Versant Capital Management Inc Decreases Stock Position in Walmart Inc. $WMT

Versant Capital Management Inc decreased its position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 23.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 18,534 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 5,547 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc’s holdings in Walmart were worth $1,926,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WMT. MFA Wealth Services raised its holdings in Walmart by 0.7% during the first quarter. MFA Wealth Services now owns 10,909 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,356,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Realta Investment Advisors grew its position in shares of Walmart by 2.0% during the first quarter. Realta Investment Advisors now owns 4,089 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $508,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Compton Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Walmart by 4.1% during the first quarter. Compton Financial Group LLC now owns 2,081 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Advocacy Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Walmart by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Advocacy Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,392 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $378,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Walmart by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,443 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,162,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Walmart

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Walmart is expanding digital shelf labels that let shoppers use the app to activate a flashing light and locate products more easily. The same system can help employees pick online orders and restock shelves, potentially improving fulfillment efficiency and reducing labor tied to manual price changes. Walmart lights up a new feature for shoppers on its digital price tags Walmart is using light-up digital shelf labels
• Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s Flipkart business is participating in a Google pilot that allows shoppers in India to discover and purchase products through Gemini and Google’s AI Mode. The initiative could expand Flipkart’s reach during India’s important festive shopping season and strengthen Walmart’s e-commerce growth prospects. Walmart tests AI shopping in India through Flipkart
• Neutral Sentiment: Amazon and Flipkart are reviewing security-camera listings in India after unlicensed products were offered despite government testing requirements. The review may create compliance costs, but it also reduces regulatory and reputational risk for Flipkart. Amazon and Walmart’s Flipkart review security camera listings
• Negative Sentiment: Mizuho lowered its expectations for Walmart’s stock, while a separate report attributed a decline in the shares to an analyst downgrade. Lower price targets can pressure the stock by signaling weaker near-term upside. Mizuho lowers expectations for Walmart stock
• Negative Sentiment: Bank of America sees inflation potentially returning at Walmart this year, raising concerns about margin pressure, pricing decisions and consumer purchasing power. Shares also recently underperformed the broader market, adding to the negative sentiment. Why BofA sees inflation creeping back at Walmart
• Negative Sentiment: Investors reacted negatively to Walmart ruling out AI-driven personalized pricing, while concerns about digital labels prompted the company to clarify that personal data is not used to set prices. This limits fears of discriminatory pricing but may reduce expectations for technologically enabled margin expansion. Walmart says digital shelf labels do not use personal data to set prices

Walmart Stock Up 0.3%

WMT stock opened at $104.26 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $827.17 billion, a PE ratio of 37.64, a P/E/G ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $108.91 and its 200 day moving average is $117.04. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $98.88 and a one year high of $135.15.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The retailer reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. Walmart had a net margin of 3.00% and a return on equity of 21.83%. The business had revenue of $187.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart has set its Q3 2027 guidance at 0.620-0.640 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 2.800-2.870 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 2.87 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on WMT. Freedom Capital upgraded Walmart from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. DA Davidson restated a “buy” rating and set a $132.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Freedom Broker upgraded Walmart from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Gordon Haskett lowered shares of Walmart from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Walmart from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Walmart has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $131.74.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

In other Walmart news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 3,950 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.14, for a total value of $415,303.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 622,349 shares in the company, valued at approximately $65,433,773.86. This trade represents a 0.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Christopher Nicholas sold 2,900 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.65, for a total transaction of $309,285.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 566,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,390,882.45. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 77,229 shares of company stock worth $8,187,833. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Walmart Profile

Walmart Inc (NASDAQ: WMT) is a multinational retailer that operates supercenters, discount stores, neighborhood markets, warehouse clubs and e-commerce platforms. Its merchandise includes groceries, apparel, electronics, home goods, health and wellness products, household essentials and general merchandise. Walmart also provides services such as grocery pickup and delivery, pharmacy services, financial products and digital advertising.

The company serves customers through its Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam’s Club segments.