Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) saw its shares increase by 1.5% on Friday, reaching a peak of $119.41 before closing at $119.14. During the trading day, approximately 21.58 million shares changed hands, marking a significant drop of 52% compared to its average daily volume of 45.42 million shares. The previous day’s close was $117.41.
In recent analyst ratings, various research firms have expressed differing views on Walmart’s stock. BTIG Research maintained a “buy” rating with a target price of $125.00, while Deutsche Bank downgraded its rating from “buy” to “hold,” setting a price objective of $119.00. Piper Sandler increased its target price from $111.00 to $123.00 while restating an “overweight” rating. UBS Group confirmed a “buy” rating with a higher target of $135.00, and Mizuho set a target price of $125.00 with an “outperform” rating. Overall, 32 research analysts have rated the stock as a buy, while two analysts opted for a hold rating, contributing to a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $123.37.
Looking at its financial metrics, Walmart’s fifty-day moving average now stands at $114.20, and its two-hundred-day moving average is $105.79. The company boasts a market capitalization of $949.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.66, and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.97. Financial indicators reflect a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.24, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.
In its last earnings report from November 20, Walmart posted earnings per share of $0.62, surpassing expectations of $0.60, alongside revenues of $179.5 billion, exceeding forecasts of $175.15 billion. This translated to a year-over-year revenue increase of 5.8%. Walmart’s net margin sits at 3.26% with a return on equity of 21.31%. For the fiscal year 2026, the company has guided earnings per share (EPS) in the range of 2.580 to 2.630, with analysts forecasting 2.55 EPS for the current year.
Corporate insiders have also been active, with EVP John R. Furner and CEO C. Douglas McMillon recently selling shares valued at over $3.6 million combined, representing minor reductions in their holdings. In total, insiders have disposed of 135,215 shares worth approximately $15.30 million in the last three months.
From an institutional investment standpoint, there have been notable movements. Vanguard Group increased its stake by 1.0%, holding nearly 440 million shares worth about $49 billion. State Street Corp also boosted its holdings by 1.2%, with a total investment of around $19 billion. Other hedge funds, including Geode Capital Management and Fisher Asset Management, have similarly adjusted their stakes. Currently, institutional investors account for 26.76% of Walmart’s total equity.
Walmart continues to adapt to changing consumer dynamics by blending its extensive physical presence with digital and e-commerce offerings, maintaining its competitive edge in the retail sector. Founded by Sam Walton in 1962, the company operates a variety of formats including supercenters and neighborhood grocery stores, now headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.
With a solid financial foundation and a mix of investor confidence, Walmart seems poised for continued growth and adaptation in a competitive landscape.