decade ago, Walmart embarked on a flurry of merger activity, snapping up specialty retailers Bonobos, Moosejaw, and Modcloth in a bid to expand the company's reach with specialty brands and e-commerce customers.
All three chains remained independent of Walmart's core operations and were subsequently sold off to other owners as the company refocused on its own offerings.
Advertising
Walmart Connect and Vizio logos at Cannes. Katie Jones/Variety via Getty Images In 2019, Walmart brought its advertising business in-house with what would become Walmart Connect, which sells ad space for the company's physical and digital properties.
Combined with a growing third-party e-commerce marketplace and the acquisition of TV-maker Vizio, Walmart's ads business has delivered significant revenue growth in recent years.
Restaurant delivery
Walmart is going beyond grocery delivery with a new partnership with Dunkin' Donuts. Walmart Walmart's latest bet puts the company on a course to compete more directly with food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
After letting grocery-delivery customers add meals from in-store Subway shops, Walmart said in September it would bring thousands of off-site Dunkin' locations to the service.
Walmart has already established itself as a powerhouse in fast delivery for merchandise, groceries, and medicine — now it's set to fulfill more of what other chains sell too.
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Dominick Reuter You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Dominick Reuter is a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, primarily covering Walmart, Target, and Costco. His stories tend to focus on issues and trends that affect employees and customers.Prior to joining BI in 2019, Dominick worked for more than a decade as an independent photojournalist covering a wide range of stories for global wire services and newspapers, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and Agence France-Presse.Dominick studied photojournalism at Boston University and later earned a Masters in business and economics journalism from Columbia University.If you're an employee or customer with a story to share, please contact me via email or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750.
Akcie Walmartu ve čtvrtek vzrostly téměř o 2,8 %, zatímco americké ministerstvo spravedlnosti rozšířilo šetření cen hovězího masa. Firma není obviněna z porušení antimonopolních pravidel.
Officials contacted eight retailers, including Walmart, Costco and Amazon, as record beef prices intensify scrutiny. Summary
The inquiry increases scrutiny but does not accuse Walmart of antitrust violations.
Walmart WMT, the world's largest retailer, rallied nearly 2.8% to $109.015 Thursday even as Washington turned up the heat on beef pricing. Reuters reported that the Justice Department contacted eight retailers, including Walmart, Costco and Amazon, as record beef prices pushed grocery affordability deeper into the political spotlight.
This is scrutiny, not a guilty verdict. Walmart has not been accused of fixing prices, manipulating the market or violating antitrust law. The review runs alongside a separate investigation into meatpackers, widening the government's lens across the beef supply chain while leaving the immediate financial threat to Walmart unclear.
Walmart's second-quarter results packed $187.9 billion in revenue, while first-half inventory hit $61.6 billion. Grocery scale keeps shoppers coming, but stubborn food inflation can bite margins when Walmart holds prices down to defend its value crown. At $109.015, the stock sits 5.46% above its $103.37 GF Value estimate—a clear sign investors still prize Walmart's defensive power despite the regulatory noise.
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Walmart ve čtvrtek rostl o 2,60 % díky širší tržní rally a nové spolupráci s Inspire Brands, která rozšiřuje doručování přes Dunkin’ v prodejnách Walmartu.
Shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) are trading higher Thursday afternoon as the retail giant benefits from broader market tailwinds and fresh expansion within its delivery ecosystem.
Here’s what investors need to know.
Walmart stock is showing upward movement. Why is WMT stock trading higher? Inspire Brands Partnership Expands Delivery ReachProviding a direct company catalyst Thursday morning, Walmart announced a strategic partnership with Inspire Brands to integrate popular restaurant delivery services, starting with Dunkin’ locations situated within Walmart stores, directly into its platform.
The initiative aims to leverage Walmart’s vast store footprint and digital app infrastructure to broaden its delivery offerings and deepen customer engagement across its nationwide retail network.
Dovish Fed Remarks and Falling Yields Support Retail SentimentBroader macroeconomic factors also lifted Walmart alongside the wider equities market Thursday afternoon. A pullback in U.S. Treasury yields, following dovish inflation commentary from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, helped ease market-wide concerns regarding elevated interest rates and persistent pressure on consumer discretionary spending.
Lower yields provide a favorable backdrop for large-cap retail and consumer staples as investors position for potential central bank rate stabilization.
Rebounding Following Recent Post-Earnings VolatilityThursday’s upward momentum helps Walmart regain ground following recent post-earnings volatility. In its second-quarter report released on Aug. 20, the retailer beat Wall Street expectations with revenue of $187.9 billion (up 5.9% year-over-year) and adjusted EPS of $0.81 (surpassing the 74 cent estimate), bolstered by a 23% jump in global e-commerce and 38% growth in advertising revenue.
However, shares plunged in late August following the release as investors fixated on slowing core retail momentum, marked by U.S. same-store sales growth dipping to 2.6%, the lowest pace in over six years.
During the earnings call, management acknowledged that lower- and middle-income consumers are making more visible trade-offs due to persistent inflationary pressures and elevated fuel costs. To counter this, executives highlighted plans to reinvest tariff refunds into aggressive price reductions via more than 11,000 “rollbacks”.
While Walmart raised its full-year EPS outlook to $2.80 to $2.87, cautious third-quarter adjusted EPS guidance of 62 cents to 64 cents reignited near-term growth concerns.
WMT Shares Rise Thursday AfternoonWMT Price Action: Walmart shares were up 2.60% at $108.85 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Walmart ve středu mírně vzrostl o zhruba 0,1 % na 106,04 USD, zatímco ropa za 95 USD tlačila na riziková aktiva. Firma zároveň čelí tlaku na marže kvůli zásobám v hodnotě 61,6 miliardy USD.
The retailer's scale attracts defensive interest, but fuel costs and a $61.6 billion inventory position still matter. Summary
Defensive demand does not eliminate margin pressure.
Walmart WMT, the world's largest retailer, inched approximately 0.1% higher to $106.04 Wednesday as $95 oil, geopolitical tension and bond-market stress punished riskier assets. When markets get nervous, Walmart's steady stream of grocery and household spending becomes much harder to ignore.
The numbers back up that defensive muscle. Walmart's second-quarter results showed revenue climbing 5.9% to $187.9 billion, global e-commerce sales jumping 23%, advertising surging 38% and membership revenue rising 17%. First-half operating cash flow reached $19.7 billion, although free cash flow slipped 1.4% to $5.5 billion.
Inventory is the pressure point. It increased 6.7% to $61.6 billion, slightly faster than revenue, just as elevated oil prices threatened higher freight costs. The valuation leaves little cushion: Walmart's $106.04 share price sits 2.58% above its $103.37 GF Value estimate. This is still a defensive giant—but investors are already paying for much of that safety.
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Tržby z e-commerce společnosti Walmart International vzrostly o 19 % a digitální mix na čistých tržbách se zvýšil na zhruba 30 %. V Číně tržby z e-commerce stouply o 26 % a digitální mix dosáhl 55 %.
Key Takeaways Walmart's International e-commerce sales rose 19%, lifting digital mix to about 30% of net sales. China e-commerce sales jumped 26%, with digital mix reaching 55% and faster delivery supporting growth. Lower e-commerce losses lifted operating income, but investments and mix pressures weighed on margins. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is seeing its International business become increasingly digital, with e-commerce representing a larger share of sales across markets. The shift is occurring alongside improving e-commerce economics, although the segment’s constant-currency operating margin remained under pressure in the second quarter of fiscal 2027.
International e-commerce sales increased 19% in the quarter, led by China, India and Canada. E-commerce accounted for about 30% of International net sales on a constant-currency basis, up roughly 300 basis points year over year. China stood out, with e-commerce sales rising 26% and digital mix reaching 55%, up 239 basis points from a year earlier. Across International, about 65% of e-commerce units were delivered the same or next day, with roughly half of those arriving in less than one hour.
The segment also showed progress on digital profitability. International operating income increased 16.6% to $1.4 billion, while constant-currency operating income rose 5.7% to $1.3 billion. The increase benefited from lower e-commerce losses and business mix changes across markets.
However, the constant-currency operating income rate declined 9 basis points to 3.9%, while the gross profit rate fell 15 basis points to 21.4%. Meanwhile, reported operating margin rose 13 basis points to 4.1%. The results show that a higher digital mix is being accompanied by better e-commerce margins and lower e-commerce losses. Still, those benefits were partly offset by a discrete trade receivable reserve, price investments, format mix and strategic investments in Mexico and Canada, leaving constant-currency segment margin below the year-ago level.
Walmart International’s rising digital mix is showing signs of better e-commerce economics, but sustained margin expansion will depend on whether those gains can increasingly offset ongoing investment and mix-related pressures.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares gain 8.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s 4.8% growth. Shares of Costco have climbed 0.1%, while Target has surged 67.6% in the aforementioned period.
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From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 34.07, higher than the industry’s 30.67. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.5) while trading at a discount to Costco (46.2).
Archer Investment Corp ve 2. čtvrtletí koupila 18 719 akcií Walmartu za zhruba 2,12 milionu USD. Walmart zároveň oznámil čtvrtletní EPS 0,81 USD a tržby 187,94 miliardy USD.
Archer Investment Corp bought a new stake in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 18,719 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $2,120,000.
Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $6,451,000. Advisortrust Partners LLC raised its holdings in Walmart by 20.2% during the first quarter. Advisortrust Partners LLC now owns 67,142 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $8,344,000 after purchasing an additional 11,283 shares in the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 253.3% during the 1st quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 384,034 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $47,728,000 after buying an additional 275,337 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 2,416,580 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $300,333,000 after buying an additional 68,632 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 42.1% in the 4th quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 275,341 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $30,676,000 after buying an additional 81,635 shares in the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Walmart Stock Up 1.7% Shares of NASDAQ:WMT opened at $104.87 on Tuesday. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.79 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.23. The stock has a market cap of $834.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.86, a P/E/G ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $111.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $120.24.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 company 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. Walmart’s quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. 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 predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current year. Walmart News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle U.S. Justice Department allegations involving improperly filled opioid prescriptions. Although the settlement carries a financial cost and reputational risk, it is viewed favorably because it resolves litigation that had exposed the company to potentially billions of dollars in civil penalties. Walmart described the payment as immaterial. Walmart escapes major legal penalty for a fraction of the cost Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s U.S. marketplace sales increased 52%, supported by a broader product selection, greater use of fulfillment services and international expansion in Mexico and Canada. Sustaining this momentum could improve e-commerce growth and marketplace profitability. Walmart’s Marketplace Momentum Builds Positive Sentiment: Tigress Financial reaffirmed its buy rating and set a $155 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. This reflects confidence in Walmart’s long-term earnings and growth prospects. Benzinga analyst rating Neutral Sentiment: Commentary highlights Walmart’s 53-year record of dividend increases and notes that the stock is well below its peak. However, its dividend yield remains relatively low and its valuation is still elevated compared with the broader market. Walmart dividend analysis Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank lowered its fiscal 2027 EPS estimates, signaling expectations for slower earnings growth or increased cost pressure. Walmart’s recent earnings-related share-price weakness also indicates that investors remain sensitive to the company’s premium valuation. FY2027 EPS Estimates for Walmart Cut Insider Buying and Selling In other Walmart news, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This trade represents a 8.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing 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, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total value of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 569,153 shares in the company, valued at $60,523,730.02. This trade represents a 0.51% 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. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently commented on WMT shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 21st. BTIG Research dropped their price objective on Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Freedom Capital upgraded Walmart from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.88.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Walmart
Walmart Profile (Free Report)
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.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Walmart Securing AI: 5 Most-Upgraded Stocks From the Q2 Reporting Season Insiders Are Betting Big on These 3 Healthcare Stocks 3 Stocks for Investors Who Still Believe Cash Is King Dollar General and Dollar Tree Are Recovering, But Not for the Same Reason Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Beacon Pointe Advisors ve 2. čtvrtletí koupila nový podíl ve Walmartu za 57,948 milionu USD. Walmart zároveň oznámil zisk na akcii 0,81 USD a tržby 187,94 miliardy USD, obojí nad odhady.
Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 511,640 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $57,948,000.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the second quarter worth $7,455,131,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at about $6,458,529,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in Walmart in the second quarter valued at about $2,905,655,000. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Walmart by 188.1% in the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 11,663,172 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,199,907,000 after purchasing an additional 7,614,172 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in Walmart in the second quarter worth about $796,677,000. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Stock Up 1.7% Shares of WMT stock opened at $104.87 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $834.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.86, a PEG ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $95.79 and a one year high of $135.15. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $111.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $120.24. 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 (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. Walmart had a net margin of 3.00% and a return on equity of 21.83%. 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. Walmart’s quarterly 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 expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on WMT shares. Mizuho set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $125.00 price objective (down from $140.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Tigress Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday. Oppenheimer reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Walmart from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Three equities 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $131.88.
Read Our Latest Report on WMT
Insiders Place Their Bets In other Walmart news, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total transaction of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 569,153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $60,523,730.02. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This represents a 8.74% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Walmart News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle U.S. Justice Department allegations involving improperly filled opioid prescriptions. Although the settlement carries a financial cost and reputational risk, it is viewed favorably because it resolves litigation that had exposed the company to potentially billions of dollars in civil penalties. Walmart described the payment as immaterial. Walmart escapes major legal penalty for a fraction of the cost Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s U.S. marketplace sales increased 52%, supported by a broader product selection, greater use of fulfillment services and international expansion in Mexico and Canada. Sustaining this momentum could improve e-commerce growth and marketplace profitability. Walmart’s Marketplace Momentum Builds Positive Sentiment: Tigress Financial reaffirmed its buy rating and set a $155 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. This reflects confidence in Walmart’s long-term earnings and growth prospects. Benzinga analyst rating Neutral Sentiment: Commentary highlights Walmart’s 53-year record of dividend increases and notes that the stock is well below its peak. However, its dividend yield remains relatively low and its valuation is still elevated compared with the broader market. Walmart dividend analysis Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank lowered its fiscal 2027 EPS estimates, signaling expectations for slower earnings growth or increased cost pressure. Walmart’s recent earnings-related share-price weakness also indicates that investors remain sensitive to the company’s premium valuation. FY2027 EPS Estimates for Walmart Cut About Walmart (Free Report)
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.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Walmart Securing AI: 5 Most-Upgraded Stocks From the Q2 Reporting Season Insiders Are Betting Big on These 3 Healthcare Stocks 3 Stocks for Investors Who Still Believe Cash Is King Dollar General and Dollar Tree Are Recovering, But Not for the Same Reason Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Walmart ve čtvrtletí do 31. července zvýšil tržby na 187,9 miliardy USD, provozní zisk o 28,8 % a upravený zisk na akcii na 0,81 USD. Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční výhled upraveného zisku na akcii (EPS) pro fiskální rok 2027 na 2,80 až 2,87 USD.
Walmart (WMT +1.41%) shares recently traded with a total market capitalization of around $820 billion, roughly $180 billion below the $1 trillion mark it crossed in February, and I do not think this exit is permanent, given how the underlying business is performing.
On Feb. 3, 2026, Walmart became the first traditional retailer to close a trading day with a market value of $1 trillion, with shares up 2.9% at $127.71. It was the 11th U.S. company to finish a session with a 13-digit valuation, joining a group made up almost entirely of technology names.
The milestone landed just days into John Furner's tenure as chief executive after he succeeded Doug McMillon. The stock had climbed more than 28% over the prior year and over 14% in the first weeks of 2026.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why it fell back out The drop came fast. Walmart shares tumbled 9% after its August earnings report, not because results were weak, but because the outlook disappointed investors who had priced in perfection. Over the past 12 months, the market cap has fallen about 8%, and the company now ranks 18th globally by value. Part of the issue is that forward price-to-earnings had expanded to nearly 45 times, leaving almost no cushion for a guidance number that came in short of expectations.
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What the business actually did this year Here is what makes me think Walmart's removal from the trillion-dollar club is temporary. In the quarter ended July 31, Walmart posted revenue of $187.9 billion, up 5.9%, beating estimates. Global e-commerce sales grew 23%, marking the 10th consecutive quarter of 20% or better growth for Walmart United States. Operating income jumped 28.8% to $9.38 billion, and on an adjusted constant-currency basis, it rose 17.4%. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.81, up 19.1%.
The higher-margin pieces are doing the heavy lifting. Global advertising revenue rose 38%, and membership fee revenue climbed 17%, with Walmart+ net additions hitting a second-quarter record. International membership income grew 28%. Store-fulfilled delivery increased 40% in the quarter. These businesses carry far better economics than moving boxes through a supercenter, and they are compounding.
The tech and logistics build-out Walmart is no longer really just a big-box retailer in how it operates. By early 2026, roughly 65% of stores were serviced by automated distribution centers. The company has leaned into artificial intelligence, same-day delivery, and expanded pharmacy, which helped drive a 12% increase in memberships. Management also raised full-year fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.80 to $2.87 from the prior $2.75 to $2.85. That is a company raising expectations, not lowering them.
Why $1 trillion will come back Do the math on what it takes. Walmart needed about $125.47 per share to cross the threshold in February. The stock now trades meaningfully below that, so the gap is roughly 20% to 22%. With earnings growing near 19% and the e-commerce, advertising, and membership engines all expanding at double-digit rates or better, closing that gap does not require much of a heroic rerating.
The near-term drag is real. Third-quarter guidance calls for net sales growth of only 3% to 3.75% in constant currency, with a 125-basis-point headwind that Walmart expects to persist through fiscal 2027. Tariff refunds of $2.9 billion also boosted recent gross margins and will not repeat.
I also think Walmart is a reliable place where people to shop. There's a certain familiarity and trust that shoppers have with the brand, which gives it a strong position in people's minds. When a company is growing revenue by nearly 6% on a $750 billion annual run rate, while its highest-margin segments are growing between 17% and 38%, the $1 trillion mark starts to look less like a ceiling and more like a level the company could revisit over time.
Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. marketplace sales rose 52% in fiscal Q2 2027, topping 40% growth in key categories. Nearly 50% of U.S. marketplace volume used Walmart Fulfillment Services, up nearly 400 basis points. Walmart expanded U.S. marketplace capabilities into Mexico and Canada while investing in automation. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is building its marketplace into a broader part of its omnichannel platform by expanding assortment, increasing the use of Walmart Fulfillment Services and extending marketplace capabilities to additional markets. The second quarter of fiscal 2027 showed that marketplace growth remains strong as Walmart combines its digital reach with fulfillment infrastructure and a wider selection of products.
Walmart U.S. marketplace sales increased 52% in the second quarter of fiscal 2027. The company attributed the momentum to a broader marketplace assortment that includes more of the key brands customers want. Marketplace growth was also above 40% in key categories such as hardlines and home, including strength in furniture, pointing to continued expansion across important merchandise areas.
Fulfillment is playing a larger role in the marketplace business. Nearly 50% of U.S. marketplace volume flowed through Walmart Fulfillment Services during the quarter, an increase of nearly 400 basis points from a year earlier.
Walmart has also continued investing in automation, fulfillment capacity and its physical network to support both first-party and marketplace businesses and move inventory more efficiently. Walmart is now taking these capabilities into more markets. During the quarter, the company expanded capabilities from its U.S. marketplace platform into Mexico and Canada.
The latest results show that marketplace momentum is being supported by broader assortment, greater use of fulfillment services and geographic expansion. The key issue ahead is whether Walmart can maintain that pace as these marketplace capabilities scale across its broader retail platform.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares gain 6.3% over the past year compared with the industry’s 4.8% growth. Shares of Costco have climbed 0.2%, while Target has surged 70% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 33.51, higher than the industry’s 30.67. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.73) while trading at a discount to Costco (42).
EFG International AG ve 2. čtvrtletí koupila novou pozici ve Walmartu za zhruba 50 678 000 USD a nyní drží 447 282 akcií. Walmart je nyní 24. největší pozicí v jejím portfoliu.
EFG International AG purchased a new position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 447,282 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $50,678,000. Walmart makes up approximately 0.9% of EFG International AG’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WMT. Ancora Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at approximately $13,113,000. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth $6,380,000. Primecap Management Co. CA bought a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth $16,377,000. Palisade Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Walmart in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,680,000. Finally, Cooper Haims Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart in the 2nd quarter valued at $305,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have weighed in on WMT shares. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Walmart from $137.00 to $125.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $131.88.
View Our Latest Report on Walmart Walmart Trading Up 0.4% NASDAQ WMT opened at $103.09 on Friday. 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 business has a fifty day simple moving average of $111.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $120.45. Walmart Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.79 and a 12 month high of $135.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $820.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.22, a PEG ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.68 EPS. The business’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. On average, analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.
More Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s fiscal second-quarter results showed continued momentum beyond traditional store sales: revenue reached approximately $187.9 billion, global e-commerce grew 23%, and advertising revenue increased 38%. These higher-growth businesses could support future margins and cash flow. Walmart Growth Engine Hums Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentary continue to point to Walmart’s expanding e-commerce, digital advertising, memberships, convenience-led fulfillment, automation and AI initiatives as reasons the recent decline could represent a long-term buying opportunity. Walmart’s scale and value-focused pricing remain important competitive advantages. Walmart Continues to Grow Beyond Retail Neutral Sentiment: Walmart settled a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit alleging that its pharmacies unlawfully contributed to the opioid epidemic. Resolving the case removes an overhang and reduces legal uncertainty, although the financial terms and any broader implications remain important for investors. Walmart Settles U.S. Opioid Lawsuit Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights a potentially tougher consumer environment. Walmart’s comparable sales growth was 3.4% excluding pharmacy-related items, while middle-income shoppers appear increasingly focused on necessities and limiting discretionary purchases. Walmart and Home Depot Results Negative Sentiment: Investors are also questioning whether Walmart’s valuation adequately reflects its strong performance. A high earnings multiple, slower core sales growth and the stock’s position below its moving averages have amplified the impact of the recent selloff. Walmart Selloff Analysis Negative Sentiment: Executive Vice President Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares worth approximately $5.3 million. The sale was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan to cover taxes on vested equity awards, making it a weaker bearish signal than discretionary insider selling. Walmart Insider Trading Filing Insider Activity In other Walmart news, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total value of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 569,153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $60,523,730.02. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The sale 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. Also, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This trade represents a 8.74% 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 sold 77,292 shares of company stock valued at $8,421,143 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
About Walmart (Free Report)
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.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Walmart From SaaS-pocalypse to Perfect Storm: Workday’s AI Growth Story Strengthens These 3 GARP Stocks Show Why Growth and Value Do Not Have to Clash Venture Into High-Volatility Corners of the Market With These 3 ETFs 3 Retail Stocks to Watch After a Big Consumer Earnings Week Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Walmart souhlasil se zaplacením 50 milionů USD za urovnání obvinění, že jeho lékárny nelegálně vydávaly tisíce receptů na opioidy a další kontrolované látky. Součástí dohody je i hotline pro hlášení podezřelé činnosti a monitoring výdeje léčiv.
Walmart has agreed to pay a $50 million settlement over allegations its pharmacies were illegally filling thousands of prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The government complaint, first filed at the end of President Trump’s first term and amended during former President Joe Biden’s term, accused Walmart of violating the Controlled Substances Act.
“Today’s settlement proves this department is committed to putting Americans’ flourishing first,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement.
“Congress enacted laws to promote responsibility and accountability for companies who dispense controlled substances to protect Americans.
“This department will never shy away from vigorously enforcing pharmacies’ obligations to comply with those protections, ensuring that potential profits never justify aiding our nation’s opioid epidemic.”
The complaint alleged that Walmart had been filling invalid prescriptions with the knowledge of pharmacists and its compliance team since June 2013.
Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle claims its pharmacies illegally filled thousands of opioid prescriptions. Refrina – stock.adobe.com Some Walmart pharmacists reported the alleged illegal activity to Walmart’s corporate compliance team, including through thousands of “refusal-to-fill” forms, the DOJ said.
“The compliance team, however, prioritized other goals over CSA compliance,” the DOJ said.
“As one director on the compliance team acknowledged in an email, rather than analyzing the refusal-to-fill reports, the compliance team viewed ‘[d]riving sales and patient awareness,’ as ‘a far better use of our Market Directors and Market manger’s time.’”
Pharmacists also allegedly knowingly filled invalid prescriptions from “pill mill” prescribers or prescriptions that had red flags, such as dangerous opioid and nonopioid “cocktails,” repeated early fill requests of frequently abused drugs or high-dosages of opioids, according to the DOJ.
The retail giant must now set up a hotline for illegal activity reports and monitor pharmacy dispensing patterns. steheap – stock.adobe.com As part of the settlement, the DOJ said Walmart had entered into an agreement to establish a hotline for employees and patients to report suspected illegal activity.
The company must also proactively monitor pharmacy dispensing patterns.
Walmart did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
Arini Capital Management ve 2. čtvrtletí otevřela novou pozici ve Walmartu za zhruba 4,53 milionu USD, když koupila 40 000 akcií. Walmart zároveň ve čtvrtletí oznámil EPS 0,81 USD a tržby 187,94 miliardy USD, obojí nad odhady.
Arini Capital Management Ltd purchased a new position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 40,000 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $4,530,000. Walmart comprises approximately 0.5% of Arini Capital Management Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position.
Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp increased its position in Walmart by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 184,805,978 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $19,046,104,000 after buying an additional 2,242,364 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 6.8% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 103,010,709 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $11,426,753,000 after acquiring an additional 6,517,394 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter worth about $6,458,529,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Walmart by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 40,626,852 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $4,526,238,000 after acquiring an additional 328,229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Walmart by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 36,820,550 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,102,546,000 after acquiring an additional 920,969 shares in the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WMT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Freedom Capital raised shares of Walmart from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $128.00 target price (down from $137.00) on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.88.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Walmart Insider Activity In related news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,710 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president owned 626,299 shares in the company, valued at approximately $70,834,416.90. This trade represents a 0.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,985,527.94. The trade was a 8.74% decrease in their position. 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 77,292 shares of company stock valued at $8,421,143. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Walmart Price Performance NASDAQ:WMT opened at $103.09 on Friday. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $95.79 and a one year high of $135.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. The firm has a market cap of $820.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.22, a PEG ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $111.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.45.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 EPS. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. Research analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current year.
Key Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s fiscal second-quarter results showed continued momentum beyond traditional store sales: revenue reached approximately $187.9 billion, global e-commerce grew 23%, and advertising revenue increased 38%. These higher-growth businesses could support future margins and cash flow. Walmart Growth Engine Hums Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentary continue to point to Walmart’s expanding e-commerce, digital advertising, memberships, convenience-led fulfillment, automation and AI initiatives as reasons the recent decline could represent a long-term buying opportunity. Walmart’s scale and value-focused pricing remain important competitive advantages. Walmart Continues to Grow Beyond Retail Neutral Sentiment: Walmart settled a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit alleging that its pharmacies unlawfully contributed to the opioid epidemic. Resolving the case removes an overhang and reduces legal uncertainty, although the financial terms and any broader implications remain important for investors. Walmart Settles U.S. Opioid Lawsuit Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights a potentially tougher consumer environment. Walmart’s comparable sales growth was 3.4% excluding pharmacy-related items, while middle-income shoppers appear increasingly focused on necessities and limiting discretionary purchases. Walmart and Home Depot Results Negative Sentiment: Investors are also questioning whether Walmart’s valuation adequately reflects its strong performance. A high earnings multiple, slower core sales growth and the stock’s position below its moving averages have amplified the impact of the recent selloff. Walmart Selloff Analysis Negative Sentiment: Executive Vice President Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares worth approximately $5.3 million. The sale was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan to cover taxes on vested equity awards, making it a weaker bearish signal than discretionary insider selling. Walmart Insider Trading Filing Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)
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.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Walmart From SaaS-pocalypse to Perfect Storm: Workday’s AI Growth Story Strengthens These 3 GARP Stocks Show Why Growth and Value Do Not Have to Clash Venture Into High-Volatility Corners of the Market With These 3 ETFs 3 Retail Stocks to Watch After a Big Consumer Earnings Week
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Councilmark Asset Management ve 2. čtvrtletí otevřela novou pozici ve Walmartu za zhruba 6,707 mil. USD. Nakoupila 59 222 akcií a Walmart tvoří 3,6 % jejích aktiv.
Councilmark Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 59,222 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $6,707,000. Walmart comprises about 3.6% of Councilmark Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 8th largest holding.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $6,458,529,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new stake in Walmart during the second quarter valued at about $2,905,655,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 188.1% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 11,663,172 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,199,907,000 after buying an additional 7,614,172 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $796,677,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG boosted its stake in Walmart by 54.0% in the second quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 18,607,297 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,107,462,000 after buying an additional 6,525,224 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ:WMT opened at $103.09 on Friday. 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 50-day moving average price of $111.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $120.45. The company has a market cap of $820.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61. Walmart Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.79 and a 12 month high of $135.15.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $186.64 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.68 earnings per share. Walmart’s quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total transaction of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 569,153 shares in the company, valued at $60,523,730.02. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total value 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 $21,246,145.20. The trade was a 20.07% decrease in their position. 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. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have commented on WMT shares. Gordon Haskett cut shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Guggenheim set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Walmart and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 21st. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $115.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Walmart currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $131.88.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on WMT
Trending Headlines about Walmart Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s fiscal second-quarter results showed continued momentum beyond traditional store sales: revenue reached approximately $187.9 billion, global e-commerce grew 23%, and advertising revenue increased 38%. These higher-growth businesses could support future margins and cash flow. Walmart Growth Engine Hums Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentary continue to point to Walmart’s expanding e-commerce, digital advertising, memberships, convenience-led fulfillment, automation and AI initiatives as reasons the recent decline could represent a long-term buying opportunity. Walmart’s scale and value-focused pricing remain important competitive advantages. Walmart Continues to Grow Beyond Retail Neutral Sentiment: Walmart settled a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit alleging that its pharmacies unlawfully contributed to the opioid epidemic. Resolving the case removes an overhang and reduces legal uncertainty, although the financial terms and any broader implications remain important for investors. Walmart Settles U.S. Opioid Lawsuit Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights a potentially tougher consumer environment. Walmart’s comparable sales growth was 3.4% excluding pharmacy-related items, while middle-income shoppers appear increasingly focused on necessities and limiting discretionary purchases. Walmart and Home Depot Results Negative Sentiment: Investors are also questioning whether Walmart’s valuation adequately reflects its strong performance. A high earnings multiple, slower core sales growth and the stock’s position below its moving averages have amplified the impact of the recent selloff. Walmart Selloff Analysis Negative Sentiment: Executive Vice President Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares worth approximately $5.3 million. The sale was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan to cover taxes on vested equity awards, making it a weaker bearish signal than discretionary insider selling. Walmart Insider Trading Filing Walmart Profile (Free Report)
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.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Walmart From SaaS-pocalypse to Perfect Storm: Workday’s AI Growth Story Strengthens These 3 GARP Stocks Show Why Growth and Value Do Not Have to Clash Venture Into High-Volatility Corners of the Market With These 3 ETFs 3 Retail Stocks to Watch After a Big Consumer Earnings Week Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec ve 2. čtvrtletí koupila nový podíl ve Walmartu za přibližně 400,094 milionu USD. Walmart zároveň oznámil EPS 0,81 USD a tržby 187,94 miliardy USD, obojí nad odhady.
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 3,532,526 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $400,094,000.
Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new position in Walmart during the fourth quarter valued at about $6,458,529,000. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in Walmart in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,905,655,000. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 188.1% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 11,663,172 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,199,907,000 after acquiring an additional 7,614,172 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $796,677,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 54.0% during the 2nd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 18,607,297 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $2,107,462,000 after purchasing an additional 6,525,224 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Trading Up 0.4% Shares of WMT opened at $103.09 on Friday. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.79 and a 1 year high of $135.15. 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 stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $111.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $120.45. The stock has a market cap of $820.40 billion, a PE ratio of 37.22, a PEG ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.Walmart’s revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.68 EPS. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on WMT. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st. BTIG Research reduced their target price on Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $125.00 price target (down from $140.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $126.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Walmart has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $131.88.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WMT
Insider Buying and Selling In other Walmart news, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This trade represents a 8.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total transaction of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 569,153 shares in the company, valued at $60,523,730.02. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. 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 have sold 77,292 shares of company stock valued at $8,421,143. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Walmart News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s fiscal second-quarter results showed continued momentum beyond traditional store sales: revenue reached approximately $187.9 billion, global e-commerce grew 23%, and advertising revenue increased 38%. These higher-growth businesses could support future margins and cash flow. Walmart Growth Engine Hums Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentary continue to point to Walmart’s expanding e-commerce, digital advertising, memberships, convenience-led fulfillment, automation and AI initiatives as reasons the recent decline could represent a long-term buying opportunity. Walmart’s scale and value-focused pricing remain important competitive advantages. Walmart Continues to Grow Beyond Retail Neutral Sentiment: Walmart settled a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit alleging that its pharmacies unlawfully contributed to the opioid epidemic. Resolving the case removes an overhang and reduces legal uncertainty, although the financial terms and any broader implications remain important for investors. Walmart Settles U.S. Opioid Lawsuit Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights a potentially tougher consumer environment. Walmart’s comparable sales growth was 3.4% excluding pharmacy-related items, while middle-income shoppers appear increasingly focused on necessities and limiting discretionary purchases. Walmart and Home Depot Results Negative Sentiment: Investors are also questioning whether Walmart’s valuation adequately reflects its strong performance. A high earnings multiple, slower core sales growth and the stock’s position below its moving averages have amplified the impact of the recent selloff. Walmart Selloff Analysis Negative Sentiment: Executive Vice President Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares worth approximately $5.3 million. The sale was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan to cover taxes on vested equity awards, making it a weaker bearish signal than discretionary insider selling. Walmart Insider Trading Filing About Walmart (Free Report)
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.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Walmart From SaaS-pocalypse to Perfect Storm: Workday’s AI Growth Story Strengthens These 3 GARP Stocks Show Why Growth and Value Do Not Have to Clash Venture Into High-Volatility Corners of the Market With These 3 ETFs 3 Retail Stocks to Watch After a Big Consumer Earnings Week
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Walmart spouští novou dámskou módní značku Scenario s položkami kolem 25 USD, aby přilákal mladší zákaznice a zlepšil marže. Tahle sázka přichází poté, co srovnatelné tržby v USA bez paliv vzrostly v aktuálním čtvrtletí jen o 2,6 %.
Walmart Inc. (WMT, Financials) is trying again to be more than a location for people to buy food and basic apparel. The retailer is launching a new women's fashion brand called Scenario with hundreds of items including blouses, denim shirts, bags and accessories, many priced at around $25.
The objective is youthful buyers who desire greater flair without sacrificing the Walmart price. And that's important because clothes can do something food typically can't: carry better margins.
Walmart US comparable sales excluding fuel climbed 2.6% in its current quarter, compared with 4.1% in the prior period and below market estimates. This puts extra pressure on the corporation to find growth in sectors other than food and household needs. Fashion is one of those chances.
Walmart has worked for years to make its shops and website more competitive with Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN, Financials) and conventional clothes retailers, but the efforts have been hit and miss. Scenario provides a further opportunity. The brand targets women aged 35 looking for more attractive options than Walmart's existing essentials.
The goal is simple: get buyers in with low pricing, then show that Walmart can also compete on style. If Scenario catches on, Walmart might get a lot more than garment sales. It may refine its product mix and give customers another reason to spend beyond the supermarket aisle.
Walmart od 24. srpna zavádí Tap to Pay ve vybraných amerických prodejnách a klubech Sam’s Club. Do konce roku 2026 má být dostupné ve všech obchodech a klubech v USA, následně do poloviny roku 2027 i na čerpacích stanicích.
Key Takeaways Walmart is adding Tap to Pay at select U.S. stores and Sam's Club locations beginning Aug. 24. Walmart plans Tap to Pay at all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026 and fuel stations by mid-2027. Walmart's global e-commerce sales rose 23% in fiscal Q2, while membership fee revenues grew in double digits. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is adding another layer of convenience to its U.S. shopping experience with the introduction of Tap to Pay at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations beginning Aug. 24. The contactless payment option is planned for all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026, followed by fuel stations by mid-2027.
The rollout broadens payment flexibility as Walmart continues to focus on making shopping faster and more convenient across channels. Customers and members will be able to pay with eligible contactless cards, smartphones and smartwatches. Eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club and OnePay cards can also be added to digital wallets. Tap to Pay will complement existing options such as Walmart Pay and Sam’s Club Scan & Go.
The initiative also comes amid strong digital momentum across Walmart’s business. Global e-commerce sales increased 23% in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, including growth of 24% at Walmart U.S. and 26% at Sam’s Club U.S. Walmart+ fee revenues also grew at a double-digit pace, with record second-quarter net additions.
For Walmart, Tap to Pay adds another option at an important point in the shopping journey — checkout. While the feature is unlikely to be a meaningful growth driver by itself, expanding payment choice can reduce friction for shoppers who prefer contactless cards or digital wallets.
The rollout complements Walmart’s broader emphasis on convenience. Combined with its expanding digital, delivery and membership capabilities, greater checkout flexibility gives customers another way to shop and pay on their preferred terms, reinforcing the retailer’s increasingly connected in-store and digital experience.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares gain 7.9% over the past year compared with the industry’s 6.2% growth. Shares of Costco have climbed 0.7%, while Target has surged 70.3% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 33.67, higher than the industry’s 30.88. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.88) while trading at a discount to Costco (41.93).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 5.1% and 9.1%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Walmart currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Flossbach Von Storch SE bought a new position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 176,957 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $20,042,000.
Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Walmart by 28.8% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 98,150 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $8,868,000 after purchasing an additional 21,939 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,849 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $800,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 3.5% during the first quarter. Peterson Wealth Management now owns 50,307 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,416,000 after buying an additional 1,715 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 0.9% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 13,008 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,272,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 1.2% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 91,341 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,931,000 after buying an additional 1,048 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Stock Performance Shares of Walmart stock opened at $103.70 on Monday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $113.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $121.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $825.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.61. Walmart Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.42 and a 12 month high of $135.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.The firm 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 company earned $0.68 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.86 EPS for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently commented on WMT shares. BTIG Research lowered their price target on Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Evercore set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Walmart from $141.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Roth Capital reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $131.88.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Walmart
More Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total transaction of $413,891.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 630,009 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,074,186.76. This represents a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total transaction of $1,308,670.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 120,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,300,550.91. This trade represents a 8.38% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 57,064 shares of company stock worth $6,697,788 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)
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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Catalyst Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 6,321 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $716,000. Walmart accounts for 0.6% of Catalyst Investment Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding.
A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Walmart during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Walmart in the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 57.4% in the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC bought a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Key Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Walmart Price Performance Shares of Walmart stock opened at $103.70 on Monday. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $95.42 and a one year high of $135.15. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $113.35 and its 200 day moving average is $121.24. The stock has a market cap of $825.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.68 earnings per share. Walmart’s quarterly 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 2.86 earnings per share for the current year.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently weighed in on WMT. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $128.00 price objective (down from $137.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Finally, Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.88.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Walmart
Insider Transactions at Walmart In related news, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total value of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 569,153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $60,523,730.02. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total transaction of $413,891.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 630,009 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,074,186.76. The trade was a 0.60% 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. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 57,064 shares of company stock valued at $6,697,788. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Profile (Free Report)
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.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Walmart VIG, VYM, and VYMI: Which Vanguard Dividend ETF Is Right for You? 3 Closed-End Funds to Maximize Dividend Payments Rocket Lab’s Sell-Off Is Fading—Is It Finally Safe to Buy? $27 Billion in Buybacks: 3 Stocks Betting Their Strong Runs Aren’t Over
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Chancellor Financial Group WB LP purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 8,293 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $939,000.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Walmart by 57.4% during the 4th quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently commented on WMT. Tigress Financial reissued a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price target (up from $150.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, May 29th. Wolfe Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $115.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Walmart from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Oppenheimer cut shares of Walmart from a “market perform” rating to a “cautious” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, June 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $131.88.
Read Our Latest Research Report on WMT Insider Transactions at Walmart In other Walmart news, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total value of $1,308,670.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 120,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,300,550.91. This represents a 8.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,710 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.10, for a total transaction of $419,601.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 626,299 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $70,834,416.90. This trade represents a 0.59% 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 sold 57,064 shares of company stock valued at $6,697,788 in the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Walmart Price Performance WMT opened at $103.70 on Monday. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $95.42 and a one year high of $135.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $113.35 and its 200-day moving average is $121.24. The company has a market capitalization of $825.25 billion, a PE ratio of 37.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.61.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share 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 business had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Key Headlines Impacting Walmart Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Walmart Profile (Free Report)
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.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Walmart VIG, VYM, and VYMI: Which Vanguard Dividend ETF Is Right for You? 3 Closed-End Funds to Maximize Dividend Payments Rocket Lab’s Sell-Off Is Fading—Is It Finally Safe to Buy? $27 Billion in Buybacks: 3 Stocks Betting Their Strong Runs Aren’t Over Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Csenge Advisory Group purchased a new position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 40,855 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $4,627,000.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Walmart during the first quarter worth about $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 57.4% in the 4th quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new position in Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Walmart News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Insider Buying and Selling In other Walmart news, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total value of $1,308,670.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 120,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,300,550.91. The trade was a 8.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,710 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.10, for a total value of $419,601.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 626,299 shares in the company, valued at $70,834,416.90. This trade represents a 0.59% 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. Insiders have sold 57,064 shares of company stock valued at $6,697,788 over the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $126.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced 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. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $131.88.
View Our Latest Stock Report on WMT
Walmart Price Performance Shares of WMT opened at $103.70 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $113.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $121.24. The stock has a market cap of $825.25 billion, a PE ratio of 37.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.61. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.42 and a 1-year high of $135.15. 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 (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. Walmart had a net margin of 3.00% and a return on equity of 21.83%. The firm had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.68 EPS. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.86 EPS for the current year.
Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)
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.
Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Walmart VIG, VYM, and VYMI: Which Vanguard Dividend ETF Is Right for You? 3 Closed-End Funds to Maximize Dividend Payments Rocket Lab’s Sell-Off Is Fading—Is It Finally Safe to Buy? $27 Billion in Buybacks: 3 Stocks Betting Their Strong Runs Aren’t Over Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Great Lakes Advisors LLC bought a new position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 74,569 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $8,446,000.
A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Advisortrust Partners LLC lifted its stake in Walmart by 20.2% in the first quarter. Advisortrust Partners LLC now owns 67,142 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,344,000 after purchasing an additional 11,283 shares during the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its holdings in Walmart by 253.3% during the first quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 384,034 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $47,728,000 after purchasing an additional 275,337 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its position in Walmart by 2.9% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 2,416,580 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $300,333,000 after buying an additional 68,632 shares during the last quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. increased its position in Walmart by 42.1% in the fourth quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 275,341 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $30,676,000 after buying an additional 81,635 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HORAN Wealth LLC increased its position in Walmart by 55.7% in the first quarter. HORAN Wealth LLC now owns 81,544 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $9,931,000 after buying an additional 29,184 shares during the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Key Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. BTIG Research dropped their price target on Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday. Gordon Haskett lowered Walmart from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating in a report on Thursday. KeyCorp restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $131.88. View Our Latest Research Report on Walmart
Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart In other Walmart news, Director C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.63, for a total transaction of $2,303,320.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,174,579 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $495,230,306.77. The trade was a 0.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total value of $1,435,203.96. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 125,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This represents a 8.74% 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. Insiders have sold a total of 57,064 shares of company stock worth $6,697,788 in the last three months. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Walmart Stock Performance Shares of WMT stock opened at $103.70 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $825.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.44, a PEG ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.61. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $113.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $121.24. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.42 and a 1 year high of $135.15. 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 (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.68 earnings per share. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.86 earnings per share for the current year.
Walmart Profile (Free Report)
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.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Walmart VIG, VYM, and VYMI: Which Vanguard Dividend ETF Is Right for You? 3 Closed-End Funds to Maximize Dividend Payments Rocket Lab’s Sell-Off Is Fading—Is It Finally Safe to Buy? $27 Billion in Buybacks: 3 Stocks Betting Their Strong Runs Aren’t Over
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Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. acquired a new position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 51,770 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $5,863,000.
Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Walmart in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Walmart by 57.4% in the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Sankala Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart In other news, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total transaction of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 569,153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $60,523,730.02. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total value of $1,435,203.96. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 125,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This represents a 8.74% 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. Insiders sold a total of 57,064 shares of company stock valued at $6,697,788 in the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Key Stories Impacting Walmart Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week: Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Walmart Stock Performance NASDAQ:WMT opened at $103.70 on Monday. Walmart Inc. has a 52 week low of $95.42 and a 52 week high of $135.15. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $113.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $121.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. The firm has a market cap of $825.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.61.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.The company’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.68 EPS. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on WMT. Evercore set a $125.00 target price on Walmart in a research report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Walmart to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Gordon Haskett cut shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.88.
View Our Latest Report on Walmart
About Walmart (Free Report)
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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Walmart (WMT +0.10%) reported revenue up 5.9% to $187.9 billion for its fiscal second quarter (the period ended July 31) on Thursday, Aug. 20, and raised its full-year outlook. The stock fell 9.2% anyway, closing at $103.84, down from $114.30. It was Walmart's worst single session since May 2022.
The problem wasn't the quarter's totals. It was the growth rate underneath them. U.S. comparable sales rose 2.6%, and the deceleration is now hard to miss -- a year ago, this quarter's comp growth was 4.6%, and the fiscal first quarter's was 4.1%.
Thursday's drop was the fourth-largest of the past 15 years. And that rarity is useful, because the three bigger ones each come with a date and a documented aftermath.
Image source: Getty Images.
Behind the 9% dropSet against the comp slowdown, most of the quarter looked strong. Global e-commerce sales grew 23% year over year, advertising grew 38%, and membership fee income rose 17%.
Profits looked strong too: Non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share came in at $0.81. Operating income rose 28.8% (17.4% adjusted and in constant currency). Both figures were lifted by tariff refunds, partly offset by the price cuts the company is funding with them.
Management raised its outlook on the strength of all this. The company now expects fiscal-year sales growth of 4% to 5% in constant currency, up from 3.5% to 4.5%, and adjusted earnings per share of $2.80 to $2.87.
But the comp line came with more than a slowdown. Pharmacy deflation tied to new drug-price regulation shaved about 125 basis points off U.S. comps. And the company expects just over $2 billion of incremental fuel costs this year.
Notably, transactions grew 1.5%, while the average ticket rose just 1.1%. Customers kept coming, and spent carefully once they arrived.
"But consumers are still spending, and real wage growth is keeping pace, and so they've been very resilient in this environment," chief financial officer John David Rainey told CNBC on Thursday.
Three drops, three modest recoveriesIn the past 15 years, Walmart has had exactly three larger single-day declines.
On Oct. 14, 2015, the stock fell 10% after management warned profits would decline the following year. One year later, shares were up about 14%.
On Feb. 20, 2018, shares dropped 10.2% on a holiday quarter in which e-commerce growth slowed sharply and margins compressed. A year later, the stock had gained about 6% from its post-drop close, which still left it below where it had traded before the drop.
And on May 17, 2022, shares collapsed 11.4% after surging costs cut deep into quarterly profits. That is the drop Thursday's is being measured against. Twelve months later, shares stood about 14% above where the drop left them, which put them just back above where they'd traded the day before it.
The pattern is consistent, and consistently modest. Buyers of each drop were up 6% to 14% a year later. But measured from the day before each drop, the stock had only just clawed back to even in 2015 and 2022, and it was still lower a year after 2018.
However, one nearer episode cuts against even that modest pattern. This past May 21, Walmart fell 7.3% after its fiscal first-quarter report. Three months on, shares still sit around 14% below that day's close of about $121 -- and they were below that mark even before Thursday's drop.
Today's Change
(
0.10
%) $
0.11
Current Price
$
103.70
What's different this timeThere's another difference between Thursday and the three earlier drops, and it may matter more than the pattern. The three big drops of 2015, 2018, and 2022 all arrived with bad profit news attached -- a warning in 2015, a margin squeeze in 2018, a cost surge in 2022. Thursday's arrived with a raised full-year outlook but also third-quarter guidance that calls for slower growth still, with sales up 3% to 3.75%. Investors weren't reacting to a profit shock -- they were marking down expected revenue growth.
And the price still assumes quite a lot. At $103.84, the stock trades at about 37 times expected earnings, using the middle of its freshly raised guidance. Even after Thursday, shares sit about 9% above their 52-week low and 23% below their high. This is a premium-priced stock that became slightly less premium.
The record's lesson, then, is narrower than it first appears. Walmart's worst days haven't been disasters. Buyers of each drop were ahead within a year, and the business kept compounding underneath. But the gains that followed were ordinary, and this year's smaller May drop still hasn't been recovered. I'd argue the record mostly cautions against panic. It probably says little about bargains. At about 37 times the earnings management just guided to, with comps decelerating, the price still treats the slowdown as temporary.
AMG National Trust Bank ve 2. čtvrtletí snížila podíl ve Walmartu o 17,9 % na 69 857 akcií v hodnotě 7,912 milionu USD. Walmart zároveň oznámil výnosy 187,94 miliardy USD a EPS 0,81, obojí nad odhady.
AMG National Trust Bank lowered its position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 17.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 69,857 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 15,218 shares during the period. AMG National Trust Bank’s holdings in Walmart were worth $7,912,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of WMT. MFA Wealth Services boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. MFA Wealth Services now owns 10,909 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,356,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Realta Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in Walmart by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Realta Investment Advisors now owns 4,089 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $508,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Compton Financial Group LLC raised its position in Walmart by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Compton Financial Group LLC now owns 2,081 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $259,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Group LLC lifted its stake in Walmart by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Group LLC now owns 9,636 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,074,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Finally, Calton & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in Walmart by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Calton & Associates Inc. now owns 27,220 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,033,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Walmart Trading Down 0.1% WMT opened at $103.70 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.23. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $113.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $121.26. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.42 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $825.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 0.61.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 business had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.68 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. Analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.85 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WMT has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $128.00 price target (down from $137.00) on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday. UBS Group reduced their price target on Walmart from $141.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, Mizuho set a $130.00 price objective on Walmart in a research report on Monday, July 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $131.88.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Walmart
Key Stories Impacting Walmart Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Insider Transactions at Walmart In related news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,710 shares of the firm’s 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 626,299 shares in the company, valued at $70,834,416.90. This trade represents a 0.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total value of $1,308,670.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 120,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,300,550.91. This trade represents a 8.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 57,064 shares of company stock worth $6,697,788. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Company Profile (Free Report)
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.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Walmart Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila podíl ve Walmartu o 3,6 % na 315 661 akcií v hodnotě 35,751 milionu USD. Walmart zároveň oznámil upravený zisk 0,81 USD na akcii a tržby 187,94 miliardy USD, obojí nad odhady.
B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG raised its position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 3.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 315,661 shares of the retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 10,977 shares during the quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG’s holdings in Walmart were worth $35,751,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Walmart during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Walmart by 57.4% in the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
More Walmart News Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
Positive Sentiment: Walmart reported adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, beating consensus estimates of $0.74 and $186.62 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 5.9% year over year. Walmart earnings report Positive Sentiment: Growth businesses remain strong: global e-commerce sales rose 23%, advertising revenue increased 38%, and global membership revenue grew 17%. These trends support the long-term investment case despite slower core-store growth. Walmart second-quarter highlights Positive Sentiment: Walmart plans to use approximately $2.9 billion in tariff refunds to help lower prices, potentially strengthening its value proposition as consumers become more budget-conscious. The rollout of tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may also improve checkout convenience. Walmart tap to pay rollout Neutral Sentiment: Several analysts retained bullish ratings—including buy, outperform, and overweight—but lowered price targets after the earnings release. New targets range from $120 to $140, indicating analysts still see meaningful upside but have moderated their expectations. Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales grew 2.6%, below expectations near 3.5%, marking Walmart’s weakest domestic comparable-sales growth in more than six years. Analysts cited weakness in health and wellness and questioned the trajectory of the core U.S. business. Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance fell short of consensus: Walmart projected adjusted EPS of $0.62–$0.64 versus $0.68 expected and revenue of $183.1–$184.5 billion versus $188.2 billion expected. The timing of Flipkart’s promotional event is also expected to reduce quarterly sales growth by more than 100 basis points. Negative Sentiment: The stock’s elevated valuation increases sensitivity to any slowdown, while higher energy costs and consumer trade-offs are raising broader concerns about the health of U.S. retail spending. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WMT has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday. BTIG Research cut their price objective on Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. KeyCorp reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Truist Financial set a $114.00 target price on shares of Walmart and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Roth Capital restated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.88. View Our Latest Report on Walmart
Walmart Trading Down 0.1% Shares of WMT opened at $103.70 on Friday. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $95.42 and a 52-week high of $135.15. The stock has a market cap of $825.25 billion, a PE ratio of 37.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 0.61. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $113.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $121.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 3.00% and a return on equity of 21.83%. Walmart’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.68 EPS. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity at Walmart In other news, EVP Latriece Watkins sold 11,000 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total transaction of $1,308,670.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 120,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,300,550.91. The trade was a 8.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total value of $413,891.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 630,009 shares in the company, valued at $69,074,186.76. This trade represents a 0.60% 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 a total of 57,064 shares of company stock valued at $6,697,788 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Walmart Profile (Free Report)
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.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Walmart Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report).
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Walmart začne přijímat Apple Pay a Google Pay ve svých obchodech Walmart a Sam’s Club. Funkci Tap to Pay spustí 24. srpna ve vybraných pobočkách a do konce roku má být dostupná všude.
Apparently, hell has frozen over. Walmart on Friday said it will finally accept payments via both Apple Pay and Google Pay at its stores, including Walmart and Sam’s Club.
The retail giant says that beginning August 24, it will begin adding Tap to Pay to its payment options at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations. It expects the feature to reach all stores and clubs by the end of the year, and will then roll it out to all its fuel stations by the middle of 2027.
The news is a surprise, as Walmart has long refused to adopt the ubiquitous payment technology to instead promote its own in-house solutions, like Walmart Pay and Scan-and-Go. In years past, Walmart even teamed up with other big retailers in an attempt to take down Apple Pay entirely with an alternative mobile payment system of their own, called CurrentC. The effort failed and was shut down back in 2016.
All the while, Walmart customers have begged the company to support modern tap-and-pay technology, like Apple Pay, which is now accepted at 85% of retailers across the U.S., including most larger stores.
For Walmart, the decision reads as a defeat. As one of the world’s largest retailers, it believed it could push customers to its own payment solutions despite the growing adoption of Apple Pay and others of its kind. Ultimately, it had to admit that it was disadvantaging its own customers in the process.
The company is trying to spin the news as giving consumers more choice.
“Tap to Pay is a great addition to the other payment options already offered like cash, credit card or Walmart Pay…,” the company’s announcement stated. “And giving customers and members more choice at checkout is part of a broader effort to make managing and using their money easier.”
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Walmart překonal odhady a zvýšil celoroční výhled, ale akcie po zveřejnění výsledků 20. srpna 2026 klesly o 9 % na 103,84 USD. Trh znepokojil slabší výhled na 3. čtvrtletí a investice do cen.
Walmart (NYSE:WMT | WMT Price Prediction) did the thing shareholders are supposed to want. It beat estimates. It raised full year guidance. And the stock still fell 9% on August 20, 2026, from $114.30 to $103.84. That is the worst earnings day reaction in Walmart’s last ten reported quarters, and the fourth straight earnings day decline.
Beat and Raise That Investors Refused to Buy The numbers looked good on paper. Adjusted EPS of $0.81, beating the $0.7413 consensus, beating expectations, on revenue of $187.94 billion, up 6% year over year. Management lifted the FY27 outlook: adjusted EPS to $2.80 to $2.87 from $2.75 to $2.85, and constant currency sales growth to 4.0% to 5.0% from 3.5% to 4.5%.
CEO John Furner called it “another good quarter” with steady progress on long term drivers. The market disagreed, loudly.
Why the Margin Beat Was Treated as Borrowed Here’s the crack under the beat. Gross profit rate improved 96 basis points to 25.4%, with Walmart U.S. gross margin up 158 basis points, powered by tariff refunds. CFO John David Rainey told analysts “Operating income growth included a net benefit of approximately 750 basis points related to tariff refunds received in Q2.”
Then he told everyone where that money is going. “A large portion of the refunds were invested at the end of Q2, so the full quarter impact of these investments is more pronounced in Q3.” Furner added “our intent was to deploy much of that back into price, and that’s what we’re doing.” Walmart U.S. ran more than 11,000 rollbacks during the quarter.
That is why Q3 guidance came in soft: adjusted EPS of $0.62 to $0.64, net sales growth of 3.0% to 3.75% in constant currency, with a Flipkart Big Billion Days timing headwind of over 100 basis points. And while operating income jumped 29%, net income fell 9% year over year, partly on a Symbotic mark and other items.
Buyback Irony and the Target Contrast The optics get worse. Walmart repurchased 25.7 million shares for $3.0 billion in Q2 at an average price of $117.61, well above today’s $103.84 close. Management bought high, and the market marked it to a lower price the same week.
Target (NYSE:TGT) told the same tariff refund story a day earlier, booking a $994 million pretax IEEPA refund worth $1.65 per share. Target shares rose. Walmart, had no room for a beat that management itself called temporary. If you think the price investments compound into share gains, the selloff is a gift. If you think it is a treadmill, the multiple has further to give. Either way, the raise was real, and so was the message that Q2 borrowed from Q3.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Walmart po výsledcích hospodaření klesl v premarketu o více než 5 % kvůli slabším tržbám v Severní Americe. Čtvrtletní čisté tržby ale vzrostly o téměř 6 % na 187,94 miliardy USD a firma zvýšila výhled.
Walmart’s NYSE: WMT near-term hurdle is weaker-than-expected Q2 sales in North America. The issue, foreshadowed by weak July retail sales, led to a 5% price drop, taking the stock to near its 52-week low.
Walmart Today
$103.06 -11.24 (-9.83%)
As of 03:22 PM Eastern
$95.42▼
$135.150.96%
36.16
$138.50
That is the opportunity: the 52-week low and potential for long-term gains. While the near-term hurdle exists, it is offset by sustained growth and improved profitability, which is the critical factor. Walmart is a big business; more than moderate growth is unlikely given its size and scale, and its cash flow is the key. Cash flow enables healthy capital returns, which drive the stock price higher over time.
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Walmart’s capital return is incredibly reliable, backed up by healthy insider ownership centered on the founding family. They run Walmart in their own interests: to produce healthy cash flow and pay themselves to own it.
As it stands, Walmart is a Dividend King with more than 50 years of consecutive annual increases on its record, a signal that it can withstand economic changes and sustain its capital return over time.
The yield isn’t impressive at under 1%, even with the Q3 price pullback, but it is as safe as they come, amounting to less than 35% of the current-year earnings forecast and compounded by share buybacks. Walmart’s share buybacks drive most returns, accounting for 56% of Q2 activity. They reduce the share count incrementally each quarter, providing shareholders with leverage as the company grows and builds equity.
Walmart Outperforms in Q2, Raises GuidanceWalmart’s near-term headwind isn’t as big a problem as it may seem, given its Q2 strengths. The company’s push into international markets and its advertising business helped offset domestic weakness, resulting in $187.94 billion in net sales, up nearly 6% year over year and $1.12 billion above expectations. Segmentally, U.S. comp sales increased 2.6% on traffic and tickets, International grew 12.8%, and Sam’s Club grew 8.8%.
Internally, ecommerce continues to drive sales, up approximately 23%, while the ad business is growing rapidly. It advanced by 38%, with 38% growth in the United States, and is expected to remain strong and drive margin long into the future. Membership is another strength, up 17% year over year (YOY), driven by gains in Sam’s Club and Walmart+. Walmart+ is a premium tier enabling enhanced shopping experiences, free delivery, shipping, and streaming services.
Margin was the better part of the Q2 report. While IEEPA tariff refunds affected the GAAP results, even the adjusted figures revealed improvement. The company widened gross and operating margins, driving a nearly 29% increase in operating income, 17.9% adjusted, and sufficient cash flow to sustain the capital return outlook.
Guidance is another hurdle, as it came in slightly below MarketBeat’s consensus for Q3 and full year results. However, the company improved its previous forecast, expecting mid-single-digit top-line growth and modestly accelerated earnings growth.
Walmart Analysts See 30% Upside Despite Near-Term PressureWalmart’s analysts are bullish on the stock, having issued numerous affirmations and price targets in the weeks leading up to the release. The trend includes steady coverage by 36 analysts, a firm Moderate Buy consensus rating with 86% Buy-side bias, and a $138.50 consensus price target.
The good news is that consensus forecasts about a 30% upside relative to the critical support target; the bad news is that July/August activity created a top in the price-target trend, which may turn into a retreat. In this environment, WMT’s stock price has upside but is unlikely to advance until analysts revert to a more optimistic posture. Looking ahead, WMT’s rebound may be sharp and sweet when it triggers, as the stock trades below the low-end analyst target as of mid-August.
Institutional Buying Could Put a Floor Under Walmart StockMeanwhile, institutional activity suggests the downside risk is limited. The group owns 25% of the stock, a seemingly small amount, but it's offset by high insider holdings above 50%.
MarketBeat data shows that institutional buyers outpaced sellers $3-to-$1 over the trailing 12 months, with buying activity spiking in early Q3. With this in play, the group will likely buy on price dips and may provide solid support near $105.
Early price action wasn't favorable following the Q2 release, with the stock down more than 5% in premarket trading. The question is whether Walmart confirms support in the subsequent sessions or moves lower, presenting its buying signal sooner rather than later.
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Walmart uspořádal konferenční hovor k výsledkům za 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 27 a vedení uvedlo, že oznámí hlavní body minulého kvartálu i celoroční výhled.
Walmart Inc. (WMT) Q2 2027 Earnings Call August 20, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Stephanie Wissink - Senior Vice President of Investor Relations
John Furner - President, CEO & Director
John Rainey - Executive VP & CFO
David Guggina - President & CEO of Walmart U.S.
Conference Call Participants
Katharine McShane - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Simeon Gutman - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Gregory Melich - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Bradley Thomas - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division
Michael Lasser - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Christopher Nardone - BofA Securities, Research Division
Christopher Horvers - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Krisztina Katai - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Robert Drbul - BTIG, LLC, Research Division
Kelly Bania - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Paul Lejuez - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Zhihan Ma - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Seth Sigman - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Greetings. Welcome to Walmart's Second Quarter Fiscal '27 Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions]
I'll now turn the conference over to Steph Wissink, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations. Thank you, Steph. You may begin.
Stephanie Wissink
Senior Vice President of Investor Relations
Welcome, everyone. Joining me today from our home office in Bentonville are CEO, John Furner; and CFO, John David Rainey. We'll begin with highlights of the previous quarter and our outlook for the year. Then we'll open the line for your questions. During the question-and-answer portion, we've invited Seth Dallaire, our Chief Growth Officer; as well as segment leadership to join. Dave Guggina from Walmart U.S.; Chris Nicholas from Walmart International; and Latriece Watkins from Sam's Club U.S.
So we can address as many of your questions as possible, please limit yourself to one question. For additional detail on our results, including highlights by segment, please see our earnings release and supplemental presentation on our website.
Walmart uvedl, že tržby za potraviny rostly ve středních jednotkách procent díky silným objemům a cenovým slevám. Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční výhled růstu tržeb na 4 % až 5 %.
Walmart’s affordability push is showing up in what shoppers are buying, with transactions and unit volumes rising as the retailer cut prices on everything from ground beef and groceries to fashion and school supplies.
During a Thursday (Aug. 20) discussion of fiscal year 2027 second-quarter trends and metrics, management acknowledged more pressure on household budgets, particularly after higher gasoline prices forced some consumers to make more visible spending choices in June.
“Customers tell us they’re still feeling some pressure,” CEO John Furner said. “But it’s clear customers are looking for value and convenience, and they want things fast.”
The strategy has at least some headwinds to combat, as U.S. same-store sales grew 2.6%, tied in part to drug price declines, which is the slowest pace seen since the end of 2020. The growth missed Wall Street estimates for the first time in several years, and investors sent the shares down by about 8% at the start of trading on Thursday. The data give evidence to the balancing act that exists between consumers looking to stretch their dollars and the company’s efforts to keep traffic flowing in store and online.
The company had more than 11,000 price rollbacks during the quarter, compared with about 7,200 at the end of the first quarter. Those reductions weren’t concentrated in one part of the store. Furner said Walmart spread them across food, consumables, fashion and general merchandise, including seasonal and regularly replenished products.
Furner said transactions increased at Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club and internationally, with positive unit growth as well. Walmart U.S. comparable sales rose 2.6%, led by transactions. Enterprise net sales grew 5% in constant currency, while Walmart U.S. net sales increased 3.5%.
Price reductions can make the sales numbers harder to read because shoppers may buy more units without producing the same increase in dollars. Furner said food rollbacks typically generate a unit response first, followed later by market-share gains.
“Your shoppers don’t necessarily buy more food because they see lower prices,” Furner said during the call. “But over time, what we’re trying to do with rollbacks and low prices is build trust with customers.”
Walmart also provided evidence that affordability is influencing what goes into the basket. Grocery comparable sales rose by a mid-single-digit percentage, supported by strong unit volumes, with particular strength in pantry and fresh food. Consumables benefited from personal care, beauty and pet supplies. Grocery inflation was 1.3%, including a drag from lower egg prices.
The Basket Is Expanding Beyond Food General merchandise also grew by a low-single-digit percentage, led by toys and fashion. Marketplace sales increased more than 40% in hardlines and home, including furniture.
Walmart is also getting more business from higher-income households, and management attributed some of those gains to assortment rather than price alone. CFO John David Rainey said Walmart is carrying more elevated brands and higher-priced merchandise designed to appeal to a broader customer base. Private-label fashion brands Scoop and Free Assembly posted triple-digit comparable-sales gains, while back-to-college demand was strong for decor including candles, throws, rugs and lamps.
That gives Walmart two distinct ways to build the basket: aggressive pricing on everyday purchases and a wider assortment that can capture discretionary spending.
Digital shopping is helping connect those purchases. Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales grew 24%, store-fulfilled delivery sales increased more than 40%, and the number of average weekly eCommerce customers rose more than 20%. Globally, eCommerce sales increased 23%.
Those digital baskets are broad. Furner said fast-delivery orders include fresh and frozen food, pharmacy, fashion and general merchandise. U.S. fast delivery grew 48%, and 70% of eCommerce orders are now delivered the same day or faster.
Automation is becoming part of the machinery behind the actual transactions. More than 50% of eCommerce fulfillment volume now moves through automated facilities, while 3,100 U.S. stores receive some level of automated freight. Walmart said automation is helping streamline inventory flow as stores handle both traditional shopping and digital fulfillment. Stores now serve as the last-mile fulfillment point for 80% of eCommerce orders and all fast deliveries.
Membership is reinforcing that shopping frequency. Walmart+ membership grew at a double-digit rate in the U.S., while Sam’s Club U.S. membership increased nearly 6%. Rainey said Walmart members spend about four times as much as nonmembers.
For the rest of the year, Walmart expects affordability to keep feeding the top line. It raised its full-year sales growth forecast to 4% to 5%, from 3.5% to 4.5%, and said it expects slightly stronger second-half sales than previously forecast as the price investments attract additional spending.
Walmart oznámil zisk na akcii 0,81 USD a tržby 187,94 miliardy USD za čtvrtletí, oba výsledky překonaly odhady. Zisk byl také vyšší než 0,68 USD před rokem.
Walmart (WMT - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.81 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.73 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.68 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +10.96%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this world's largest retailer would post earnings of $0.65 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.66, delivering a surprise of +1.54%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Walmart, which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Supermarkets industry, posted revenues of $187.94 billion for the quarter ended July 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.90%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $177.4 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Walmart shares have added about 2.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.6%.
What's Next for Walmart?While Walmart has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Walmart was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.68 on $187.59 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.88 on $750.13 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Retail - Supermarkets is currently in the bottom 27% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Kroger (KR - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended July 2026. The results are expected to be released on September 11.
This supermarket chain is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.05 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Kroger's revenues are expected to be $34.78 billion, up 2.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Walmart po zveřejnění výsledků a zvýšení celoročního výhledu klesl v premarketu o více než 7 %, protože srovnatelné tržby v USA vzrostly jen o 2,6 % a zaostaly za odhady.
Walmart raised its full-year financial forecasts after beating Wall Street expectations for revenue and adjusted earnings in the latest quarter, but the stock WMT fell over 7% during premarket trading as US comparable sales came in well below expectations.
Investors also focused on slowing traffic and weaker spending per transaction.
Walmart reported quarterly revenue of $187.9 billion, up nearly 6% year over year and ahead of the roughly $186 billion expected by analysts, according to Bloomberg consensus data.
Adjusted earnings per share came in at 81 cents, compared with Wall Street expectations of 74 cents.
Despite the beat, Walmart's US comparable sales rose 2.6%, significantly below the 3.8% increase expected by analysts, according to LSEG data.
The slowdown was also visible in customer activity.
Average ticket increased 1.1%, matching the previous quarter but falling sharply from 3.1% growth in the second quarter of 2026.
Transactions increased 1.5%, compared with 3% growth in the first quarter.
The figures suggest that while Walmart continues to attract customers, shoppers are becoming more cautious about how much they spend during each visit.
Part of the weakness came from Walmart's health and wellness business, where comparable sales declined in the low single digits.
The company said the category was affected by a roughly 900-basis-point impact from the implementation of maximum fair price provisions under the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows Medicare to negotiate prices for certain prescription drugs.
Excluding health and wellness, Walmart's core merchandise comparable sales increased 3.4%.
The pharmacy impact has been a growing concern for investors.
Earlier this month, Oppenheimer downgraded Walmart to Perform from Outperform and removed its $140 price target, citing potential pharmacy-related pressure on US comparable sales.
The firm also described Walmart's valuation as "peakish", warning that a slowdown in comparable sales could leave the shares vulnerable to a lower valuation multiple.
"Although investors in our conversations lately expect a potential Walmart US comp shortfall vs. Street forecasts, we still believe shares could move lower on the print given a still peakish valuation and the potential for pharmacy headwinds to persist at least through Q426," the analysts wrote.
Also, Globalt Investments’ portfolio manager, Keith Buchanan, in an interview with CNBC, said he viewed WMT shares as a “valuation concern” heading into the earnings event.
Despite the weaker US sales performance, Walmart increased its full-year guidance.
The company now expects fiscal 2027 net sales to rise between 4% and 5%, compared with its previous forecast of 3.5% to 4.5%.
It also raised its full-year adjusted earnings-per-share forecast to between $2.80 and $2.87 from $2.75 to $2.85 previously.
However, Walmart's third-quarter outlook was more cautious.
The company expects adjusted EPS of 62 cents to 64 cents, below analysts' estimate of 68 cents.
Third-quarter net sales are expected to increase between 3% and 3.75%, also below Wall Street's forecast of 4.9%.
E-commerce and advertising remain bright spotsWalmart continues to benefit from businesses outside its traditional store operations.
E-commerce sales increased 24%, while Walmart Connect, its US advertising business, grew 43%.
The company has also lowered prices on more than 7,000 items this year, using higher-margin businesses such as advertising and its third-party marketplace to help protect profitability.
Operating income increased roughly 21% year over year, while gross profit grew 158 basis points.
Walmart said the improvement was driven partly by tariff refunds, although price investments and higher fuel costs offset some of the benefit.
The company said it would continue using tariff refunds to lower prices for customers. Adjusted operating income included a 750-basis-point benefit from the refunds.
Grocery remained Walmart's strongest merchandising category, recording mid-single-digit growth, while general merchandise, including toys and apparel, grew in the low-single digits.
But the weaker traffic and ticket figures are likely to keep investors focused on whether Walmart can maintain its momentum if consumers become more cautious.
The retailer's decision to raise its annual outlook indicates confidence in the broader business, but the weaker third-quarter guidance suggests the company is preparing for a more challenging near-term environment.
For investors, the immediate question is whether Walmart's growing e-commerce, advertising, and marketplace businesses can offset slower store-based spending and rising costs.
With the stock swinging sharply on the mixed results, many investors are likely to keep a close eye on WMT in the sessions ahead using investment platforms.
Walmart získal téměř 3 miliardy USD na vráceném clu a část z nich použije na udržení nízkých cen pro zákazníky. Vrácené clo zároveň výrazně podpořilo čtvrtletní provozní zisk.
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Walmart has received nearly $3 billion in tariff refunds and says it will use some of the benefit to help keep prices low for shoppers, while the windfall also gave quarterly profit growth a significant boost.
The company said it "prioritized investment in price" after receiving refunds tied to tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA.
The refunds came as Walmart continued leaning into its value proposition. The retailer pointed to more than 11,000 price rollbacks across its U.S. stores during the quarter.
"We’re investing in prices because customers are looking to us for value," the company said in an earnings release.
WALMART E-COMMERCE SALES SURGE AS CEO TOUTS ‘PRICE, SPEED AND CONVENIENCE’
Customers shop at a Walmart store on May 18, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The tariff refunds also provided a substantial boost to Walmart’s quarterly earnings. Adjusted operating income rose roughly 17% on a constant-currency basis, with the refunds contributing a 750-basis-point net benefit.
Excluding that benefit, Walmart said underlying operating income growth still reached the top end of its previous 7% to 10% second-quarter guidance.
Sales also continued to rise. Total revenue increased 5.9%, while comparable sales at Walmart U.S. grew 2.6%, excluding fuel.
Walmart has received nearly $3 billion in tariff refunds and says it will use some of the benefit to help keep prices low for shoppers. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Walmart’s digital businesses posted faster growth. Global e-commerce sales increased 23%, including a 24% gain at Walmart U.S. and 26% growth at Sam’s Club U.S.
Store-fulfilled delivery at Walmart U.S. jumped 40% during the quarter, while marketplace net sales increased more than 50%.
Customers shop at a Walmart store on May 13, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The retailer said stronger sales, improving business economics and continued investment in pricing and technology gave it confidence to raise its sales and operating-income growth guidance for the year.
Walmart generated $19.7 billion in operating cash flow during the period, along with $5.5 billion in free cash flow.
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The tariff refunds add another lever to Walmart’s push to hold down prices as it competes for value-conscious shoppers while expanding its higher-growth e-commerce, marketplace and delivery businesses.
High liquidity is fueling booming market: Ryan Payne Payne Capital Management President Ryan Payne joins 'Mornings with Maria' to discuss the surge of private equity in sports. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Bob Iger are investing billions as professional sports team valuations skyrocket.
Walmart’s e-commerce sales grew in the second quarter across its major business segments.
Global e-commerce sales rose 23%, led by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery and its online marketplace, according to the company’s Q2 earnings report released Thursday.
The gains were even stronger in the U.S., where e-commerce sales increased 24%, with strength in store-fulfilled delivery, advertising and marketplace.
WALMART GOES NUCLEAR IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND POWER DEAL FOR RETAIL GIANT
Walmart’s e-commerce sales grew in the second quarter across its major business segments. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Walmart President and CEO John Furner pointed to the retailer’s online growth as a sign that customers are responding to its "price, speed and convenience."
"Our team delivered another good quarter, and we continue to make steady progress on the long-term value drivers of our business," Furner said in a statement. "Our multi-year growth in e-commerce is evidence that customers are choosing Walmart because we deliver price, speed, and convenience across a broad assortment."
WALMART CEO SAYS LOWER-INCOME SHOPPERS SHOWING 'SIGNS OF STRESS' AS FUEL COSTS SQUEEZE HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS
Walmart President and CEO John Furner pointed to the retailer’s online growth as a sign that customers are responding to its "price, speed and convenience." (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
He added, "At Walmart, they can have it all."
Sam’s Club U.S. — a major division owned and operated by Walmart — also saw strong e-commerce growth, with sales up 26%, driven by continued growth in club-fulfilled pickup and delivery, according to the report.
WALMART, SAM'S CLUB SLASH PRICES ON THOUSANDS OF PRODUCTS AS TRUMP SAYS MOVE CAME AT HIS REQUEST
Ticker Security Last Change Change % WMT WALMART INC. 114.30 -0.90 -0.78% Walmart International also posted strong e-commerce growth, with e-commerce sales rising 19%, driven by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery.
Walmart reported revenue of $187.9 billion, up 5.9% from a year earlier, and raised its outlook for the fiscal year.
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"Our business model is only getting stronger and more durable, and we’re pleased to raise our guidance for the year," John David Rainey, Walmart Inc. executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in a statement.
Walmart is expected to report fiscal second-quarter earnings before the bell on Thursday and offer its latest read on the health of the U.S. consumer.
The retailer, which has been leaning into prioritizing value for its lower-income cohort while winning over more high-income shoppers, has been largely insulated from macroeconomic pressures. However, the company has previously said it's seeing the divide between income groups widen.
As the largest U.S. retailer, Walmart can offer a unique perspective on consumer behavior.
Here's how the company is expected to perform, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:
Earnings per share: 74 cents expectedRevenue: $186.77 billion expectedLast quarter, the retailer issued a worse outlook than Wall Street expected for the year due to soaring gas prices and lower consumer confidence. Its fiscal first quarter was only the third time in 16 quarters that Walmart did not beat quarterly earnings expectations.
Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey previously told CNBC he believed higher tax refunds may have "muted" some of the pressure on consumers during the first few months of the year.
"It's something that we're keeping a close eye on, but that expectation is built into our guidance for the second quarter," Rainey said at the time.
Analysts at Bernstein wrote in a late July note that they believe Walmart is experiencing a slowdown in comparable sales due to "the lapping of tariff-driven price increases," which helped to increase revenue.
"This, combined with price cut talks from grocers, weak read-across from peers and ongoing inflationary pressure on the low-income consumer has created an elevated level of uncertainty," they wrote.
Nonetheless, the analysts said they still see Walmart in "a strong fundamental position" with its pricing, assortment and delivery.
The retailer is also expected to offer some color on how tariff refunds shaped its business in the quarter.
Competitor Target said on Wednesday that its quarterly results included a $752 million boost to net earnings, or $1.65 per share, from tariff refunds. Home improvement retailers Home Depot and Lowe's also reported increases to earnings from those refunds, with Home Depot adding that $685 million of its refunds were used to reduce the cost of goods sold.
Walmart (NYSE:WMT | WMT Price Prediction) screens as a low-deliberation candidate for a retirement portfolio heading into the Aug. 20 pre-market earnings release, and the setup is not close. Prediction-market traders are pricing a 75.5% probability of an earnings beat, the operating engine is compounding, and the capital-return machine is at its most aggressive posture in years. This is the kind of business retirees are supposed to own, and the catalyst window is 24 hours away.
The Catalyst Is Already Loaded Management guided Q2 FY27 to adjusted EPS of 72 cents to 74 cents on 4% to 5% constant-currency sales growth. Q1 FY27 already ran hot, with revenue of $175.68 billion (+6.1% YoY), global eCommerce up 26%, advertising up 37%, and membership fee revenue up 17%. The macro backdrop cooperates: BEA data shows June 2026 food spending at $1.573 trillion versus $1.527 trillion a year earlier, exactly the volume tailwind Walmart converts into share gains.
The Income and Buyback Story Walmart raised the annual dividend to 99 cents per share from 94 cents and authorized a new $30 billion repurchase program with $28.2 billion remaining. In Q1 alone, the company retired 16.6 million shares for $2.1 billion at an average $125.51. Analysts carry a $137.97 price target against a current quote of $115.33, alongside 28 Buy ratings and nine Strong Buy ratings against a single Sell rating.
The Head-to-Head Isn’t Close Target (NYSE:TGT) is the obvious alternative, and the comparison favors Walmart decisively. Target has posted three consecutive quarters of year-over-year sales declines while Walmart printed Walmart U.S. comp sales up 4.1% ex-fuel with traffic up 3%. Costco (NASDAQ:COST) is the other name investors reach for, but it trades at a materially richer multiple than WMT’s 40 P/E while Walmart’s dividend yield of 0.82% exceeds Costco’s base yield and is paired with a fresher buyback authorization. Walmart’s 37% advertising growth is a margin lever Costco simply does not have at scale.
Dismissing the One Risk The bear case points to Q1 FY27 free cash flow of -$1.9 billion on CapEx of $6.68 billion (+34% YoY). That CapEx is funding automation and same-day delivery, the exact spend that produced FY26 free cash flow of $14.92B (+17.88%) and store-fulfilled delivery growth of 45%. It is investment, and it is already paying.
Walmart’s setup into the Aug. 20 earnings release looks compelling for long-term holders.
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Walmart před zveřejněním výsledků za 2. čtvrtletí roste o 1,5 % na 115,99 USD, když trh čeká tržby 186,7 miliardy USD a EPS 0,74 USD. Investoři sledují, zda e-commerce a ziskovost udrží tempo růstu.
, the retail giant powering millions of daily purchases worldwide, moved approximately 1.5% higher to $115.99 Tuesday morning as investors rotated into defensive winners while rising bond yields pressured high-growth technology stocks. But the real battle starts on August 20.
Wall Street expects Walmart to deliver approximately $186.7 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 5.2% year over year, with earnings expected at $0.74 per share, according to Exante. The company already proved its digital engine is accelerating, with e-commerce growth reaching 26% in the previous quarter. The challenge is turning that growth into bigger profits as Walmart continues pouring money into fulfillment, technology and price investments. The market is no longer asking whether Walmart can grow. It is asking whether Walmart can grow fast enough to justify the price investors are paying.
At nearly 41 times trailing earnings and close to a $1 trillion market value, Walmart is trading like a premium technology company rather than a traditional retailer. The company has earned that confidence through scale, resilience and a powerful consumer brand—but the valuation leaves little room for disappointment.
The GF Value chart highlights that tension. Walmart's stock price sits at $115.85, above its GF Value estimate of $94.72, suggesting shares are trading approximately 22.31% above estimated fair value. Investors are paying up for safety, but the next earnings report needs to prove that Walmart's growth story is still accelerating.
The focus will be on U.S. comparable sales, e-commerce profitability, advertising growth and management's outlook for the rest of the year. Walmart remains one of the strongest retailers on the planet—but at this valuation, simply being strong is no longer enough. It needs to keep winning.
Walmart očekává výsledky za 2. fiskální čtvrtletí s odhadem tržeb 186,3 miliardy USD a ziskem 73 centů na akcii. Firma očekává růst tržeb ve stálé měně o 4 % až 5 % a provozního zisku o 7 % až 10 %.
Key Takeaways Walmart enters Q2 earnings with steady traffic, e-commerce growth and expanding omnichannel capabilities. WMT expects Q2 constant-currency sales growth of 4%-5% and operating income growth of 7%-10%. Walmart faces fuel-cost pressure, cautious lower-income consumers and a premium industry valuation. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Aug. 20, with healthy momentum supported by steady customer traffic, e-commerce and marketplace growth, a strong value proposition and expanding omnichannel capabilities. Investors will likely watch whether digital strength, higher unit volumes and an improving business mix can support profit growth despite elevated fuel costs and cautious consumer spending.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues stands at $186.3 billion, indicating an increase of nearly 5% from the same period last year. The consensus mark for earnings has fallen by a penny in the past 30 days to 73 cents per share, which, however, suggests a 7.4% jump from the figure reported in the year-ago period.
Walmart has a trailing four-quarter negative surprise of 0.6%, on average. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered an earnings surprise of 1.5%.
What the Zacks Model Predicts for WMT’s Q2 EarningsAs investors prepare for WMT’s quarterly announcement, the question looms regarding an earnings beat or miss. Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Walmart this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Walmart has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +0.71% at present. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Factors Likely to Aid WMT’s Q2 ResultsWalmart’s second-quarter performance is likely to have benefited from continued strength in its value proposition as consumers sought savings amid pressure on household budgets. Management entered the quarter with roughly 7,200 rollbacks and indicated that it would continue leaning into price investments to reinforce customer loyalty and market-share gains. The combination of everyday low prices, broader assortment and convenience is likely to have supported transactions and unit volumes. Management expects second-quarter constant-currency sales growth of 4%-5%.
Continued e-commerce and marketplace momentum is also likely to aid results. Walmart has been improving delivery speeds by leveraging its stores, clubs and fulfillment infrastructure, while broader third-party assortment has helped deepen customer engagement. Supply-chain automation and AI-led inventory and fulfillment improvements may have enhanced productivity and operating leverage.
The company’s evolving profit mix is likely to have remained another positive. Higher-margin advertising, membership and marketplace businesses have become increasingly meaningful contributors to profitability. Sam’s Club’s membership fee increase became effective May 1, potentially providing an incremental benefit during the quarter. Management expects second-quarter constant-currency operating income growth of 7%-10% and indicated that profitability should accelerate from first-quarter levels.
Potential Headwinds to WMT’s Q2 ResultsElevated fuel costs are expected to have remained a notable margin pressure and may have contributed to higher retail-price inflation. Lower-income consumers also appeared increasingly budget-conscious amid pressure on household spending, per the last earnings call.
Apart from this, management expects the merchandise-mix benefit in the second quarter to be less pronounced than in the prior quarter, which received some support from higher tax refunds. These factors may have partly offset the benefits from Walmart’s solid sales momentum and improving business mix.
WMT Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, Walmart stock has rallied 12.9% compared with the industry’s growth of 11.6% and the Zacks Retail – Wholesale sector’s jump of 3.1%. Meanwhile, WMT underperformed the S&P 500’s 23.7% rise during the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the said time frame, Walmart surpassed other retailers such as The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) , Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) . While DG shares have gained 6.4% over the past year, KR and COST have declined 20.4% and 2.8%, respectively.
Walmart’s Valuation PictureWalmart shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 36.98, above the industry average of 33.98 but below the stock’s one-year median of 38.67. The company also commands a sizable premium to peers Kroger and Dollar General, which trade at forward P/E multiples of 10.4 and 15.55, respectively. However, Walmart’s valuation remains below Costco’s multiple of 42.5.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The premium valuation relative to the industry and several peers suggests that the market is assigning considerable value to Walmart’s scale, defensive characteristics, omnichannel capabilities and expanding higher-margin businesses. At the same time, the multiple leaves less room for execution missteps, making sustained sales and profit growth important for supporting the valuation.
How to Play WMT Stock Now?Walmart’s resilient traffic trends, e-commerce momentum, expanding higher-margin businesses and improving operating leverage offer a favorable setup ahead of the second-quarter release. The positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #3 also point to increased odds of an earnings beat. However, elevated fuel costs, pressure on lower-income consumers and a premium valuation warrant some caution. Against this backdrop, existing investors may consider holding the stock, while new investors may prefer to await greater clarity on earnings momentum and margin trends.
Walmart Connect ve čtvrtletí vzrostl o 44 % a pomáhá Walmartu držet marže i přes zpomalující růst tržeb v prodejnách. Analytici čekají další silný růst reklamy i při slabším srovnatelném prodeji.
As Walmart's same-store sales growth has leveled off and a cautious annual outlook dented its stock, investors are increasingly looking to the retailer's advertising business to support profits.
Walmart Connect has helped the company maintain margins, helping offset the cost of keeping prices low and delivery speeds high as shoppers strained by bigger gasoline bills seek cheaper groceries and essentials, prompting Walmart to lower prices on some 7,000 items.
Same-store growth in the U.S. slowed to 4.1% in the quarter ended April 30, from roughly 4.5% in each of the previous five quarters. Walmart shares are up 2.6% this year at $114.33, lagging the S&P 500's 13% gain.
Walmart Connect, though, surged 44% in the quarter, its quickest pace since the company started reporting the figure in the first quarter of 2023. The business has benefited from growth in Walmart's membership program, which provides the customer data that powers its advertising platform.
Launched in 2019 and rebranded as Walmart Connect in 2021, Walmart's retail media business uses its shopper data to help brands target consumers across the company's website, app and stores, while showing whether ads translate into purchases.
Analysts expect Walmart to post a similar rate of growth for Connect when it reports earnings on Thursday for the quarter ended July 31, even as same-store sales growth is projected to slip below 4% for the first time since early 2024, according to LSEG data.
"The sky's the limit" for how lucrative Walmart Connect can become, said Sarah Henry, managing partner at Walmart shareholder Logan Capital Management.
In fact, a pullback in the business would be a problem for Walmart's stock price, said Morningstar analyst Brett Husslein, who in May raised his fair value estimate for Walmart to $70 per share from $62 on the back of strong advertising growth.
'AKIN TO AMAZON'
While Walmart Connect accounts for just a fraction of Walmart's $713 billion in annual sales, its ample margins contribute a third of operating income. Analysts estimate around 70% gross margins for Walmart Connect.
Walmart's membership program, launched in 2020, has expanded that data advantage and strengthened customer loyalty, Husslein said. "They're building it up to the point where it starts to look a bit more akin to Amazon," he said.
Connect remains much smaller than Amazon's advertising business, but it is gaining share. Walmart Connect impressions rose 17% in the second quarter, compared with 9% for Amazon, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
Walmart declined to comment in the midst of its quiet period before quarterly results on Thursday.
GROWTH TO UNLOCK
Walmart has framed AI as the next growth phase for Walmart Connect, as more and more consumers use AI chatbots to search for deals. The retailer has begun testing ads in its AI shopping assistant Sparky and is rolling out AI tools to help advertisers create, manage and measure campaigns. Sparky's active users more than doubled in the quarter ending April 30, Walmart said in May.
Nearly a third of consumer searches now originate on AI models, according to data from digital commerce consultancy Flywheel. Ads are a "natural evolution" for chatbot apps, said Flywheel Chief Client Officer Amie Owen.
Amazon is further along in turning its proprietary chatbot, now called Alexa for Shopping, into a new advertising channel, but Walmart's 2024 acquisition of smart-TV maker Vizio has allowed it to expand Connect beyond its website and stores into streaming television.
"The idea of [consumer] data as currency is proliferating throughout this whole sector," Logan Capital's Henry said. "Walmart is setting the tone."
Walmart nasazuje AI pro přidělování úkolů, ale zaměstnanci často musí opravovat její chyby a doplňovat chybějící kontext. Firma říká, že zpětná vazba pracovníků je pro vývoj nástrojů zásadní.
A Walmart store in North Miami Beach, Florida. :Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Retail jobs often involve a lot of cleaning up after other people. Dusty shelves, spilled liquids, smudged display cases, and, more recently, AI agent errors.
In Walmart's bid to fuel its growth ambitions, the retailer is betting big on AI and arming thousands of frontline employees with new tools and training.
Adopting any new process has a learning curve, but this time it's AI agents that also need training to improve the accuracy of its models.
Walmart's rollout shows some of the challenges of using this new tech: Employees often have to spend time training the software, supplying the context and judgment AI agents lack about their jobs.
Walmart's AI rollout has prompted employees to swap information and complaints on social media. There are scores of posts and hundreds of comments on Reddit from people who say they work for the company about perplexing security alerts from the AI, how the AI is measuring their performance, and other issues.
"It just assumes that they're going to be perfect every single time," a store-level HR manager who handles onboarding, training, and scheduling told Business Insider, referring to a task-assigning AI agent's expectations of the workers completing the task.
Walmart has spent the last several years saying it is a people-led, tech-powered company, and any new tools are intended to simplify and support the work of human employees across the organization. The company says its approach to AI in stores follows that same philosophy.
For example, workers at stores where the features have been launched are increasingly being assigned tasks and targets by AI that appear in the MyWalmart app, which runs on company-provided phones and is available to download on personal devices.
That means a growing share of Walmart's 1.6 million US workers now have a digital assistant intended to help with their daily tasks. But that assistant sometimes has some learning to do to in order to be fully useful.
AI agents are a mixed bag — sometimes helpful, sometimes distractingHaving AI come up with a list of tasks can be very helpful for some associates who no longer have to wait around at the start of their shift for a manager to tell them what to do, said Elizabeth Nigh, an asset protection manager in Wisconsin, during a company-arranged store tour with Business Insider.
"If this associate is really good at stocking aisle eight, and we put them in aisle eight all the time, the AI assistant learns that," she said. "Then they can just come in and look at their MyWalmart, instead of having to wait around for a plan."
Other workers told Business Insider the system often doesn't account for complications in completing a work assignment, including some side tasks they described as necessary.
For example, restocking involves more than simply putting up new merchandise on an empty shelf. Expiration dates need to be checked. Damaged items need to be discarded. Dust and spills need to be wiped up and sanitized. Those tasks, plus any host of other steps, can take a variable amount of time.
The HR manager said her store isn't disciplining employees over AI metrics that are out of step with real-world experience. "We're not going to hold people to these impossible standards," she said.
Walmart uses AI assistants like Sidekick to assign tasks and targets for employees. Dominick Reuter/Business Insider An online fulfillment worker told Business Insider she hasn't been able to pick general merchandise orders as quickly as the AI app says she should, in part because of the AI-generated route through the store.
"It's going to take you all over the place," she said, explaining that she is rarely able to match AI-projected times for routes. "There's no way to win on those."
Drivers for the Walmart-owned Spark delivery service also told Business Insider that a new "smart path" feature sometimes tells them to pick up frozen items like TV dinners and bags of ice at the start of a shopping trip rather than at the end, giving them more time to thaw. One worker said it takes "extra time and energy I could be spending on the next order."
A new AI agent that monitors store safety agent has confused some workers as it learns how to interpret data from security cameras and sensors throughout the store.
The online fulfillment worker said she gets inundated with safety alerts from other departments whenever she opens the Walmart app on her personal phone to clock in and out of her shift.
Those alerts are meant to flag potential issues for workers to respond to, like spills to mop up or refrigerator temperatures going out of a safe range, but it often needs workers to correct or provide context for situations it deems risky.
The online fulfillment worker said she has a simple response to the irrelevant alerts: "I ignore them."
Walmart says honest user feedback is essential to the successful development of AI tools for store employees.
Stores have autonomy to use the tools in ways that work best for them, said Walmart's VP for associate tools, Brooks Forrest, during an interview with Business Insider in July.
"We do not punish people for not following the tech guidance," he said.
Forrest said his product development approach includes frequent store visits and regularly scheduled listening sessions from the Bentonville headquarters to better understand how his team's tools perform in the field.
"The technology is there to help them, but they ultimately have the say in what they do," he said.
Workers are both cautious and optimistic about AIA survey from the worker advocacy organization United for Respect, which included responses from more than 250 Walmart employees this year, asked about how AI is affecting their jobs and found worry among frontline workers at the retailer.
While more than 85% of respondents said they did not trust Walmart to prioritize their needs in developing AI, roughly 40% said they expect AI could make their job easier, and a similar number said it could help eliminate menial or repetitive tasks.
Nearly three-quarters of Walmart workers in the survey said their top concern was that AI would make HR decisions, such as wage reviews and time-off requests, while two-thirds worried they would have less contact with managers and co-workers. Half said they were concerned about AI penalizing them for making mistakes.
The organization filed a shareholder proposal in April asking Walmart to produce a report on the impact of AI on its workforce.
"We're expected to meet impossible timelines," said Ava Williams, an overnight stocker in Spokane, Washington. She presented the proposal at Walmart's shareholder meeting last month and shared her own experiences with AI-assigned tasks.
Williams said AI-directed workflows push members of her team to cut corners or skip steps, such as sanitizing shelves or checking for expired products, to keep pace.
Walmart's board opposed the proposal, saying that technology should serve workers by "elevating human capability, improving the customer experience, and making work more meaningful." The company is committed to investment in training, skill-building, and new career pathways, it added. The measure was not approved.
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Dominick Reuter is a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, primarily covering Walmart, Target, and Costco. His stories tend to focus on issues and trends that affect employees and customers.Prior to joining BI in 2019, Dominick worked for more than a decade as an independent photojournalist covering a wide range of stories for global wire services and newspapers, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and Agence France-Presse.Dominick studied photojournalism at Boston University and later earned a Masters in business and economics journalism from Columbia University.If you're an employee or customer with a story to share, please contact me via email or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750.
Walmart v USA zvýšil srovnatelné tržby o 4,1 %, když transakce vzrostly o 3 % a průměrný nákup o 1,1 %. Firma má asi 7 200 rollbacků, což je meziročně o více než 20 % více.
Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. comparable sales rose 4.1%, with transactions up 3% and average ticket up 1.1%. Walmart has about 7,200 rollbacks, up more than 20% year over year, to help shoppers stretch budgets.Higher fuel costs are making lower-income shoppers more selective, keeping value investment central. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) continues to draw shoppers with its value-focused retail proposition as household budgets come under greater pressure. The company is seeing clear differences in spending behavior across income groups, making its ability to preserve traffic and unit growth — an important measure of consumer resilience.
Higher fuel prices are putting added strain on household finances, particularly for lower-income customers. On its last earnings call, Walmart stated that these shoppers are becoming more budget-conscious, while higher-income customers continue to spend confidently across many categories.
Walmart is responding by leaning further into value. The company has about 7,200 rollbacks in place, up more than 20% year over year, as it looks to help customers stretch their dollars. This approach supported solid first-quarter fiscal 2027 performance, with Walmart U.S. comparable sales rising 4.1%. Transactions increased 3%, while average ticket advanced 1.1%. The company also recorded broad-based share gains across income tiers, led by upper-income households.
Consumer pressure could remain a key consideration in the coming quarters. Like-for-like inflation was a little above 1% in the quarter, and persistent fuel costs could put upward pressure on average unit retail prices.
Walmart's continued emphasis on rollbacks and low prices remains central to sustaining customer traffic as lower-income shoppers become more selective with spending. This dynamic keeps value and price investment at the center of Walmart's consumer strategy.
How KR & TGT Are Navigating Consumer Budget PressureThe Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) is seeing consumers manage spending carefully as high gas prices and reduced SNAP benefits squeeze household budgets. The company is sharpening its price position and simplifying value, while traffic increased and loyal households grew for the 17th consecutive time in the first quarter. KR’s identical sales, excluding fuel, rose 1% in the quarter. Kroger also expanded fuel reward promotions, helping drive a 10% increase in fuel reward redemptions year over year as customers sought savings at the pump.
Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) is also emphasizing affordability as busy families remain highly choiceful about where they spend their time and money. TGT’s first-quarter comparable sales increased 5.6%, while comparable traffic grew 4.4%. Target is combining distinctive merchandise with accessible price points to appeal to these shoppers. These affordable assortments helped support double-digit comparable sales growth in toys during the quarter.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Walmart have risen 14.5% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 12.4%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 37.3, higher than the industry’s average of 33.98.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Walmart zvýšil dividendu už 53 let v řadě, což podtrhuje jeho schopnost generovat stabilní cash flow. Růst táhnou nové zdroje tržeb, hlavně e-commerce a reklama.
When a company earns the title of Dividend King, it becomes part of an elite club, as boosting a dividend for 50 or more consecutive years is no small feat. For investors, it's a signal that, whatever types of uncertainty were swirling around the economy in the past half-century, the company reliably generated enough cash to keep hiking its payouts year in and year out.
With a track record of hikes over the past 53 years, Walmart (WMT -0.39%) has been one of the companies that has earned the Dividend King crown.
Image source: Getty Images.
The power of a Dividend King
Off the bat, given its yield of 0.8% at the current share price, there are plenty of other dividend stocks that offer higher yields. That said, the case for owning Walmart lies more in the reason why it has been able to continually boost its dividend.
Over the last 50 years, there have been corrections, bear markets, wars, economic uncertainty, technological disruptions, and more. Yet, during all of that, Walmart kept raising its payouts thanks to a business model that consistently generates cash flow, year in and year out. While the retailer's results can still be affected by recessions or economic downturns, Walmart stays resilient, offering stability for portfolios during times of uncertainty.
Owning Walmart is more about that stability, and its dividend is more of a bonus. There are plenty of reasons to believe that it will continue to boost its dividends long into the future, thanks to some newer revenue sources. This, once again, shows the reliability of Walmart's business model.
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New revenue generators
Walmart has embraced technology to amplify its business, even transferring its common stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq in November 2025 to reflect its technology focus.
"The move to Nasdaq underscores the strong alignment between Walmart and Nasdaq's shared values: a technology-forward approach, delivering exceptional client value, and redefining their respective industries through innovation," the company said in a press release at the time.
One of those newer revenue generators utilizing tech is e-commerce, aided by artificial intelligence (AI) to make online shopping easier and more convenient. In Walmart's fiscal 2027 first quarter (which ended May 1), its global online sales rose 26% and weekly active users for its AI shopping agent, Sparky, increased by 100%. In addition, Walmart customers who use Sparky have an average order value that is roughly 35% higher than customers who don't use Sparky.
Its advertising business is another newer revenue generator, and global advertising sales rose 37% in fiscal 2027's first quarter. The retailer also has its Walmart+ subscription plan, which offers shipping perks and other benefits that can make people more inclined to keep shopping regularly at Walmart.
Walmart stock is essentially treading water thus far in 2026, with shares up only 4.2% as of this writing. Higher fuel costs and other inflationary effects are weighing on the spending habits of lower-income consumers, and Walmart has some internal operational issues that it's working its way through as well. These headwinds have led management to issue cautious outlooks for the year. However, as Walmart's ability to boost its dividend over the past 53 years has shown, it can keep generating plenty of cash even as it navigates through periods of uncertainty.
Walmart má podle Jefferies za 2. čtvrtletí vykázat výsledky zhruba v souladu s odhady. Investoři sledují hlavně výhled na druhou polovinu roku a možné vrácení části cel, které by firma mohla promítnout do nižších cen.
Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT, XETRA:WMT) is expected to post largely in-line second-quarter results, with investor focus centered on second-half guidance, the treatment of potential tariff refunds, and how much of that money gets reinvested into pricing, according to a note from Jefferies.
Analysts at the firm said management has continued to emphasize a consistent strategy built around price leadership, including plans to funnel potential tariff refunds into lower prices to widen the retailer's price gaps against competitors and drive market share gains, particularly in consumables.
Jefferies said Walmart remains upbeat on private label growth and e-commerce, pointing to strong marketplace expansion, improving online profitability, and continued investment in automation and fulfillment as key drivers of long-term share gains and margin expansion. Management has acknowledged some volatility in consumer spending, especially among lower-income shoppers, but still expects solid earnings before interest and taxes growth, the note said.
Investor debate centers on the implied back-half guidance and how management characterizes the company's earnings power beyond an expected solid second-quarter print, Jefferies said. Other investor questions include how tariff refunds would flow through the income statement, how much would be reinvested into price, and whether management adjusts its full-year outlook.
Jefferies flagged a possible modest read-through from the roughly 100 basis point Cyclospora-related headwind expected at Grocery Outlet, noting both retailers have significant grocery exposure and could face similar produce-related demand pressures.
Foot traffic data tracked by Jefferies showed a slight deceleration on a three-month average basis in July, up 1.2% compared with 2.6% in April, though two-year stack trends were steadier at 0.6% versus 0.7%.
Jefferies left its estimates unchanged, forecasting US comparable sales growth of 3.6% and earnings per share of $0.74, broadly in line with consensus.
The firm said it believes investors are underappreciating Walmart's resilience across macroeconomic environments, along with earnings power building from improving e-commerce margins and advertising revenue, as well as the potential upside from future tariff refunds reinvested into price ahead of the back-to-school and holiday seasons.
Walmart (NYSE:WMT | WMT Price Prediction) has quietly become one of the most interesting large-cap growth stories in retail, with a digital flywheel that increasingly resembles a diversified commerce platform rather than a traditional big-box operator. After a pullback from winter highs, the risk/reward has tilted back in shareholders’ favor heading into the back half of the year.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Walmart is $128.33, implying 11.75% upside from the current price of $114.84. Our recommendation is buy at a 90% confidence level.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $114.84 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $128.33 Upside 11.75% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% The Digital Flywheel Is Doing the Heavy Lifting Walmart shares are up 2.07% year to date and 9.89% over the past year, trading roughly 2% below the 52-week high of $135.16 and well off the $94.85 low.
The Q1 FY27 report delivered $175.68 billion in revenue, up 6.1%, with adjusted EPS of $0.66. The standout: global e-commerce sales grew 26% and now represent 23% of net sales, while Walmart Connect advertising rose 44% ex-VIZIO and marketplace sales jumped 50%, the best result in ten quarters.
On the Q2 call, CFO John David Rainey put it plainly: “50% of our incremental profit, excluding claims, was related to advertising, membership, and marketplace.” That is the whole thesis in one sentence.
Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead The bull case rests on the “two P&L” framework CEO Doug McMillon has highlighted: the traditional store business plus a higher-margin digital layer built on marketplace, advertising, and membership.
TD Cowen carries a $150 price target, arguing the multiple reset offers a favorable entry point. Mizuho sits at $130. The Street consensus is $137.97. If holiday execution matches management’s confidence and Walmart Connect compounds at 40%+, our bull case scenario points to $125.49 by year-end.
What Could Go Wrong Walmart trades at a forward P/E of 38, expensive by historical measure for a business with a 3.07% net margin. Tariff pass-through is hitting inventory costs weekly, and Walmart is absorbing meaningfully. Q1 FCF was negative $1.95 billion on $6.68 billion of capex.
Insider activity is currently net selling. Counterfactual: much of that capex funds automation and fulfillment capacity underpinning the same e-commerce growth bulls are paying for. Under a bear scenario, our model projects $115.83 by December.
How Walmart Compares to Costco and Kroger Costco (NASDAQ:COST) is the obvious membership-model peer. Costco carries a richer forward P/E of 42 and posted 45.5% quarterly earnings growth against 21.5% revenue growth. That premium makes Walmart’s 38 forward multiple look reasonable, particularly given Walmart’s advertising and marketplace optionality Costco lacks.
Kroger (NYSE:KR) is the domestic grocery counterpoint. Kroger’s e-commerce grew 19% last quarter was healthy but visibly slower than Walmart’s 26%. Kroger trades at a mid-teens forward multiple, framing Walmart as the growth-premium name in defensive retail, which supports our target.
Company Forward P/E Recent Rev Growth Walmart 38 6.1% Costco 42 21.5% Kroger ~15 ~5% I’d Buy It Here The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $128.33 reflects a business whose earnings mix is quietly improving even as the top line grows mid-single digits.
I would be a buyer if Q2 confirms e-commerce growth holding above 25% and advertising above 40%. I would step aside if tariff pass-through starts compressing US operating margins in the back half. On balance, this is a buy.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $117.88 2027 $128.33 2028 $141.21 2029 $149.49 2030 $161.63 These projections assume Walmart continues executing on digital, advertising, and membership. Significant upside or downside could come from tariff resolution and the pace at which Sparky and agentic commerce scale.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Walmart za tři měsíce oslabil o 12,4 %, protože investoři zvažují vyšší náklady a investice. Tržby v 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 vzrostly o 7,3 % na 177,8 miliardy USD, ale akcie dál tíží prémiové ocenění.
Key Takeaways Walmart shares fell 12.4% in three months as rising costs and investment spending weighed on sentiment. Walmart's fiscal 2027 Q1 revenues rose 7.3%, while global e-commerce net sales advanced 26%. WMT trades at 37.58X forward earnings as EPS estimates decline and cost pressures remain elevated. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) shares have declined 11.8% over the past three months, reflecting a cautious investor stance despite the retail giant’s solid business momentum. The stock has fared slightly better than the industry’s 13.9% fall but has significantly underperformed the Zacks Retail – Wholesale sector’s 0.1% growth and the S&P 500’s 2.4% gain over the same period.
WMT’s pullback comes as investors weigh rising operating costs, pressure on lower-income consumers and elevated investment spending against Walmart’s healthy sales trends and expanding digital ecosystem.
Walmart stock has also underperformed several major competitors such as Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) . During the past three months, shares of TGT and DG have rallied 26.8% and 17.5%, respectively, while COST tumbled 8.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What’s Hurting Walmart Stock?Elevated fuel costs have emerged as a significant near-term concern for Walmart. Higher fuel expenses across the company’s distribution and fulfillment network are putting pressure on profitability, even as sales continue to grow. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, adjusted operating income increased 5.1% on a constant-currency basis, trailing the 5.7% growth in constant-currency net sales. Walmart attributed the gap partly to higher fuel costs and expense deleverage.
Meanwhile, operating expenses remain another pressure point. Adjusted operating expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 23 basis points to 21.1% in the first quarter. Higher depreciation related to capital investments and increased U.S. healthcare expenses stemming from higher enrollment and medical-cost inflation contributed to the deleverage. These expenses could constrain the pace of profit expansion if cost pressures remain elevated.
The consumer backdrop is also uneven. Management indicated that higher-income customers continue to spend confidently across several categories, while lower-income shoppers are more budget-conscious and may be experiencing greater financial stress. Walmart cited reduced fuel purchases as one indication of pressure among some consumers. Persistently elevated fuel prices could further squeeze household budgets and affect discretionary spending.
At the same time, Walmart continues to emphasize value and invest in pricing. The retailer had about 7,200 rollbacks in place during the quarter. While competitive pricing can strengthen traffic and market share, balancing price investments with higher operating and transportation costs remains important for margins.
Walmart’s Growth Drivers Remain EncouragingDespite these challenges, Walmart continues to demonstrate healthy underlying business momentum. First-quarter fiscal 2027 revenues rose 7.3% to $177.8 billion, while constant-currency revenues increased 5.9%. Net sales grew across all segments, and global e-commerce net sales advanced 26%, accounting for 23% of total net sales.
The company’s omnichannel infrastructure should remain an important long-term advantage. Walmart is leveraging its vast store and club network to accelerate fulfillment while increasing automation across its supply chain. Roughly half of Walmart U.S. e-commerce fulfillment-center volume is automated, and more than 60% of stores receive some level of freight from automated distribution centers.
Meanwhile, higher-margin businesses such as advertising and membership continue to scale. Global membership fee revenues grew 17.4% in the first quarter, while advertising remained a strong contributor to the evolving business mix. These businesses, alongside Marketplace expansion, can help improve Walmart’s long-term earnings profile.
Walmart’s Premium Valuation Warrants CautionWMT is trading at a forward P/E multiple of 37.58, above the industry’s 33.43 and considerably higher than its five-year median of 24.52. The premium valuation suggests that significant growth expectations remain embedded in the stock, leaving limited room for execution setbacks.
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Walmart also trades at a significantly higher multiple than Target and Dollar General, which currently have forward P/E multiples of 17.89 and 15.51, respectively. Meanwhile, Costco trades at an even higher multiple of 42.38.
WMT Earnings Estimates Move SouthThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart’s current and next fiscal-year EPS has moved downward over the past 30 days. The negative estimate revisions signal increased caution surrounding the earnings outlook and become more relevant, given WMT’s premium valuation.
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Should Investors Play Safe With Walmart Stock?Walmart’s strong market position, expanding e-commerce business, advertising momentum and growing omnichannel capabilities support its long-term prospects. However, higher fuel and operating costs, pressure on lower-income consumers and elevated investment spending warrant caution. Downward earnings estimate revisions come at a time when WMT continues to trade at a considerable premium to its industry and historical valuation. While Walmart’s fundamental strengths remain intact, the combination of earnings uncertainty and a demanding valuation suggests that investors may prefer to stay on the sidelines for now.
Walmart currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Bank of America čeká, že Walmart ve fiskálním 2. čtvrtletí 2027 znovu překoná odhady a zvedne výhled díky silnějším digitálním tržbám a maržím. Analytik zopakoval doporučení Buy a cíl 144 USD.
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is scheduled to release its fiscal 2027 second-quarter earnings results on Aug. 20 before the market opens, with Bank of America Securities analyst Christopher Nardone expecting the retail giant could return to a beat-and-raise cycle despite signs of softer spending among lower-income consumers.
Nardone reiterated a Buy rating and $144 price forecast on Walmart ahead of the report. The analyst said accelerating digital sales and improving profit margins could support results even if U.S. comparable-sales growth slows.
Walmart Earnings Beat Still In PlayBank of America forecasts second-quarter adjusted earnings of 74 cents per share. The firm lowered its Walmart U.S. comparable-sales forecast, excluding fuel, to 3.5% from 4%.
The analyst estimates that every 50-basis-point shortfall in second-quarter U.S. comparable sales would reduce Walmart’s full-year net sales growth by about 10 basis points. Still, strength elsewhere in the business could allow Walmart to beat expectations and raise its outlook.
Walmart previously guided for second-quarter constant-currency net sales growth of 4% to 5%, down roughly 100 basis points from the first quarter’s 5.7% growth.
Bank of America expects 4.6% growth. The firm said the slowdown reflects the end of tax-refund benefits, less help from general merchandise pricing and some moderation among lower-income consumers.
Price Cuts Could Fuel Market-Share GainsThe analyst expects Walmart’s July 6 price investments to help the retailer gain market share in the second half of the year. A larger Marketplace assortment and faster delivery should also support those gains.
Bank of America said the investments were already included in Walmart’s guidance and should not create additional margin risk. Tariff-related refunds could create a margin headwind next year as Walmart laps those benefits. However, high-growth, high-margin businesses such as advertising could help fund further price investments.
Digital Business Becomes A Bigger Profit DriverThe analyst also highlighted Walmart’s digital businesses as an increasingly important part of the investment case.
Global advertising revenue grew 36% in the first quarter, while Marketplace sales jumped nearly 50%. Membership fee revenue also remained strong. Bank of America said e-commerce and alternative revenue streams could improve profitability even if core U.S. comparable-sales growth remains in the 3% to 4% range.
The firm forecasts fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings of $2.90 per share, followed by $3.20 in fiscal 2028 and $3.53 in fiscal 2029. It expects fiscal 2027 revenue of about $753.42 billion.
Bank of America’s $144 price forecast is based on 45 times its fiscal 2028 adjusted earnings estimate. The premium reflects expectations for positive U.S. comparable sales, continued market-share gains and operating income growth at nearly twice the pace of sales growth.
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Walmart Analyst Ratings Ahead Of EarningsWalmart carries a consensus Buy rating with an average price forecast of $141.11. Recent analyst actions include:
RBC Capital Markets: Outperform, with a $137 price forecast on Aug. 12. Oppenheimer: Upgraded Walmart to Perform on Aug. 4. Bernstein: Outperform; lowered its price forecast to $142 from $145 on July 31. BTIG: Buy, with a $145 price forecast on June 8. Tigress Financial: Buy; raised its price forecast to $155 from $150 on May 29. UBS: Buy; lowered its price forecast to $141 from $147 on May 22. BNP Paribas: Outperform; lowered its price forecast to $146 from $147 on May 22. Walmart Q2 Earnings PreviewWall Street expects Walmart to report second-quarter adjusted earnings of 74 cents per share, up from 68 cents a year earlier. Revenue is expected to rise to $186.77 billion from $177.40 billion.
Investors will closely watch margins, consumer demand and comparable sales. Walmart’s ability to protect profitability while maintaining traffic could play a key role in the market’s reaction.
Valuation also raises the stakes. Walmart trades at about 39.9 times earnings, leaving less room for weaker-than-expected results or a cautious outlook.
Walmart Earnings HistoryWalmart has beaten earnings estimates in two of the past four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of negative 0.9%.
In the most recent quarter, reported May 21, Walmart posted earnings of 66 cents per share, matching estimates. Revenue of $177.75 billion topped the $174.75 billion estimate.
On Feb. 19, Walmart reported earnings of 74 cents per share, beating the 73-cent estimate. Revenue of $190.70 billion also topped expectations of $189.18 billion.
However, Walmart missed earnings expectations on Aug. 21, 2025. Earnings of 68 cents per share fell short of the 74-cent estimate, even as revenue of $177.40 billion beat the $174.80 billion forecast.
The recent pattern suggests Walmart’s revenue performance has been more consistent than its earnings results. That could put greater focus on margins and forward guidance when the retailer reports its latest quarter.
WMT Price Action: Walmart shares were up 1.93% at $115.45 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Walmart U.S. zvýšil tržby o 4,5 % na 117,2 miliardy USD, ale provozní náklady vzrostly o 7 % a provozní nákladová míra se zhoršila o 56 bazických bodů. Provozní zisk přesto stoupl o 3,5 % na 5,9 miliardy USD.
Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. sales rose 4.5%, while operating expenses increased 7%, driving expense deleverage. Higher depreciation and healthcare costs pushed Walmart U.S.'s operating expense rate up 56 basis points. Labor productivity partly offset cost pressure, while Walmart U.S. operating income increased 3.5%. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) posted solid sales growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, but operating expenses rose faster in its U.S. business. The resulting expense deleverage reflected higher depreciation and healthcare costs, even as labor productivity provided a partial offset.
Walmart U.S. net sales increased 4.5% year over year to $117.2 billion. Operating expenses rose 7% to $27.6 billion, while the operating expense rate jumped 56 basis points to 23.5%. The expense pressure primarily reflected higher depreciation tied to capital expenditures and higher healthcare costs from increased associate enrollment and medical cost inflation.
Business reorganization expenses also created an 11-basis-point headwind to the operating expense rate. Higher labor productivity helped offset some pressure, but overall expenses still grew faster than sales during the quarter. The expense dynamic was also visible at the consolidated level, where adjusted operating expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 23 basis points to 21.1%.
Walmart U.S. operating income jumped 3.5% to $5.9 billion compared with the 4.5% increase in net sales. The reported operating income rate declined 5 basis points to 5%. On an adjusted basis, operating income rose 5.7% to $6 billion, and the adjusted operating income rate improved 6 basis points to 5.1%.
The first-quarter figures show that Walmart U.S. generated sales growth while absorbing higher depreciation and healthcare expenses. The 56-basis-point increase in the operating expense rate captures the core issue, with cost growth outpacing revenue growth despite productivity-related relief.
How Kroger and Costco Compare on Expense LeverageThe Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) also faced expense pressure in the first quarter of 2026. KR’s operating, general and administrative rate, excluding fuel and adjustment items, increased 16 basis points year over year, mainly due to planned investments in associate wages, additional store hours, training and new uniforms, partly offset by lower multi-employer pension contributions and productivity initiatives. Kroger’s total sales increased to $46.1 billion from $45.1 billion.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) showed a comparatively better expense trend in third-quarter fiscal 2026. The company’s SG&A rate improved 20 basis points to 8.96% from 9.16%. Excluding gas inflation, COST’s SG&A rate improved 2 basis points, with productivity improvements partly offset by higher healthcare costs. Costco’s net sales increased 11.6% to $69.15 billion, while operating income rose to $2.82 billion from $2.53 billion.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Walmart have risen 7.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 5.6%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
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From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.27, higher than the industry’s average of 33.08.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
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Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT | WMT Price Prediction) trades at $111.74 as I write this, and our proprietary model sees healthy runway from here. Our 24/7 Wall St. Price Target for Walmart is $131.04 over the next 12 months, implying 17.27% upside from current levels. I rate the stock a BUY with a confidence level of 90%. The setup: durable comp momentum, a scaling advertising business and a defensive sector profile when consumer sentiment is fragile.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $112.87 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $131.04 Upside 17.27% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% What the Recent Pullback Is Telling Us Shares of WMT are down nearly 17% from their YTD high on May 19. Admittedly, Walmart has cooled off, but that gives investors a more attractive entry. The stock is now down 0.9% YTD, but still higher by 8.37% over the past year.
The May 21, 2026 Q1 FY27 report showed revenue of $175.684 billion (up 6.08% year over year) and adjusted EPS of 66 cents, beating consensus. Global eCommerce grew 26%, advertising surged 37%, and Walmart U.S. comp sales rose 4.1% ex-fuel. Shares sold off 7.27% that day, a reaction more about expectations than execution.
How We Calculated $131.04 Our model started with a trailing P/E-based price of $113.01 and a forward P/E-based price of $112.75, then applied a 30% weight to the analyst consensus target of $138.59, arriving at a pre-adjustment weighted price of $120.55. Our 247Factor adjustment of 1.087 lifted the target, reflecting 86% bullish analyst sentiment, 19.4% earnings growth, a low beta of 0.603, and moderate retail sentiment.
The Case for $146 and Higher Our bull case points to $146.22, or 29.38% upside. High-margin businesses drive the path: global advertising grows at a 37% clip, marketplace sales climbed nearly 50% in Q1 (best in 10 quarters), and membership fee revenue rose 17.4%. Retail sales hit $763.7 billion in May 2026, a 12-month high, while share gains among upper-income households broaden the customer mix. A fresh $30 billion repurchase authorization provides operating leverage and shareholder-return firepower.
What Could Go Wrong Bears point to a rich valuation at a P/E of 39 and forward P/E of 38, well above retail peers. Consumer sentiment sits at just 44.8, deep in recessionary territory. Q1 free cash flow was negative $1.9 billion on elevated CapEx, inventory grew 8.9%, and Maximum Fair Pricing legislation created a 700 bps headwind in Health & Wellness. Our bear case lands at $116.96. Counterpoint: the FCF drag funds automation where about 50% of eCommerce fulfillment is already automated, which should compound margins.
How Walmart Compares to Costco and Amazon Costco (NASDAQ:COST) trades at an even richer multiple than Walmart, framing WMT’s ~39x P/E as expensive but not extreme within premium defensive retail. Costco’s membership economics validate the market’s willingness to pay up for recurring-revenue retail models, exactly the flywheel Walmart is building through Walmart+ and Sam’s Club.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is the eCommerce and advertising benchmark. Walmart’s 26% global eCommerce growth now outpaces Amazon’s retail segment, and Walmart Connect’s 44% ex-VIZIO growth suggests real share is being taken in retail media. Our 24/7 Wall St. Price Target looks reasonable, arguably conservative given the ad segment’s trajectory.
Why the Setup Looks Attractive The 24/7 Wall St. Price Target of $131.04, a BUY rating and 90% confidence reflect a rare combination: defensive earnings, digital growth and a stock down more than 13% over the past six months. The bullish path holds if advertising and membership continue scaling as they have. The cautious path takes hold if consumer sentiment at 44.8 foreshadows a broader spending contraction that even Walmart cannot outrun.
Walmart Price Prediction 2026–2030 Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $131.04 2027 $144.15 2028 $158.56 2029 $170.20 2030 $181.99 These projections assume Walmart continues executing on automation, advertising, and international expansion. Significant upside could come from a PhonePe IPO or accelerated ad monetization, while tariff uncertainty and consumer sentiment weakness remain primary downside risks.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Amazon a Walmart zrychlují propojení reklamy, vyhledávání, plateb a doručení, aby zkrátily cestu zákazníka od objevení produktu k nákupu. Tržní hodnota Amazonu 3 biliony USD je vnímána jako signál síly AI a cloudu.
Amazon and Walmart’s shopping assistants can reduce search and comparison work, but inconsistent handling of product attributes shows that trusted recommendations will depend on accurate, explainable data.
Walmart’s Vibe.co acquisition links connected-TV advertising to purchase data, while delivery initiatives turn stores into local distribution nodes capable of serving urgent consumer needs in minutes.
Amazon and Walmart are building integrated systems spanning advertising, product discovery, pricing, payments and delivery, with the advantage going to the retailer that makes this complexity feel simplest to consumers.
Amazon’s $3 trillion valuation, achieved this week, is being treated as an artificial intelligence and cloud computing milestone. For retail leaders, it should be read as a broader signal that investors value the infrastructure surrounding commerce as much as the sale itself.
The strategies both Amazon and Walmart are embracing are converging around a full commercial stack, including AI to guide demand, advertising to create it, marketplaces to capture it, payments to complete it and logistics to fulfill it.
Amazon’s retail operations remain essential because they provide the consumer relationships, merchant activity, and transaction data that support advertising, logistics and AI-powered shopping. Walmart is approaching the same model from the opposite direction. It begins with stores and merchandise, then adds media, software, data and automated fulfillment.
Both companies are trying to compress the customer journey from product discovery to purchase and delivery, all while gaining more influence over every decision inside it. The winner will not necessarily be the retailer with the largest assortment or the lowest price. It may be the company that removes the most consumer effort without sacrificing trust.
Amazon and Walmart are spending August making that strategy visible.
See also: Amazon and Walmart Face a New Gatekeeper for Loyalty
AI Is Moving Retail’s Consumer Interface Upstream For years, the dominant retail interface was a search box. A customer entered a product name, browsed a results page and compared options. AI shopping assistants are changing that sequence. Consumers can describe a need, such as something healthy for dinner, a television for a bright room or a last-minute birthday gift, and expect the retailer to narrow the choices.
The best shopping agent will not merely reduce choice. It will make consumers more confident in the choice it reduces.
Walmart’s finalization of its purchase of streaming-TV advertising platform Vibe.co this week extends the customer journey in this direction. Vibe’s self-service platform allows advertisers to launch campaigns across connected-TV publishers. Walmart plans to integrate that capability with Walmart Connect, its retail media business. The purchase was reportedly valued at approximately $1.4 billion, although Walmart did not disclose the price.
Walmart already knows what millions of households buy. Its 2024 acquisition of Vizio gave it a larger presence in the connected living room. Vibe adds software that helps brands buy the advertising appearing there. Together, those assets give Walmart an increasingly closed loop, as they expose a household to an advertisement, connect that exposure to digital or store activity and tell the advertiser whether the campaign produced a sale.
That sounds like a better experience. It is also a transfer of decision-making power. A cheerful chatbot cannot compensate for incomplete product records, unclear sourcing information or recommendations that customers cannot interrogate. Retailers need systems that can explain why an item was suggested, which product information was used and where uncertainty remains.
Read also: The Overlap Effect: How Amazon and Walmart Expanded the Crowd and Shrank the Basket
The High-Touch, High-Tech Convenience Infrastructure of the 21st-Century Retail Experience Amazon this week also said it received roughly $600 million in tariff refunds after the Supreme Court invalidated certain emergency-powers tariffs, CNBC reported. The company said it would automatically reimburse customers in cases where it could trace a tariff-related charge directly to a purchase. Amazon also said it had absorbed some costs and was not the importer of record for many products sold through its marketplace.
This can be viewed as a consumer experience decision. Amazon is using transaction data to turn an obscure trade policy reversal into a visible act of accountability.
Both retailers are now building systems that can anticipate demand, guide product selection, personalize advertising, absorb economic disruption and accelerate delivery. But owning every layer does not guarantee success. AI recommendations may attract regulatory scrutiny. Advertising acquisitions must produce returns. Drone networks must prove economical. Marketplace complexity can make consumer accountability harder rather than easier.
The strongest moves Amazon and Walmart are making right now are those that convert complex infrastructure into something the consumer barely notices.
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