Walmart’s stock has received a renewed “outperform” rating from the Telsey Advisory Group, which issued a note to investors on Thursday. The firm set a price objective of $115.00 for the retail giant, suggesting a potential upside of 15.05% from its current trading price.
Other analysts have also weighed in on Walmart’s performance. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “buy” rating with a target price of $117.00 on May 16. Additionally, Evercore ISI raised its target from $107.00 to $108.00, maintaining an “outperform” rating. On May 12, Wall Street Zen upgraded Walmart from “hold” to “buy,” while Mizuho increased its target from $105.00 to $115.00. KeyCorp also adjusted its price target from $105.00 to $110.00.
Analysts remain generally optimistic about Walmart’s stock, with one holding a “hold” rating, thirty-one assigning a “buy” rating, and one giving a “strong buy” rating. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” with an average target price of $107.47.
Current Stock Performance and Financial Overview
On Thursday, Walmart shares opened at $99.96. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $97.60 and a 200-day moving average of $95.59. With a market capitalization of $797.72 billion, Walmart is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.72 and a PEG ratio of 4.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.78, and a quick ratio of 0.22. Over the past year, Walmart’s stock reached a low of $72.52 and a high of $105.30.
Walmart’s quarterly earnings report, released on May 15, revealed earnings per share (EPS) of $0.61, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $0.58. The company reported revenues of $165.61 billion for the quarter, surpassing anticipated revenues of $164.53 billion. Walmart’s return on equity stands at 21.76%, with a net margin of 2.75%. This marks a 2.5% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year, when the company posted an EPS of $0.60. Analysts project that Walmart will achieve an EPS of 2.55 for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity and Institutional Investments
In recent insider transactions, Executive Vice President Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,744 shares of Walmart on July 15, at an average price of $95.60, amounting to a total of $166,726.40. Following the sale, Bartlett holds 649,233 shares, valued at approximately $62,066,674.80, reflecting a 0.27% decrease in ownership. Another executive, John D. Rainey, sold 2,200 shares on August 1 for an average price of $98.30, totaling $216,260.00. After this transaction, Rainey retains 626,118 shares, valued at around $61,547,399.40, indicating a 0.35% reduction in his position.
Insiders have sold a total of 144,334 shares of Walmart stock, valued at $13,913,350, in the last quarter. Currently, insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.
Several institutional investors have also adjusted their holdings in Walmart. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake worth approximately $26,000 during the second quarter. Operose Advisors LLC increased its stake by 319.7% in the first quarter and now owns 319 shares valued at $28,000. PFS Partners LLC raised its stake by 267.8% in the second quarter, owning 320 shares valued at $31,000. Bear Mountain Capital Inc. boosted its position by 98.2% in the first quarter, while Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd increased its stake by a remarkable 432.4%. Collectively, hedge funds and institutional investors hold 26.76% of Walmart’s stock.
Walmart Inc. operates retail, wholesale, and eCommerce segments worldwide, functioning through Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam’s Club. The company manages various store formats, including supercenters, supermarkets, and membership-only warehouse clubs, alongside its online platforms.
