MML Investors Services LLC Increases Stake in Walmart Inc.

MML Investors Services LLC has raised its investment in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT - Free Report) by 1.2% during the third quarter, as stated in its latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). After acquiring an additional 12,099 shares during this period, the institutional investor now holds a total of 1,027,102 shares of Walmart. The value of MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in the retail giant amounts to approximately $82,938,000, according to the most recent SEC filing.

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Other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Walmart. For instance, Hodges Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Walmart by 6.8% in the third quarter. They now own 143,052 shares, which are valued at $11,551,000 after adding 9,095 shares to their holdings. In addition, Montchanin Asset Management LLC entered a new position in Walmart valued at $230,000 during the same quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC also purchased a new stake in Walmart worth approximately $43,000. Furthermore, Northeast Financial Consultants Inc. raised its position in Walmart by 3.8%, now holding 5,136 shares valued at $415,000 after acquiring 186 additional shares. Kensington Investment Counsel LLC increased its ownership of Walmart shares by 0.8%, now holding 56,997 shares valued at $4,603,000.

Currently, hedge funds and institutional investors collectively own around 26.76% of Walmart's stock.

Insider Transactions

In related news, Jim C. Walton, a major shareholder of Walmart, sold 934,000 shares on September 12th at an average price of $79.46, totaling $74,215,640. Following this transaction, Walton now holds 610,843,318 shares, which are valued at around $48,537,610,048. This sale resulted in a 0.15% reduction in ownership. Additionally, S Robson Walton, another significant shareholder, sold 4,057,369 shares on September 9th at an average price of $77.20, amounting to $313,228,886.80. Post-transaction, he owns 611,988,318 shares, worth approximately $47,245,498,149.60, reflecting a 0.66% decrease in ownership. Over the last three months, insiders have sold a total of 7,300,460 shares valued at $570,820,065. Currently, 45.58% of Walmart's stock is held by insiders.

Walmart Shares Performance

Shares of Walmart opened at $95.70 last Friday. The stock has experienced a fifty-two week low of $49.85 and a high of $96.18. The fifty-day moving average stands at $84.74, while the two-hundred-day moving average is at $76.00. Walmart holds a market capitalization of $769.26 billion, a PE ratio of 39.27, and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.54, with a beta of 0.54. Its quick ratio is 0.23, current ratio is 0.85, and the debt-to-equity ratio is 0.56.

Walmart recently announced its quarterly earnings on November 19th, where the company achieved an EPS of $0.58, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.05. The total revenue reported was $169.59 billion, exceeding analyst predictions of $167.69 billion, marking a 5.5% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Walmart's return on equity was noted at 21.78%, with a net margin of 2.92%. For the current year, analysts expect Walmart to report an EPS of 2.47.

Analyst Predictions and Ratings

Several analysts have recently shared their perspectives on Walmart's stock performance. Citigroup raised its price target for Walmart from $75.00 to $98.00 while granting it a "buy" rating on September 27th. Stifel Nicolaus increased its price target from $85.00 to $89.00, providing a "hold" rating in their findings on November 20th. Similarly, Wells Fargo & Company raised Walmart's price target from $90.00 to $96.00, also giving it an "overweight" rating on November 20th. Furthermore, JPMorgan Chase & Co. adjusted its price target from $81.00 to $83.00, assigning an "overweight" rating based on their report from August 16th. Additionally, Piper Sandler lifted its price target for Walmart from $83.00 to $93.00 on November 18th, while assigning an "overweight" rating. Of the analysts covering Walmart, two have recommended a hold rating, twenty-nine have a buy rating, and one analyst has given a strong buy rating, resulting in a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $92.11.

Walmart Company Overview

Walmart Inc. operates globally in the retail sector, providing services through retail stores, wholesale operations, and e-commerce platforms. The company is divided into three main segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. Its store types include supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash-and-carry stores, and discount stores, all under the Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands. E-commerce platforms like walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe, and various mobile commerce applications further extend Walmart's reach.

Conclusion

The developments surrounding MML Investors Services LLC's increased stake in Walmart highlight a broader trend of institutional interest in the retail giant amidst changing market dynamics. As more investors adjust their positions and analysts adjust their outlooks, Walmart continues to be a focal point for investors seeking opportunities in the retail sector.

Walmart, Investment, Stock