Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) Trading 1.6% Higher After Analyst Upgrade

Shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) traded up 1.6% on Wednesday after BTIG Research raised their price target on the stock from $125.00 to $140.00. BTIG Research currently has a buy rating on the stock. Walmart traded as high as $129.74 and last traded at $128.77. 19,165,619 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 52% from the average session volume of 40,284,879 shares. The stock had previously closed at $126.70.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on WMT. Tigress Financial lifted their target price on shares of Walmart from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Walmart from $125.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, January 18th. Thirty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $127.19.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.99, for a total value of $1,574,868.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 727,155 shares in the company, valued at approximately $87,251,328.45. This trade represents a 1.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.17, for a total transaction of $2,313,804.72. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 4,274,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $509,434,589.52. This trade represents a 0.45% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 229,196 shares of company stock worth $26,957,858. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Walmart News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and higher targets: BTIG raised its price target from $125 to $140 and reiterated a buy rating, and other outlets report recent analyst upgrades that helped push WMT to a new 52‑week high — a driver of near‑term upside as momentum and analyst sentiment attract buyers. BTIG price target raise
• Positive Sentiment: Institutional buying: Fisher Asset Management materially increased its Walmart stake, signaling confidence from a large investor and supporting share demand. Institutional flows can sustain rallies and validate valuation at higher multiples. Fisher stake boost
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst bullishness on long‑term growth/valuation: Mizuho and other analysts published bullish forecasts and pieces arguing WMT’s steady sales growth, market‑share gains and higher‑margin businesses justify a premium multiple — supporting investor conviction at current levels. Mizuho forecast
• Neutral Sentiment: Omnichannel and next‑gen stores: Coverage of Walmart’s Jacksonville Supercenter highlights execution on faster delivery, improved store layouts and digital integration — long‑term positives but benefits will play out over quarters. These initiatives underpin the growth story but don’t remove near‑term volatility. Jacksonville Supercenter report
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro retail data mixed: December retail sales were flat, which is a caution for consumer spending trends; analysts still list Walmart among value winners if shoppers “trade down,” so macro data is a watch item rather than an immediate verdict. Retail sales stall
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive landscape: Kroger’s hiring of Greg Foran (ex‑Walmart U.S.) adds a credible competitor focused on store execution; this raises the strategic stakes but is a longer‑term competitive dynamic. Kroger leadership change
• Negative Sentiment: Estée Lauder lawsuit over counterfeit marketplace listings: Estée Lauder sued Walmart alleging third‑party sellers sold counterfeit premium beauty brands and that Walmart facilitated those sales. Legal exposure, potential damages, and reputational risk could pressure shares if the case leads to material liability or forces costly marketplace changes. Estée Lauder lawsuit

Institutional Trading of Walmart

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Collier Financial purchased a new position in Walmart during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the second quarter worth $26,000. Entrust Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new stake in Walmart during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Walmart in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. 26.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Walmart Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.03 trillion, a PE ratio of 45.02, a P/E/G ratio of 4.84 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 0.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $117.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $107.82.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The retailer reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.02. Walmart had a net margin of 3.26% and a return on equity of 21.31%. The business had revenue of $179.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $175.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.58 EPS. Walmart’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Walmart Company Profile

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.