Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) received an upgraded rating from Telsey Advisory Group, which reaffirmed its “outperform” designation in a note to investors issued on Thursday. The advisory firm set a price target of $115.00 for Walmart’s stock, suggesting a potential upside of 15.05% from its current trading position.
Several other equities research analysts have also weighed in on Walmart’s performance. On May 16, DA Davidson maintained a “buy” rating while setting a price target of $117.00. Additionally, Evercore ISI raised its price target from $107.00 to $108.00, continuing to endorse an “outperform” rating. In reports from June 9, both Mizuho and KeyCorp increased their price targets to $115.00 and $110.00 respectively, with Mizuho also rating the stock as “outperform” and KeyCorp assigning it an “overweight” rating.
The consensus among analysts indicates strong support for Walmart, with one hold rating, thirty-one buy ratings, and one strong buy rating. According to data from MarketBeat, the average consensus rating for Walmart remains “Buy” with a target price of $107.47.
Current Stock Performance and Financial Overview
As of Thursday, Walmart’s shares opened at $99.96, reflecting a 0.9% decline. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $97.60 and a 200-day moving average of $95.59. Walmart boasts a market capitalization of $797.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.72, and a PEG ratio of 4.84. The company’s debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.47, with a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.22. Over the past year, Walmart’s stock has fluctuated between a low of $72.52 and a high of $105.30.
Walmart recently reported its quarterly earnings on May 15, posting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.61, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $0.58. The retailer’s revenue for the quarter reached $165.61 billion, surpassing the estimated $164.53 billion. The company achieved a return on equity of 21.76% and a net margin of 2.75%, with quarterly revenue increasing by 2.5% compared to the same period last year.
Insider Transactions and Institutional Holdings
In related news, Walmart’s executive vice president, Daniel J. Bartlett, sold 1,744 shares of the company’s stock on July 15 at an average price of $95.60, amounting to a total transaction value of $166,726.40. Following this sale, he retains 649,233 shares valued at approximately $62,066,674.80. Another executive, John D. Rainey, sold 2,200 shares on August 1 for a total of $216,260.00, after which he held 626,118 shares valued at about $61,547,399.40. In the last quarter, insiders sold a total of 144,334 shares valued at $13,913,350, representing 0.10% of the company’s stock.
Several institutional investors have recently adjusted their holdings in Walmart. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in the second quarter, valued at approximately $26,000. Meanwhile, Operose Advisors LLC increased its stake by 319.7% during the first quarter, now owning 319 shares valued at $28,000. Other investors, such as PFS Partners LLC and Bear Mountain Capital Inc., have also significantly increased their positions in Walmart.
In total, hedge funds and institutional investors now hold 26.76% of the company’s stock, reflecting continued interest in Walmart’s growth potential. As the retail giant continues to navigate the changing landscape, its strategic initiatives and robust performance metrics will likely keep it on the radar of investors and analysts alike.
