New York State Common Retirement Fund Cuts Position in Walmart Inc. $WMT

New York State Common Retirement Fund lowered its position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 6.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,012,580 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 372,200 shares during the period. Walmart makes up about 0.7% of New York State Common Retirement Fund’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest position. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned approximately 0.06% of Walmart worth $516,596,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of WMT. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Walmart during the second quarter worth about $5,367,770,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Walmart by 9,648.7% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,486,374 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,123,138,000 after purchasing an additional 11,368,549 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 1.4% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 431,817,510 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $42,223,116,000 after buying an additional 5,856,468 shares during the period. Amundi grew its position in Walmart by 23.5% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 19,493,644 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,902,775,000 after acquiring an additional 3,710,506 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AGF Management Ltd. increased its stake in Walmart by 1,176.6% during the 2nd quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 3,317,487 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $324,384,000 after buying an additional 3,057,612 shares during the period. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

In other news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,388 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $166,560.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 645,642 shares in the company, valued at $77,477,040. This represents a 0.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Daniel Danker sold 4,365 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.19, for a total transaction of $524,629.35. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 238,583 shares in the company, valued at $28,675,290.77. The trade was a 1.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 135,215 shares of company stock valued at $15,304,608. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Key Walmart News

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Walmart is accelerating its healthcare strategy by elevating 3,000 pharmacy technician roles and raising average wages (from $22 to $28/hr), positioning the company to grow pharmacy and digital health services — a higher‑margin revenue stream that supports long‑term growth. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s broader tech push (AI, e‑commerce automation and advertising) continues to be a market thesis for higher valuation and margin expansion — analysts highlight rising AI adoption that could boost productivity and profitability. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Brand and customer engagement initiatives (e.g., the Major League Soccer “Walmart Saturday Showdown” sponsorship) support visibility and traffic, helping sustain sales momentum and higher‑income shopper mix. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership change: CEO Doug McMillon’s announced retirement is a material governance event but was expected and managed as a planned transition; investors will watch execution under the new CEO rather than react immediately. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment is generally constructive (some firms reiterate buys), and MarketBeat notes that insider sales amid the leadership handover look like scheduled/diversification transactions rather than a sell signal — but perception varies among investors. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Some quality and reputation studies have criticized Walmart on product/service quality metrics, which could pressure foot traffic or brand perception if amplified. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Notable insider stock sales (covered in media) remain a headline risk — even if sales appear linked to the leadership transition, they can trigger short‑term investor caution. Article Title

Walmart Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:WMT opened at $116.57 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $113.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $105.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Walmart Inc. has a 12-month low of $79.81 and a 12-month high of $121.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $929.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 0.66.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $123.00 price target (up from $111.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, November 21st. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. UBS Group set a $130.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. CICC Research began coverage on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, December 26th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $125.00 price target for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $135.00 price objective (up previously from $125.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Thirty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $123.20.

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.