Walmart Inc. $WMT Holdings Cut by Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.

Key Points

• Ferguson Wellman Capital Management cut its Walmart stake by 25.6% in the second quarter, selling 244,149 shares and retaining 709,760 shares valued at approximately $80.4 million.
• Walmart reported quarterly EPS of $0.81, beating the $0.74 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 5.9% year over year to $187.94 billion. U.S. marketplace sales also increased 52%, supporting the company’s e-commerce growth.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with Walmart holding a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and a $131.88 average price target, although some firms have reduced targets or lowered future EPS estimates amid valuation and cost concerns.

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. reduced its stake in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT - Free Report) by 25.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 709,760 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 244,149 shares during the period. Walmart accounts for about 1.0% of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in Walmart were worth $80,387,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in WMT. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Walmart by 57.4% in the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the period. Sankala Group LLC bought a new stake in Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. bought a new stake in Walmart in the first quarter valued at $37,000. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Walmart News Summary

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

Walmart Trading Up 1.7%

NASDAQ:WMT opened at $104.87 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap 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 company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.79 and a 1 year high of $135.15. The business has a fifty day moving average of $111.65 and a 200-day moving average of $120.24.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 business had revenue of $187.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 3.00% and a return on equity of 21.83%. The company's revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business 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. Equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMT has been the subject of several recent research reports. Mizuho set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Tigress Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $155.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday. BTIG Research cut their price objective on shares of Walmart from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Wolfe Research reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $131.88.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In other Walmart news, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.82, for a total transaction of $1,435,203.96. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 125,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. The trade was a 8.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.34, for a total transaction of $308,386.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 569,153 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $60,523,730.02. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.09% 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.

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