Walmart (WMT) to Release Earnings on Thursday

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) is anticipated to release its results before the market opens on Thursday, February 19th. Analysts expect Walmart to post earnings of $0.73 per share and revenue of $188.3683 billion for the quarter. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The retailer reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) 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 company had revenue of $179.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $175.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.58 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Walmart to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Walmart Stock Up 1.6%

WMT opened at $128.77 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.24. The company has a market capitalization of $1.03 trillion, a PE ratio of 45.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.84 and a beta of 0.65. The business has a 50-day moving average of $117.36 and a 200-day moving average of $107.82. Walmart has a fifty-two week low of $79.81 and a fifty-two week high of $131.79.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WMT has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, January 18th. DA Davidson set a $130.00 target price on Walmart and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Walmart from $110.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $140.00 price objective (up from $130.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective (up from $125.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Thirty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $127.19.

More Walmart News

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other news, EVP John D. Rainey sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.27, for a total transaction of $2,445,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 506,764 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $61,962,034.28. This trade represents a 3.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,388 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $166,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 645,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $77,477,040. The trade was a 0.21% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 229,196 shares of company stock valued at $26,957,858 in the last quarter. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Walmart

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Stirlingshire Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the fourth quarter valued at $242,000. Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Walmart during the fourth quarter worth about $272,000. Gateway Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Walmart by 29.4% during the fourth quarter. Gateway Wealth Partners LLC now owns 11,548 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,287,000 after buying an additional 2,626 shares in the last quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management raised its position in Walmart by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 274,867 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $30,623,000 after purchasing an additional 9,604 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC now owns 19,188 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $2,142,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

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.