New York State Common Retirement Fund Sells 372,200 Shares of Walmart Inc. $WMT

New York State Common Retirement Fund reduced its holdings in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,012,580 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 372,200 shares during the quarter. Walmart comprises 0.7% of New York State Common Retirement Fund’s portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. New York State Common Retirement Fund’s holdings in Walmart were worth $516,596,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in Walmart in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $5,367,770,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake 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 worth $1,123,138,000 after acquiring an additional 11,368,549 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Walmart by 1.4% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 431,817,510 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $42,223,116,000 after acquiring an additional 5,856,468 shares during the period. Amundi raised its stake in Walmart by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 19,493,644 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,902,775,000 after purchasing an additional 3,710,506 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AGF Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 3,057,612 shares during the period. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

In related news, EVP Donna Morris sold 9,384 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.19, for a total value of $1,127,862.96. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 536,312 shares in the company, valued at approximately $64,459,339.28. This represents a 1.72% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.83, for a total transaction of $2,171,291.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 4,315,333 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $482,583,689.39. This trade represents a 0.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 135,215 shares of company stock valued at $15,304,608. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Walmart Stock Down 0.3%

Walmart stock opened at $116.57 on Thursday. Walmart Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $79.81 and a fifty-two week high of $121.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $929.08 billion, a PE ratio of 40.76, a P/E/G ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 0.66. The company’s 50-day moving average is $113.99 and its 200-day moving average is $105.71. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The retailer reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 3.26%.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 company earned $0.58 earnings per share. Walmart has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.580-2.630 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on WMT. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $126.00 target price (up previously from $123.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $123.00 price objective (up previously from $111.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, November 21st. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI set a $120.00 target price on Walmart and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $125.00 target price (up from $115.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Thirty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Walmart presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $123.20.

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

About Walmart

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.