Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Shares Down 0% After Insider Selling

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT - Get Free Report) was down 0% during mid-day trading on Tuesday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $97.71 and last traded at $98.08. Approximately 3,216,731 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 17,798,075 shares. The stock had previously closed at $98.12.

Specifically, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,778 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.77, for a total value of $166,723.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 652,737 shares of the company's stock, valued at $61,207,148.49. This trade represents a 0.27% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WMT. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $102.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday. DZ Bank raised shares of Walmart from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Mizuho began coverage on Walmart in a report on Friday, April 11th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $105.00 price objective for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Walmart from $97.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty-one have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $104.94.

Walmart Price Performance

The business has a 50-day moving average of $91.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $92.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The firm has a market cap of $784.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.70.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 15th. The retailer reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $165.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $164.53 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.85% and a return on equity of 21.87%. Walmart's revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.60 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 12th will be paid a $0.235 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 9th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.95%. Walmart's payout ratio is 40.17%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Walmart

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Horizon Financial Services LLC raised its stake in Walmart by 1,007.7% during the fourth quarter. Horizon Financial Services LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Operose Advisors LLC boosted its position in Walmart by 319.7% during the first quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 319 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 243 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bear Mountain Capital Inc. boosted its position in Walmart by 98.2% during the first quarter. Bear Mountain Capital Inc. now owns 337 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. 26.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications.

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