Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ Grows Stake in Walmart Inc. $WMT

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ grew its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 5.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 951,422 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 47,317 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ’s holdings in Walmart were worth $98,149,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the second quarter valued at $5,367,770,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Walmart by 9,648.7% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,486,374 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,123,138,000 after acquiring an additional 11,368,549 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Walmart by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 431,817,510 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $42,223,116,000 after acquiring an additional 5,856,468 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its holdings in Walmart by 23.5% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 19,493,644 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,902,775,000 after purchasing an additional 3,710,506 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AGF Management Ltd. boosted its position in Walmart by 1,176.6% during the second quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 3,317,487 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $324,384,000 after purchasing an additional 3,057,612 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMT has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, January 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $129.00 target price (up previously from $122.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Monday, January 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Walmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $119.00 price target for the company. in a report on Thursday, January 8th. KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $145.00 price objective (up from $128.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $132.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Thirty-two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $127.74.

Walmart Stock Performance

Shares of WMT opened at $133.89 on Tuesday. Walmart Inc. has a 12-month low of $79.81 and a 12-month high of $134.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The company has a market cap of $1.07 trillion, a PE ratio of 46.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.12 and a beta of 0.65. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $118.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $108.65.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last announced its 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 period last year, the firm posted $0.58 earnings per share. Walmart’s quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In related news, EVP Donna Morris sold 76,181 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.79, for a total transaction of $9,430,445.99. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 402,072 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $49,772,492.88. This trade represents a 15.93% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,388 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total value of $166,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 645,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $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 227,566 shares of company stock worth $26,790,653 in the last three months. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

More Walmart News

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: WMT has rallied ~20% so far in 2026 and recently hit an all‑time high, drawing attention from momentum and large‑cap investors. Walmart Stock Surges 20% in 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Major funds have added to WMT stakes (Maverick Capital and Soros Fund Management), signalling institutional conviction and providing buying support. Maverick Capital Boosts Walmart Stake Soros Fund Management Boosts Walmart Stake
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts note Walmart’s defensive positioning — value pricing, e‑commerce strength and disciplined inventory — which could sustain resilience if consumer spending remains uneven. Walmart Holds the Edge in an Uncertain Retail Environment
• Neutral Sentiment: Market consensus and previews are focused on the Feb. 19 earnings print (est. Q4 EPS ~$0.73; revenue ~$188.5B), with attention on same‑store sales, ad revenue and AI/e‑commerce traction; results and guidance will likely drive near‑term moves. Wall Street Brunch: Walmart Weighs In As Q4 GDP Hits
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple previews and market calendars flag WMT as a headline event this week alongside macro data (inflation, PCE); expect volatility around macro prints and the earnings call. What to Expect in Markets This Week
• Negative Sentiment: Some coverage highlights structural shopper shifts and valuation concerns despite the rally — warnings that elevated multiples and changing customer behavior could pressure upside if growth softens. Walmart shopper shift is a brutal reality check for retail
• Negative Sentiment: Some market lists and commentators flag WMT as a potential sell or caution trade given stretched valuation after the run‑up, suggesting profit‑taking risk ahead of earnings. 1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Analog Devices, Walmart

Walmart 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.