WestEnd Advisors LLC Sells 7,050 Shares of Walmart Inc. $WMT

WestEnd Advisors LLC lowered its position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 422,996 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 7,050 shares during the period. Walmart comprises about 1.0% of WestEnd Advisors LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. WestEnd Advisors LLC’s holdings in Walmart were worth $43,594,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Walmart by 28.8% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 98,150 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $8,868,000 after buying an additional 21,939 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Walmart by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,849 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $800,000 after acquiring an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Peterson Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Walmart by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Peterson Wealth Management now owns 50,307 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $4,416,000 after acquiring an additional 1,715 shares during the period. Petrus Trust Company LTA increased its stake in shares of Walmart by 60.4% during the 1st quarter. Petrus Trust Company LTA now owns 7,291 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $640,000 after purchasing an additional 2,746 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tamar Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Tamar Securities LLC now owns 4,914 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $431,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the period. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMT has been the subject of several research reports. Truist Financial set a $127.00 price objective on Walmart in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $125.00 price objective (up previously from $120.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $122.00 price objective (up from $118.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, November 21st. Thirty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $120.69.

Walmart Stock Up 1.2%

WMT opened at $112.76 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $898.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.21 and a beta of 0.66. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $79.81 and a one year high of $117.45. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $108.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $103.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.24.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The retailer reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $179.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $175.15 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 3.26% and a return on equity of 21.31%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.58 EPS. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Walmart

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks notes WMT settled higher on the session, reflecting positive investor reaction to recent company performance and the market’s appetite for defensive retail names. Walmart (WMT) Beats Stock Market Upswing: What Investors Need to Know
• Positive Sentiment: The Motley Fool’s “7 Reasons to Buy WMT” highlights Walmart’s grocery-led revenue ( >50% of sales) and double-digit e-commerce growth — factors supporting durable, predictable cash flow and upside to market share in retail. 7 Reasons to Buy WMT Stock Like There’s No Tomorrow
• Positive Sentiment: A separate Fool piece reiterates Walmart’s diversified retail footprint and low-price positioning as long-term competitive advantages that support steady performance and dividend durability. 3 Reasons to Buy Walmart Stock Like There’s No Tomorrow
• Positive Sentiment: Benzinga’s retrospective on a $100 investment over five years underscores strong long-term shareholder returns, reinforcing buy-and-hold sentiment among income and value investors. Here’s How Much $100 Invested In Walmart 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today
• Neutral Sentiment: MarketBeat flags that defensive names (including WMT) may be “crowded” entering 2026 — a reminder that some upside is already priced in and that macro shifts could swing performance. Are These 3 Leading Defensive Stocks Too Crowded Heading Into 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: A MarketBeat roundup and a Motley Fool list that mention WMT among dividend/defensive picks reinforce its income/defensive appeal but don’t add fresh catalysts beyond valuation and yield considerations. Bullseye Bounce: Toms Capital Takes a Stake in Target (WMT)
• Negative Sentiment: Activist activity at peer Target (Toms Capital stake) could intensify competition or prompt industry consolidation moves; that dynamic is a downside risk for Walmart’s market-share and margin outlook if it leads to more aggressive pricing or capital allocation by rivals. Bullseye Bounce: Toms Capital Takes a Stake in Target (WMT)

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In related news, EVP Kathryn J. Mclay sold 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.21, for a total value of $460,840.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 1,031,455 shares in the company, valued at $118,833,930.55. This represents a 0.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.91, for a total transaction of $1,508,193.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 733,841 shares in the company, valued at $84,325,669.31. This trade represents a 1.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 125,628 shares of company stock worth $13,690,065. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Walmart 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.