Key Points
- CEO John Furner sold 13,125 Walmart shares for approximately $1.58 million at an average price of $120.60 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. He retained 634,790 shares worth roughly $76.6 million.
- Walmart reported strong quarterly results, with revenue up 5.9% year over year to $187.94 billion and EPS of $0.81, exceeding analyst expectations. The company raised fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.80–$2.87.
- Analysts remain broadly bullish, with a consensus “Buy” rating and average price target of $132.41, though several firms recently lowered their targets. Risks include Walmart’s elevated valuation and pressure from rising operating and merchandise costs.
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT - Get Free Report) EVP Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.60, for a total transaction of $349,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 563,353 shares in the company, valued at $67,940,371.80. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Christopher James Nicholas also recently made the following trade(s):
- On Thursday, September 17th, Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.65, for a total value of $309,285.00.
- On Thursday, August 20th, Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total value of $308,386.00.
Walmart Stock Up 0.8%
Shares of Walmart stock traded up $0.94 during trading on Friday, reaching $118.81. The company's stock had a trading volume of 20,604,799 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,941,198. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $942.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.89, a P/E/G ratio of 4.49 and a beta of 0.58. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $98.88 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $108.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $116.23.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.68 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current year.
Walmart News Summary
Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank upgraded Walmart to Buy and raised its price target to $136 from $113. The bank cited a favorable 2027 outlook, inflation-driven customer traffic and growth opportunities in advertising, marketplace services and Walmart+ membership income. Walmart is a buy as inflation attracts more customers, says Deutsche Bank
- Positive Sentiment: Investors are increasingly valuing Walmart’s higher-margin revenue streams. The retailer’s global e-commerce sales rose 23% in the latest quarter, while marketplace, advertising and membership growth could improve profitability beyond its traditional low-price retail model. Walmart also raised fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.80-$2.87. Walmart Stock Gets an Upgrade as Analyst Sees More Room to Run
- Positive Sentiment: Expanded employee benefits may support Walmart’s long-term investment story. The company added more than 250 free prescription drugs and up to 12 weeks of paid NICU leave. While benefits could raise costs, Deutsche Bank viewed the move alongside fee-based growth as evidence Walmart is investing in employee retention and more profitable operations. How Benefit Expansion At Walmart Has Changed Its Investment Story
- Neutral Sentiment: Recent operating results remain solid. Walmart’s latest quarterly revenue increased 5.9% year over year to $187.94 billion, and EPS exceeded analyst expectations. Faster pickup, delivery and digital initiatives could further support holiday sales and Walmart+ engagement, though the stock’s elevated valuation limits room for disappointment. Can Walmart’s Faster Shopping Options Boost Holiday Sales Growth?
- Negative Sentiment: Rising costs remain a risk. Walmart and Target are facing pressure from higher operating and merchandise costs, which could squeeze margins if the retailers cannot pass expenses on to consumers. Walmart, Target Face a New Price Problem as Costs Surge
- Negative Sentiment: Several executives reported stock sales, including CEO John Furner. The transactions were conducted under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans and executives retained substantial holdings, reducing their significance, but insider selling can still temper sentiment at recent highs.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Walmart
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Walmart in the second quarter valued at approximately $6,451,000. Advisortrust Partners LLC increased its holdings in Walmart by 20.2% in the 1st quarter. Advisortrust Partners LLC now owns 67,142 shares of the retailer's stock worth $8,344,000 after buying an additional 11,283 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $7,455,131,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA raised its position in 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. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in Walmart by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 2,416,580 shares of the retailer's stock worth $300,333,000 after buying an additional 68,632 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company's stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WMT shares. DA Davidson restated a "buy" rating and set a $132.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Walmart from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $132.41.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Walmart
Walmart Company Profile
(
Get Free Report)
Walmart Inc (NASDAQ: WMT) is a multinational retailer that operates supercenters, discount stores, neighborhood markets, warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms. Its merchandise includes groceries, apparel, electronics, home goods, health and wellness products, household essentials and general merchandise. Walmart also provides services such as grocery pickup and delivery, pharmacy services, financial products and digital advertising.
The company serves customers through its Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club segments.
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