Synovus Financial Corp Boosts Holdings in Walmart Inc. $WMT

Synovus Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 1.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 244,975 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,055 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp’s holdings in Walmart were worth $25,249,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. DA Davidson restated a “buy” rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday. BTIG Research increased their target price on Walmart from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $140.00 price target (up from $126.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $135.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective (up previously from $125.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Thirty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $128.59.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In other news, EVP John D. Rainey sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.27, for a total value of $2,445,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 506,764 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $61,962,034.28. This trade represents a 3.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,388 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $166,560.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 645,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $77,477,040. This trade represents a 0.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 210,441 shares of company stock valued at $25,009,289 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Walmart News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentators expect a strong print and potential upside — several previews (including Yahoo and a Yahoo video) note Walmart could “surprise” on Q4 results as the first report under CEO John Furner since the company crossed a $1T valuation. Walmart earnings: CEO John Furner set for first earnings report with company market cap over $1 trillion
• Positive Sentiment: DA Davidson reiterated a Buy with a $135 price target, signaling institutional confidence and modest upside from current levels. DA Davidson Reiterates Buy Rating on Walmart (WMT) Ahead of Q4 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Public endorsements and bullish media attention (Jim Cramer, Oppenheimer coverage) have supported momentum — analysts cite strong holiday sales, e-commerce gains and ad-business growth. Walmart (WMT) Is King, Says Jim Cramer
• Neutral Sentiment: The $1 trillion valuation and new-highs headline is already priced into the stock for many investors; coverage notes Walmart’s tech/digital transformation is a driver but may be more about narrative than near-term fundamentals. Walmart Hits US$1 Trillion As Tech Shift Tests Valuation
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and “AI insurance” concerns: outlets (WSJ, Seeking Alpha) warn WMT’s premium multiple reflects investors buying growth/tech optionality, which raises downside risk if guidance disappoints. Walmart Shares Are Expensive AI Insurance
• Negative Sentiment: Expectations for cautious FY26 guidance — Reuters and other previews say Furner is likely to take a measured tone given a fragile consumer backdrop, which can weigh on the stock if management signals slower comps or tighter margins. Walmart to tread with caution into 2026 as Furner-era begins

Walmart Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:WMT opened at $126.62 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $119.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $108.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.01 trillion, a PE ratio of 44.27, a P/E/G ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.65. 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 Inc. has a 12 month low of $79.81 and a 12 month high of $134.69.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The retailer reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $190.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $188.37 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 3.26%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current year.

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.