Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) Receives Hold Rating from Erste Group Bank

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT)‘s stock had its “hold” rating reaffirmed by analysts at Erste Group Bank in a report released on Thursday.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on WMT. Raymond James Financial reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Mizuho upped their price target on Walmart from $125.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Walmart from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $150.00 target price on Walmart in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.42.

Walmart Trading Down 0.1%

NASDAQ:WMT opened at $127.81 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.02 trillion, a P/E ratio of 46.65, a P/E/G ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 0.66. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $121.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $110.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 0.79. Walmart has a 52 week low of $79.81 and a 52 week high of $134.69.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The retailer reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.01. Walmart had a net margin of 3.07% and a return on equity of 21.44%. The firm had revenue of $190.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $188.37 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.66 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 0.610-0.610 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Walmart will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.99, for a total transaction of $1,574,868.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 727,155 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $87,251,328.45. The trade was a 1.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 34,082 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.00, for a total transaction of $4,158,004.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 533,466 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $65,082,852. The trade was a 6.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 279,703 shares of company stock worth $34,140,843. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new position in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Walmart News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Underlying business momentum and e‑commerce strength support valuations — analysts and comparison pieces highlight Walmart’s strong omnichannel execution and continued e‑commerce growth, reinforcing the case that WMT’s core retail operations remain healthy. Walmart vs. Target: Which Stock Is a Better Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: PhonePe IPO could be a material monetization path — reports say PhonePe (Walmart‑backed) is targeting up to a $10.5B valuation in an India IPO, which could lift investor expectations for future value from Walmart’s stake and international fintech exposure. Exclusive: Walmart-backed PhonePe targets up to $10.5 billion valuation in India IPO, sources say
• Positive Sentiment: Bullish investor write‑ups reiterate long‑term case — recent bullish summaries highlight WMT’s scale, tight operations and brand strength, supporting buy‑and‑hold sentiment among value and income investors. Is Walmart Inc. (WMT) A Good Stock To Buy Now?
• Positive Sentiment: Store expansion and new format rollout continue — Walmart opened a “next‑generation” Supercenter in Florida, an example of ongoing investment in store experience that supports omnichannel reach. Walmart Opens Next Generation Supercenter in The Villages, Highlights Florida‑Grown Products
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor presentation/transcript released — Walmart presented at the Morgan Stanley TMT conference; transcripts provide detail but contain no single market‑moving surprise in headlines. Investors may parse the remarks for tech/AI and supply‑chain commentary. Walmart Inc. (WMT) Presents at Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference 2026 Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Tariff and import exposure remains a tangible risk — analysis highlights that tariffs and rising trade frictions could raise costs for Walmart given its heavy import/manufacturing footprint, pressuring margins if costs can’t be passed to consumers. Walmart: Navigating A Bumpy Tariff Environment
• Negative Sentiment: Competing retail upside (Target) could divert investor dollars — renewed bullishness around Target’s turnaround may draw discretionary retail allocations away from Walmart and pressure relative performance. Target’s 2026 Turnaround: Analysts Bullish as Growth Returns
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale disclosed — EVP John Rainey sold ~20,000 shares (disclosed), a modest reduction in insider holdings that some investors view as a near‑term negative signal despite its small size relative to total holdings. SEC Form 4 disclosure — John D. Rainey sale

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.