Walmart Inc. $WMT Position Cut by Van ECK Associates Corp

Key Points

• Van ECK Associates cut its Walmart stake by 10% in the second quarter, selling 109,742 shares and retaining 992,586 shares valued at approximately $112.4 million. Other institutional investors made both new purchases and additions, with institutions owning 26.76% of Walmart.
• Walmart reported quarterly EPS of $0.81, exceeding the $0.74 analyst consensus, while revenue rose 5.9% year over year to $187.94 billion. The stock opened at $105.92, below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with Walmart receiving a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $131.88, despite several firms lowering their targets. Corporate insiders sold shares during the quarter, including transactions conducted under pre-arranged trading plans.

Van ECK Associates Corp reduced its holdings in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT - Free Report) by 10.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 992,586 shares of the retailer's stock after selling 109,742 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp's holdings in Walmart were worth $112,420,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Navellier & Associates Inc. boosted its position in Walmart by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 116,873 shares of the retailer's stock worth $13,237,000 after acquiring an additional 5,014 shares during the period. Lincoln Capital Corp increased its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1.2% during the second quarter. Lincoln Capital Corp now owns 27,753 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $3,143,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the period. Field & Main Bank acquired a new position in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at $12,052,000. Prosperitas Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the second quarter valued at about $436,000. Finally, SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda acquired a new stake in Walmart in the second quarter worth about $1,496,000. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company's stock.

Walmart Stock Up 1.0%

WMT stock opened at $105.92 on Wednesday. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $111.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $120.08. 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 52-week low of $96.51 and a 52-week high of $135.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $840.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.24, a P/E/G ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.59.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $186.64 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.00%.The company's revenue for the quarter 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. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Raymond James Financial reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $130.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Oppenheimer reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 21st. Piper Sandler reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $128.00 price objective (down from $137.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Walmart from $137.00 to $125.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $131.88.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In other news, EVP Christopher James Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated 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 in the company, valued at $60,523,730.02. The trade was a 0.51% decrease in their position. The sale 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 Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares of the business's 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 201,672 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $21,246,145.20. The trade was a 20.07% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 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. Insiders have sold 77,292 shares of company stock worth $8,421,143 in the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

More Walmart News

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Opioid lawsuit ends with limited financial impact: Walmart agreed to pay approximately $50 million to resolve a Justice Department lawsuit involving its pharmacies’ opioid-distribution practices. The settlement is described as immaterial relative to Walmart’s profits and substantially below the potentially multibillion-dollar penalties once threatened, reducing a major legal overhang. Walmart escapes major legal penalty for a fraction of the cost
• Positive Sentiment: Marketplace growth remains strong: Walmart’s U.S. marketplace sales reportedly increased 52%, helped by a broader product assortment, increased fulfillment adoption and expansion into Mexico and Canada. Continued marketplace momentum could improve customer engagement and support higher-margin advertising and third-party seller revenue. Walmart's Marketplace Momentum Builds
• Positive Sentiment: International digital operations are improving: Rising e-commerce penetration and reduced losses in Walmart International are improving the segment’s economics. However, ongoing investment and margin pressure could limit the near-term earnings benefit. Walmart International's Digital Mix Rises
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst remains bullish: Tigress Financial reaffirmed its “buy” rating and set a $155 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. SAIC, Walmart And 3 Stocks To Watch
• Neutral Sentiment: Value comparison offers limited direction: Articles comparing Walmart with J. Sainsbury PLC focus on relative valuation rather than a new company-specific catalyst. Walmart’s strong operating profile is balanced by a comparatively elevated earnings multiple, making valuation-sensitive investors more selective. JSAIY vs. WMT: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?
• Negative Sentiment: EPS estimates were trimmed: Erste Group Bank lowered its fiscal 2027 earnings-per-share estimates for Walmart, reinforcing concerns that elevated investment, e-commerce costs or margin pressure could constrain profit growth. FY2027 EPS Estimates for Walmart Cut by Erste Group Bank

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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