Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) Stock Price Up 3.8% on Analyst Upgrade

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)’s share price was up 3.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday 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 $134.49 and last traded at $133.64. Approximately 33,303,658 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 17% from the average daily volume of 40,045,469 shares. The stock had previously closed at $128.77.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on WMT. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $132.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Mizuho raised their price objective on Walmart from $125.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, CICC Research assumed coverage on Walmart in a research note on Friday, December 26th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $125.00 price target for the company. Thirty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Walmart currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $127.19.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In related news, SVP David Chojnowski sold 7,000 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.65, for a total transaction of $746,550.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 136,289 shares in the company, valued at $14,535,221.85. The trade was a 4.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP John D. Rainey sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.27, for a total value of $2,445,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 506,764 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $61,962,034.28. The trade was a 3.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 229,196 shares of company stock valued at $26,957,858. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Walmart

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raising price targets and ratings — Oppenheimer bumped its WMT target to $140 and kept an Outperform rating, and BTIG also raised its target to $140, supporting upside expectations. Walmart Inc. (WMT) Price Target Increased at Oppenheimer as Firm Eyes Solid Q4
• Positive Sentiment: Additional analyst momentum — Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an Outperform with a $135 target and other firms (Mizuho, BTIG) have issued bullish commentary, lending broad sell‑side support. Analyst coverage (Benzinga)
• Positive Sentiment: Institutional buying — Fisher Asset Management boosted its Walmart stake, signaling confidence from a major asset manager and providing structural demand for the shares. Fisher Asset Management Boosts Walmart Stake
• Positive Sentiment: Expectations for earnings growth — previews from Zacks and coverage around likely beats/guidance have reinforced a buy thesis ahead of the Feb. 19 report. Walmart (WMT) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings event scheduled — Walmart will host its Q4 earnings call on Feb. 19; execution/guidance from that call is the near-term catalyst investors are watching. Walmart To Host Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call February 19, 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Dividend/long-term stories and sector context — pieces highlighting dividend aristocrats and retail winners (including WMT) contribute to steady investor interest but are lower-impact near-term. 3 Dividend Aristocrat Stocks To Buy for Reliable Income In 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive landscape note — Kroger’s management shakeup got attention this week; a revitalized competitor is a strategic watch but not an immediate earnings shock to Walmart. Kroger’s New CEO: A Turnaround Play in Aisle 4?
• Negative Sentiment: Legal/marketplace risk — Estée Lauder sued Walmart alleging counterfeit products sold via Walmart’s marketplace; this raises reputational and potential remediation costs and keeps marketplace controls under investor scrutiny. Estée Lauder sues Walmart for selling counterfeits

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walmart

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Collier Financial acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Access Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Walmart during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new stake in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. 26.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walmart Stock Up 3.8%

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 market cap of $1.07 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.73, a PEG ratio of 4.92 and a beta of 0.65. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $117.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $108.00.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The retailer reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.02. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 3.26%.The firm had revenue of $179.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $175.15 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.58 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Walmart

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.