DecisionMap Wealth Management LLC Acquires Shares in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

DecisionMap Wealth Management LLC has recently taken a new position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, as disclosed in its latest Form 13F submission to the SEC. The firm acquired 9,517 shares of Walmart's stock, amounting to approximately $860,000.

A variety of other institutional investors have also engaged in purchasing or selling Walmart shares. Raymond James Financial Inc. made a significant investment, acquiring a new stake in Walmart valued at about $2.31 billion in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, Jennison Associates LLC increased its holdings by a remarkable 479.6% in the third quarter, now owning 18,479,259 shares valued at $1.49 billion after purchasing an additional 15,290,936 shares during this period. FMR LLC also raised its stake in Walmart by 12.9% in the same quarter, increasing its ownership to 63,135,639 shares worth approximately $5.1 billion after acquiring another 7,200,004 shares.
Additionally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Walmart by 14.0% in the fourth quarter, now owning 32,020,800 shares valued at $2.89 billion following the acquisition of 3,927,173 shares. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its shareholding by 3.3% in the third quarter, accumulating 87,617,409 shares valued at around $7.05 billion after adding 2,786,061 shares. Overall, approximately 26.76% of Walmart’s stock is held by hedge funds and various institutional investors.

Market Analysts' Insights

Multiple research firms have shared their evaluations on Walmart’s stock. Citigroup reiterated a "positive" rating on Walmart shares in a report released on February 20th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded their target price from $80.00 to $100.00 and labeled the stock as “outperform” on November 18th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating, adjusting their target price to $115.00 from a previous $106.00 in a research note dated February 13th. Telsey Advisory Group also maintained an "outperform" rating on Walmart. Similarly, Wells Fargo & Company raised its target price from $100.00 to $108.00, maintaining an "overweight" rating as of February 3rd. Currently, one analyst has recommended holding the stock, while thirty others rated it as a buy, with one giving a strong buy rating. MarketBeat.com indicates that the stock holds an average rating of "Buy" with an average target price set at $103.20.

Walmart's Stock Overview

As of Thursday, WMT shares opened at $85.07. The company possesses a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.23, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. Walmart Inc. has a market capitalization of $683.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.30, and a P/E/G ratio of 4.42, with a beta of 0.53. The retailer has experienced a 12-month low of $58.56 and a peak of $105.30. The stock’s 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages stand at $95.96 and $88.59, respectively.

Dividend Announcement by Walmart

Recently, Walmart announced a quarterly dividend set to be paid on Monday, January 5th. Shareholders recorded by December 12th will receive a dividend of $0.235 per share, leading to an annualized dividend of $0.94 and a dividend yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date has also been confirmed as December 12th. Walmart's current dividend payout ratio is 39.00%.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

In other news, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of Walmart stock on December 26th at an average price of $92.60, totaling $1,215,375. Following this transaction, Furner owns 566,794 shares valued at $52,485,124.40, representing a decrease of 2.26% in his holdings. This transaction was recorded in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CEO C. Douglas McMillon also sold 29,124 shares on December 26th for about $2.69 million. Post-sale, he holds 3,785,702 shares valued at approximately $349,609,579.70, reflecting a 0.76% reduction in his stock ownership. In the past ninety days, insiders have collectively sold 185,777 shares valued at $17,657,316. Corporate insiders control 45.58% of Walmart’s stock.

About Walmart Inc.

Walmart Inc. operates across various sectors including retail, wholesale, and eCommerce worldwide. The company is organized into three primary segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. Its extensive operations cover supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash-and-carry stores, and discount stores, all under the Walmart brand, alongside its eCommerce platforms.

Walmart, Investment, Stocks