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Walmart, Ulta Beauty, Costco, and BJ's are among the retailers well positioned to benefit as artificial intelligence transforms shopping and operations, according to TD Cowen.

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). 
 

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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.

Walmart Retail

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.

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Image: Shutterstock

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

The next retail battleground may be the few seconds between receiving a suspicious notification and clicking it. Amazon on Wednesday (Sept.

Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Download this episode on Apple Podcasts/Spotify or listen below:

An earnings beat wasn't enough to stop Broadcom (AVGO) from slipping. (00:14) The mystery of $7 ground beef has the DOJ’s attention. (01:36) Chipotle (CMG) is taking its burritos to Asia. (02:32)

This is an abridged transcript.

Broadcom (AVGO) is down 2.1% in premarket action after offering weaker-than-expected guidance that overshadowed its third-quarter results.

For the period ending Aug. 2, Broadcom said it earned an adjusted $3.32 per share as revenue soared 86% year-over-year to $29.59B.

Analysts had expected the company to earn an adjusted $3.23 per share on $29.45B in revenue.

Looking ahead, Broadcom said it expects fourth-quarter revenue to be approximately $34.8B, with adjusted EBITDA around 66%. Analysts had expected $35.1B in fourth-quarter sales, according to Bloomberg.

“Demand for our custom AI accelerators and networking continues to be very strong. Q3 AI semiconductor revenue of $16.7 billion grew 221% year-over-year, and 54% quarter-over-quarter,” said CEO Hock Tan in a statement. “In Q4 the momentum continues, and we expect AI semiconductor revenue to accelerate to $21.7 billion, up 236% year-over-year.”

Here’s a link to the transcript of the earnings call.

The U.S. Justice Department has widened its investigation into the meatpacking industry, requesting information from eight major grocery retailers as beef prices remain close to record levels.

The department said this week that Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward sent letters last month to Amazon.com (AMZN), Costco Wholesale (COST), Walmart (WMT), Albertsons, Kroger (KR), Ahold Delhaize’s (ADRNY) U.S. business, Publix, and Aldi.

The requests cover six years of data on how the retailers buy beef, their purchasing strategies, retail prices, profit margins, and assessments of the market, according to the department.

The inquiry is part of a broader examination announced by the Justice Department in May into possible antitrust violations in the meatpacking sector.

Ground beef sold for an average of $7.116 per pound in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, remaining near its record despite a modest easing.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) announced the opening of its first restaurant in Asia. The new location is in Seoul, South Korea.

Chipotle (CMG) noted that South Korea was selected because it is seen as having highly engaged and discerning consumers, a sophisticated restaurant culture, and strong appreciation for authenticity and ingredient quality.

Chipotle plans to continue its expansion with two more locations in South Korea by the end of 2026, followed by its first restaurant in Singapore in 2027.

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Tesla (TSLA) will hold an invite-only Cybercab launch event in Austin, Texas. The Cybercab is the company's purpose-built robotaxi that does not have a steering wheel or pedals. Reports indicate riders may be able to request the Cybercab through Tesla's existing Robotaxi app in Austin.

Match Group (MTCH) will hold an investor event hosted by CEO Spencer Rascoff to discuss the Tinder business.

Stock index futures are in mixed territory.

Crude oil is up 0.6% at $91. Brent crude is up 0.4% at $96.

The FTSE 100 is down 0.1% and the DAX is down 0.2%.

One stock on the biggest movers list: Snowflake (SNOW) +24% - Shares surged after the data warehousing company reported a strong fiscal Q2 and issued an upbeat outlook, with product revenue rising 37% Y/Y to $1.49B.

Economic calendar:

8:30 am Jobless Claims

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.

Click for the complete disclosure

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BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) announced today that company leadership will participate in upcoming investor events. Links to those with live webcasts can be found on Walmart’s investor relations website at stock.walmart.com.

Sep. 8: Barclays Global Staples Conference – Steph Wissink, senior vice president of investor relations, and Michael Marks, senior director of investor relations, will participate in meetings with investors.Sep. 9: Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference – Ryan Mayward, senior vice president of Walmart U.S. Connect advertising, will participate in meetings and a fireside chat at 1:30 p.m. CT. This session will be webcast live through the “Events” link at stock.walmart.com. A transcript of the session will be available after the event and will be archived on the company’s website.Sep. 15: Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference – Dave Guggina, Walmart U.S. president & CEO, will participate in meetings and a fireside chat at 11:35 a.m. CT. This session will be webcast live through the “Events” link at stock.walmart.com. A transcript of the session will be available after the event and will be archived on the company’s website.Sep. 16: Piper Sandler Growth Frontiers Conference – Manish Joneja, senior vice president of Walmart U.S. marketplace and WFS, will participate in meetings and a fireside chat at 11:00 a.m. CT. This session will be webcast live through the “Events” link at stock.walmart.com. A transcript of the session will be available after the event and will be archived on the company’s website.Sep. 24: Wells Fargo Consumer Conference – Mark Hardy, senior vice president of Walmart Data Ventures; Steph Wissink, senior vice president of investor relations; and Kary Brunner, senior director of investor relations will participate in meetings with investors.About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X at x.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.

More News From Walmart Inc.

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Khloé Kardashian's Khloud Plus Collagen Protein Chips have landed at Walmart. With 17g of total protein, including 2g of hydrolyzed collagen per 16-ounce bag, the launch puts Khloud's most functional product yet into Walmart's growing protein snack set nationwide, just as the retailer optimizes its protein and functional snack business.

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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BNP Paribas trimmed its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 18.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 143,790 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 32,052 shares during the period. BNP Paribas’ holdings in Walmart were worth $16,279,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Field & Main Bank purchased a new position in Walmart during the second quarter valued at $12,052,000. Prosperitas Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at $436,000. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at $1,496,000. Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,206,000. Finally, Archer Investment Corp purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,120,000. 26.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Walmart Price Performance NASDAQ WMT opened at $104.87 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.79 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The stock 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. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $111.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $120.24.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The company 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%.Walmart’s revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior 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. On average, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current year. Trending Headlines about Walmart 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 Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently commented on WMT shares. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, June 5th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target 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. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Walmart from $141.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walmart currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $131.88.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on WMT

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart In other Walmart news, EVP Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total value of $5,335,345.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 201,672 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,246,145.20. This trade represents a 20.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total transaction of $413,891.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 630,009 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $69,074,186.76. The trade was a 0.60% 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. Insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143 over the last quarter. 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.

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

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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.

Walmart WMT , the world's largest retailer, jumped approximately 1.3% to $104.45 Monday while nearly every major sector sank. Investors wanted shelter. With oil above $90 and rate fears squeezing consumer budgets, Walmart's groceries, essentials and bargain prices looked built for the moment.

The company's latest filing showed first-half operating cash flow rising $1.4 billion to $19.7 billion. But the headline has teeth. Free cash flow dropped $1.4 billion to $5.5 billion as capital spending surged, while inventory swelled 6.7% to $61.6 billion.

The stock now trades just 1.04% above its GF Value™ estimate of $103.37, putting the $104.45 price near fair value. Walmart can win as cash-strapped shoppers trade down, but higher fuel costs also punish freight margins and drain household spending power. Monday's rally says investors trust the defensive story. The next quarter must prove that rising traffic and inventory can turn into cash.

Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 8,895 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,007,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Walmart by 28.8% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 98,150 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,868,000 after purchasing an additional 21,939 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in Walmart by 5.8% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,849 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $800,000 after buying an additional 485 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Wealth Management lifted its stake in Walmart by 3.5% in the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in Walmart by 0.9% during the 2nd 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. grew its holdings in Walmart by 1.2% during the 2nd 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. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walmart Price Performance WMT stock opened at $103.09 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $820.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.90 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 Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.79 and a 1 year high of $135.15. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $111.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $120.45.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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 firm 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%.Walmart’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company 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. On average, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total value of $413,891.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed 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 Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total transaction of $5,335,345.40. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 201,672 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,246,145.20. The trade was a 20.07% 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. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. In 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 company insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting 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 Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently commented on WMT. BTIG Research dropped their price objective on shares of Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Guggenheim set a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 21st. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $126.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Roth Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Three research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Walmart presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.88.

View Our Latest Analysis on WMT

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.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Walmart 3 Financial Stocks Positioned for the Fed’s Next Move After Jackson Hole IREN’s AI Pivot Looks Real, But the Market Wanted a Faster Payoff After Earnings Boeing’s $131B F-15 Win: Mach 1 Momentum or Just Altitude? Okta Stock Surges 29%—Is $200 the Next Stop?

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Bristol Gate Capital Partners Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 536,487 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $60,763,000. Walmart comprises approximately 4.2% of Bristol Gate Capital Partners Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 16th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in WMT. State Street Corp increased its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 2,242,364 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 6.8% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 103,010,709 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $11,426,753,000 after purchasing an additional 6,517,394 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at about $6,458,529,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Walmart by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 40,626,852 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,526,238,000 after purchasing an additional 328,229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Walmart by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 36,820,550 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,102,546,000 after purchasing an additional 920,969 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total value of $413,891.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 630,009 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $69,074,186.76. The trade was a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total value of $5,335,345.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 201,672 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $21,246,145.20. The trade was a 20.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 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 sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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 Walmart Stock Performance NASDAQ:WMT opened at $103.09 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 firm has a market cap of $820.40 billion, a PE ratio of 37.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $111.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $120.45. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.79 and a 1-year high of $135.15.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 last year, the business 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. On average, equities analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets WMT has been the subject of several research reports. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and set a $130.00 price objective (down from $140.00) on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 21st. BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $126.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Roth Capital restated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $131.88.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WMT

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.

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 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 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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Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 10,099 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,144,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC raised its stake 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 in the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the business’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 value of $413,891.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 630,009 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $69,074,186.76. The trade was a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible 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 company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the executive vice president owned 201,672 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $21,246,145.20. This trade represents a 20.07% 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. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock valued at $8,421,143. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $128.00 price objective (down from $137.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Walmart from $137.00 to $125.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Walmart from $137.00 to $131.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Walmart to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Three equities research 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $131.88. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on WMT

Walmart Price Performance Shares of WMT opened at $103.09 on Friday. 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 Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $95.79 and a fifty-two week high of $135.15. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $111.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $120.45. The company has a market capitalization 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 (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous 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. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current year.

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 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.

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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Bcwm LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 76,114 shares of the retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $8,621,000. Walmart comprises approximately 2.5% of Bcwm LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest holding.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WMT. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Walmart by 1.2% in 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 lifted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 6.8% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 103,010,709 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $11,426,753,000 after buying an additional 6,517,394 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter worth $6,458,529,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 40,626,852 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,526,238,000 after acquiring an additional 328,229 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 2.6% in 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 during the period. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently commented on WMT shares. Oppenheimer reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday. Roth Capital restated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Citigroup lowered their target price 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. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $125.00 price target (down from $140.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Walmart currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus 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 Trading Up 0.4% Shares of WMT opened at $103.09 on Friday. 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 Inc. has a 52-week low of $95.79 and a 52-week high of $135.15. 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 business’s fifty day moving average is $111.90 and its 200-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 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. Walmart’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Walmart In related news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 directly owned 630,009 shares in the company, valued at $69,074,186.76. This represents a 0.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed 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 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 transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 569,153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $60,523,730.02. The trade was 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. Insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock valued at $8,421,143 in the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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 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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With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Monday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:

Wall Street expects Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ:SAIC) to post quarterly earnings of $2.31 per share on revenue of $1.77 billion before the opening bell, according to data from Benzinga Pro. SAIC shares rose 1.2% to $127.50 in after-hours trading. BiomX Inc. (NYSE:PHGE) disclosed a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of common stock. BiomX shares dipped 13.2% to $0.12 in the after-hours trading session. Analysts are expecting Pyxis Tankers Inc. (NASDAQ:PXS) to post quarterly earnings of 20 cents per share on revenue of $11.38 million after the closing bell. Pyxis Tankers shares gained 1.5% to $5.44 in after-hours trading. Check out our premarket coverage here

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) agreed to pay $50 million to settle a Department of Justice lawsuit alleging its pharmacies unlawfully filled opioid prescriptions, fueling the national opioid epidemic. Walmart shares gained 0.5% to close at $103.09 on Friday. Analysts expect Cango Inc. (NYSE:CANG) to post a quarterly loss of 90 cents per share on revenue of $101.97 million after the closing bell. Cango shares fell 1.8% to $2.19 in after-hours trading. Photo courtesy: Framalicious via Shutterstock

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Target Shares Tumble as Halloween Costume Backlash Puts Turnaround Under Pressure Summary

The setback comes as Target works to rebuild its brand and strengthen financial performance after a recent run of gains

Target TGT shares fell about 5% on early Wednesday after the retailer removed a Halloween costume from its shelves and apologized following customer backlash.

The item, a children's clown costume, drew criticism on social media over concerns that its design evoked racist imagery. Target said it had removed the product and acknowledged the controversy.

The episode adds another challenge for the retailer as it works to rebuild its business under Chief Executive Michael Fiddelke. The company has recently cut prices and refreshed merchandise, helping produce stronger results in consecutive quarters.

The controversy may also reinforce concerns about Target's competitive position against Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST), particularly as the retailer seeks to strengthen customer relationships and improve its financial performance.

The recall could create near-term pressure on Target shares if consumer backlash expands, even as its broader turnaround remains underway.

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.

Click for the complete disclosure

Key Takeaways Walmart's digital expansion, fulfillment capabilities and new business areas support growth. MercadoLibre's engagement, services, logistics and technology initiatives strengthen its ecosystem. WMT and MELI face near-term estimate pressure, while long-term growth prospects remain supportive. As Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) and MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI - Free Report) continue to strengthen their respective commerce ecosystems, a closer look at the two stocks can help investors assess their individual investment prospects.

Walmart is a global omnichannel retailer with a vast store network and growing digital ecosystem spanning e-commerce, marketplace, advertising, membership and fulfillment services. Its scale, price leadership, delivery capabilities and expanding high-margin businesses continue to strengthen its long-term growth profile. The company has a market capitalization of roughly $839 billion.

MercadoLibre is Latin America’s leading e-commerce and fintech platform, operating an integrated ecosystem across online commerce, payments, credit, advertising and financial services. Expanding user engagement, logistics capabilities, Mercado Pago adoption and AI-driven initiatives continue to support its growth opportunities across the region. MELI has a market capitalization of roughly $101 billion.

The Case for WalmartWalmart’s fundamental strength rests on the durability of its omnichannel retail model. Its scale, broad assortment and price leadership continue to support traffic and market-share gains across categories and income groups. At the same time, the company’s store network has evolved into a strategic fulfillment asset, enabling faster delivery and allowing Walmart to serve customers across more shopping occasions.

WMT’s digital transformation is also becoming more meaningful. Global e-commerce sales rose 23% in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, with momentum being supported by store-fulfilled delivery, marketplace expansion and improved fulfillment capabilities. Faster delivery is helping deepen customer engagement, increase shopping frequency and strengthen Walmart+ adoption, while the physical network provides an important cost and convenience advantage.

Another positive is the changing profit mix. Advertising, membership, marketplace, fulfillment services and data solutions are becoming larger contributors alongside the core retail business. These businesses generally carry more attractive economics and are helping improve e-commerce profitability as scale, delivery density and automation increase. Walmart is also extending successful platforms across international markets. This should improve operating efficiency and allow the company to leverage technology, marketplace and membership investments more broadly.

Near-term pressures remain, including pharmacy deflation, higher healthcare and claims costs, and continued spending on price and customer experience. Still, the underlying business remains resilient, and management’s raised fiscal-year outlook reinforces confidence in the durability of WMT’s growth model.

The Case for MercadoLibreMercadoLibre’s strength rests on the reinforcing relationship between its commerce and fintech operations. Users who engage with both the marketplace and Mercado Pago tend to shop more frequently, use more services and generate stronger profitability. Ecosystemic users grew 37% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, underscoring the increasing depth of engagement across the platform.

The commerce business continues to benefit from broader selection, improving convenience and stronger buyer engagement. Initiatives such as lower free-shipping thresholds in Brazil have encouraged customers to purchase across more categories and return more frequently, while logistics capabilities and cross-border trade support assortment and service quality.

Mercado Pago adds another powerful growth engine. Payments, acquiring, savings products and credit are becoming more deeply embedded within the ecosystem. The company has also shifted its credit portfolio toward lower-risk users and strengthened underwriting, supporting healthy asset quality as the business scales. Advertising and artificial intelligence provide additional upside. AI-enhanced search is improving conversion and ad relevance, while MercadoLibre’s proprietary data across commerce, payments, credit and logistics strengthens personalization and operating efficiency.

Margins remain under pressure from commerce initiatives, acquiring costs and logistics expenses. Still, these pressures largely reflect deliberate spending to deepen engagement and expand scale. Taken together, MercadoLibre’s expanding ecosystem, growing fintech capabilities and technology-led execution provide multiple avenues to sustain growth and enhance user engagement across Latin America.

Earnings Estimate Trends for WMT & MELIFor Walmart, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current and next fiscal-year earnings per share (EPS) has declined to $2.87 and $3.23, respectively, over the past 30 days. However, the estimates imply year-over-year growth of 8.7% and 12.4%, respectively.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MELI’s current and next year EPS has also trended downward to $39.11 and $56.05, respectively. While the consensus mark for the current year EPS suggests a 0.7% decline from the year-ago period level, the consensus estimate for the next year calls for 43.3% growth.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Overall, the estimate trends indicate some near-term caution for both stocks, while their longer-term earnings growth expectations remain supportive.

WMT & MELI: Stock Price Performance Over the Past YearWalmart’s steady execution and expanding digital businesses have supported its stock performance, while MercadoLibre shares have faced pressure despite continued business growth. Over the past year, Walmart shares have jumped 9.7%, while MercadoLibre has tumbled 17.3%. The divergence also highlights different market expectations around growth, valuation and profitability.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WMT vs. MELI: A Look at ValuationWalmart currently trades at a forward P/E of 34.26, below its one-year median of 38.67. MercadoLibre’s forward P/E of 39.82 stands above its one-year median of 34.47.

The valuation comparison suggests Walmart is trading below its recent historical average, making its current multiple appear more reasonable. MercadoLibre trades at a higher valuation, reflecting strong growth expectations around its commerce and fintech ecosystem. However, the premium valuation also means investors may closely watch execution and future growth trends.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
 

WMT or MELI: Which Stock Wins the Face-Off Now?MercadoLibre’s integrated commerce and fintech ecosystem offers significant growth opportunities, supported by rising engagement, expanding financial services and technology-driven initiatives across Latin America. However, its higher valuation places greater importance on continued execution and sustained growth. Walmart, meanwhile, combines a highly resilient retail foundation with expanding digital, advertising, membership and marketplace businesses that are improving its growth profile and overall economics. Given its balance of stability, consistent execution, improving business mix and valuation support, Walmart appears to be the better bet now.

Both WMT and MELI currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

When Walmart reported its fiscal Q2 '27 financial results on August 20th, the stock promptly fell 10.5%, now trading below its 50- and 200-day moving averages. Another tipoff that points to weaker traffic in the quarter was the inventory-to-sales ratio, with sales +6% for the quarter while inventory rose 7% y-o-y. The consumer staples sector in general and Walmart in particular typically trade at lofty multiples given the consistency and stability of their earnings growth each quarter.

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walmart is introducing Scenario, a new women's fashion brand bringing a romantic, modern bohemian point of view to customers at an incredible value. Available now in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com, the 280-piece collection spans apparel, shoes, jewelry, handbags and accessories, with the vast majority of items priced under $25. Scenario combines feminine silhouettes, vintage-inspired prints and rich textures with versatile pieces designed for everyday life.