Absher Wealth Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT – Free Report) by 12.0% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 235,312 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 32,137 shares during the period. Walmart makes up about 3.4% of Absher Wealth Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Absher Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Walmart were worth $29,245,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in Walmart during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Walmart in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new position in Walmart in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Walmart by 57.4% in the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 288 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clayton Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Walmart by 193.0% during the 4th quarter. Clayton Financial Group LLC now owns 293 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Freedom Capital upgraded Walmart from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Monday, June 8th. Tigress Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 target price (up from $150.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, May 29th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday, June 8th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane cut their price target on shares of Walmart from $147.00 to $146.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.85.
Walmart Stock Up 0.8%
WMT opened at $114.78 on Tuesday. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $94.38 and a 1-year high of $135.15. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $120.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $122.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The stock has a market cap of $913.43 billion, a PE ratio of 40.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 0.60.
Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 21st. The retailer reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66. Walmart had a net margin of 3.13% and a return on equity of 21.25%. The firm had revenue of $177.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $174.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.61 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q2 2027 guidance at 0.720-0.740 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Activity at Walmart
In other news, EVP David W. Guggina sold 11,978 shares of the firm’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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 125,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,985,527.94. This trade represents a 8.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, 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 dated Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.19, for a total transaction of $342,751.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 574,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $67,953,695.07. This trade represents a 0.50% decrease in their position. 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 have sold a total of 104,505 shares of company stock worth $12,858,514 in the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Walmart News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary are emphasizing Walmart’s defensive profile versus peers, arguing that WMT offers strong recession-resistant exposure and an edge in AI integration and automation. Walmart Vs. Costco: Buy Walmart Over Costco for Defensive Coverage and AI Integration Superiority
- Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage says Walmart+ is helping drive recurring revenue, record membership additions, and stronger digital engagement, supported by faster delivery and broader omnichannel growth. Can Walmart+ Membership Keep WMT’s Growth Momentum Alive?
- Positive Sentiment: Multiple articles frame WMT as a stock investors are watching closely, with one note highlighting that the shares have recently moved higher and asking whether they remain attractive to buy. Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) Shares Up 1.5% – Time to Buy?
- Neutral Sentiment: Options-market activity suggests traders are positioning for a larger move in Walmart, but the headline does not specify direction, so the near-term impact is uncertain. Are Options Traders Betting on a Big Move in Walmart Stock?
- Neutral Sentiment: Other articles mainly compare Walmart with peers or note that it is trending among investors, which adds visibility but does not point to a clear catalyst on its own. JSAIY or WMT: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
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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