Walmart (NYSE: WMT) Shares Rise 0.7% - Is It Time to Buy?

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) saw its share price increase by 0.7% during trading on Wednesday. The stock reached a peak of $92.25 before settling at $91.94. In total, about 3,295,722 shares were traded during the midday session, which is significantly lower than the average daily volume of 16,856,260 shares. The previous closing price was $91.31.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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Several analysts have made updates regarding Walmart's stock. The Telsey Advisory Group raised its price target for Walmart from $92.00 to $100.00, rating it as "outperform" in a report on November 19th. On the same day, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target to $83.00 from $81.00, giving the stock an "overweight" rating. Additionally, the Royal Bank of Canada bumped their price objective from $88.00 to $92.00, maintaining an "overweight" rating. Goldman Sachs also raised Walmart's price target, moving it from $73.00 to $81.00, labeling the stock as a "buy." Lastly, Piper Sandler increased its target price to $93.00 from $83.00, also rating it as "overweight." In summary, two analysts have given the stock a hold rating, while twenty-nine analysts have assigned a buy rating, and one has issued a strong buy rating. Currently, Walmart holds an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $91.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Walmart

Walmart Stock Performance

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The company has a fifty-day moving average of $82.55 and a two-hundred-day moving average of $74.36. Walmart's market capitalization is estimated at $738.47 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.73 and a PEG ratio of 4.25. The firm's beta stands at 0.51, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Walmart has a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.85.

Walmart recently announced its quarterly earnings on November 19th. The retailer reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.58 for the quarter, surpassing analysts' expectations of $0.53 by $0.05. The company's net margin was recorded at 2.92%, while the return on equity was at 21.78%. Walmart's revenue for the quarter was approximately $169.59 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $167.69 billion. This amount reflects a 5.5% increase in revenue compared to the same time last year. Analysts project that Walmart Inc. will report 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

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In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 2,709,163 shares of Walmart on September 3rd at an average price of $77.37, accumulating a total value of approximately $209.61 million. Post-transaction, she retains 630,501,148 shares valued at about $48.78 billion, marking a 0.43% decrease in her ownership. Another major shareholder, S Robson Walton, sold 4,057,369 shares on September 9th at an average price of $77.20, totaling about $313.23 million. He now owns 611,988,318 shares worth roughly $47.25 billion, a 0.66% decrease from prior. In recent months, insiders sold 12,337,337 shares valued at $958.82 million. Corporate insiders currently hold 45.58% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds' Perspective on Walmart

Recent changes in ownership by large investors indicate trends in Walmart's stock. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake by 0.5% in the third quarter, now holding 23,720 shares worth $1.92 million after adding 118 shares. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC raised their position by 0.3% during the same period, owning 43,549 shares valued at $3.59 million after acquiring 122 additional shares. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC also increased their holdings by 0.4%, and similarly, CAP Partners LLC elevated their stake by 2.1% in the third quarter. Lastly, Investment Advisory Group LLC boosted their investment by 2.1%, owning 6,182 shares valued at $499,000. Overall, institutional investors possess 26.76% of Walmart's stock.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. operates a comprehensive retail business that encompasses wholesale and eCommerce worldwide. The company functions through three main segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. Its operations include supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, and discount stores under the Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands. Additionally, Walmart manages membership-only warehouse clubs and various eCommerce platforms such as walmart.com.

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