Hartford Funds Management Co LLC Boosts Stake in Walmart Inc. $WMT

Hartford Funds Management Co LLC increased its position in Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) by 70.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 23,075 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,505 shares during the period. Walmart comprises about 0.2% of Hartford Funds Management Co LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC’s holdings in Walmart were worth $2,571,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Collier Financial bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the third quarter worth $25,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the third quarter worth $28,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the third quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Walmart Price Performance

Shares of Walmart stock opened at $133.34 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $126.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $119.46. Walmart Inc. has a 52 week low of $93.43 and a 52 week high of $134.69. The company has a market capitalization of $1.06 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.66, a PEG ratio of 4.85 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The retailer reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.01. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.44% and a net margin of 3.07%.The business had revenue of $190.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $188.37 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.66 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. Walmart has set its FY 2027 guidance at 2.750-2.850 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 0.610-0.610 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 11th will be given a $0.2475 dividend. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 11th. Walmart’s payout ratio is presently 36.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $145.00 price objective on Walmart in a report on Friday, February 20th. DA Davidson set a $150.00 price target on Walmart and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, March 6th. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $147.00 price target (up from $120.00) on shares of Walmart in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Tigress Financial set a $150.00 price target on Walmart and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $138.88.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.96, for a total value of $1,600,725.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 687,287 shares in the company, valued at $83,821,522.52. The trade was a 1.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director C Douglas Mcmillon sold 19,416 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.71, for a total value of $2,460,201.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,023,209 shares in the company, valued at $509,780,812.39. The trade was a 0.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 167,190 shares of company stock valued at $20,975,838. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

More Walmart News

Here are the key news stories impacting Walmart this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Walmart’s push into AI and automation could support margins over time by improving fulfillment efficiency, boosting order values, and lowering operating costs. Walmart’s AI and Automation Push: Long-Term Cost Advantage?
• Positive Sentiment: Investor focus is turning to Walmart’s upcoming earnings report, with analysts watching key operating metrics beyond revenue and EPS for signs that the business is still executing well. Exploring Analyst Estimates for Walmart (WMT) Q1 Earnings, Beyond Revenue and EPS
• Neutral Sentiment: Walmart remains a favored defensive retail name as investors compare it with other consumer staples and grocery operators during a volatile market backdrop. Forget Walmart. The Grocer Beating It on Trust and Margin Trades at a Third of the Multiple
• Neutral Sentiment: Several hedge fund filings showed mixed positioning in Walmart, with some managers adding shares and others trimming, which does not clearly change the near-term outlook. Moore Capital Management Boosts Walmart Stake by 3,454 Shares
• Negative Sentiment: EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 1,250 shares in a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 transaction, adding a small insider-sale headline that may slightly pressure sentiment. SEC Form 4 filing
• Negative Sentiment: Broader market attention on geopolitical risk, including the Strait of Hormuz closure, may keep investors cautious and can weigh on sentiment even for defensive stocks like Walmart. NVDA, WMT Report This Week, but News on the Strait Is Key

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.