Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Stock Price Down 0.8% - Here's What Happened

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded down 0.8% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $92.35 and last traded at $92.44. 2,772,492 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 81% from the average session volume of 14,462,777 shares. The stock had previously closed at $93.23.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com lowered Walmart from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. KeyCorp upped their target price on Walmart from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Walmart from $89.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $105.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Walmart from $80.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.69.

Walmart Trading Up 1.1 %

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $92.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $82.13. The firm has a market cap of $761.90 billion, a PE ratio of 38.92, a P/E/G ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 19th. The retailer reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.05. Walmart had a net margin of 2.92% and a return on equity of 21.78%. The company had revenue of $169.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $167.69 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.51 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.48 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other news, SVP David Chojnowski sold 5,600 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.45, for a total value of $512,120.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 87,404 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,993,095.80. The trade was a 6.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP John D. Rainey sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.12, for a total transaction of $246,360.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 378,165 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $31,054,909.80. This represents a 0.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 140,177 shares of company stock worth $12,895,688 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 45.58% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walmart

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA lifted its stake in shares of Walmart by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 2,879 shares of the retailer's stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Kozak & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Walmart by 22.3% during the fourth quarter. Kozak & Associates Inc. now owns 619 shares of the retailer's stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Walmart by 0.5% in the third quarter. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 23,720 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $1,915,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management boosted its holdings in Walmart by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 12,609 shares of the retailer's stock valued at $1,139,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Walmart by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,018 shares of the retailer's stock worth $92,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.76% of the company's stock.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications.