BNP Paribas Sells 32,052 Shares of Walmart Inc. $WMT

Key Points

• BNP Paribas reduced its Walmart stake by 18.2% in the second quarter, selling 32,052 shares and retaining 143,790 shares valued at approximately $16.3 million. Several other institutional investors initiated new Walmart positions during the period.
• Walmart reported quarterly adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share and revenue of $187.94 billion, exceeding analyst estimates; revenue increased 5.9% year over year.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and average price target of $131.88, although several firms recently reduced their targets and one downgraded the stock to “Hold.”

BNP Paribas trimmed its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT - Free Report) by 18.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 143,790 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 32,052 shares during the period. BNP Paribas' holdings in Walmart were worth $16,279,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Field & Main Bank purchased a new position in Walmart during the second quarter valued at $12,052,000. Prosperitas Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at $436,000. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at $1,496,000. Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,206,000. Finally, Archer Investment Corp purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,120,000. 26.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Walmart Price Performance

NASDAQ WMT opened at $104.87 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.79 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $834.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.86, a PEG ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.61. The business's fifty day moving average price is $111.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $120.24.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.Walmart's revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.68 earnings per share. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Trending Headlines about Walmart

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle U.S. Justice Department allegations involving improperly filled opioid prescriptions. Although the settlement carries a financial cost and reputational risk, it is viewed favorably because it resolves litigation that had exposed the company to potentially billions of dollars in civil penalties. Walmart described the payment as immaterial. Walmart escapes major legal penalty for a fraction of the cost
• Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s U.S. marketplace sales increased 52%, supported by a broader product selection, greater use of fulfillment services and international expansion in Mexico and Canada. Sustaining this momentum could improve e-commerce growth and marketplace profitability. Walmart's Marketplace Momentum Builds
• Positive Sentiment: Tigress Financial reaffirmed its buy rating and set a $155 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. This reflects confidence in Walmart’s long-term earnings and growth prospects. Benzinga analyst rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary highlights Walmart’s 53-year record of dividend increases and notes that the stock is well below its peak. However, its dividend yield remains relatively low and its valuation is still elevated compared with the broader market. Walmart dividend analysis
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank lowered its fiscal 2027 EPS estimates, signaling expectations for slower earnings growth or increased cost pressure. Walmart’s recent earnings-related share-price weakness also indicates that investors remain sensitive to the company’s premium valuation. FY2027 EPS Estimates for Walmart Cut

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on WMT shares. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Walmart from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, June 5th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, August 21st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Walmart from $141.00 to $130.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walmart currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $131.88.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other Walmart news, EVP Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.35, for a total value of $5,335,345.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 201,672 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,246,145.20. This trade represents a 20.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,775 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.64, for a total transaction of $413,891.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 630,009 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $69,074,186.76. The trade was a 0.60% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

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.

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