BENTONVILLE, AR—The Walton Family Holdings Trust, a significant stakeholder in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), has sold shares worth approximately $248.9 million, according to a recent SEC filing. The transactions, executed over three consecutive days, involved the sale of over 2.58 million shares from the retail giant, which currently commands a market capitalization of $770 billion and maintains a strong financial health rating according to InvestingPro data.
On May 21, the trust sold 564,368 shares at a weighted average price of $96.2974, with prices ranging from $96.00 to $96.9989, and an additional 457,144 shares at an average price of $97.2101, with prices between $97.00 and $97.565. The following day, May 22, saw the sale of 1,136,619 shares at an average price of $96.2648, encompassing trades from $96.00 to $96.85. On May 23, the trust sold a further 423,904 shares at an average price of $96.1012, with prices ranging from $96.00 to $96.29. The stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 41.1x, suggesting a premium valuation. InvestingPro subscribers can access 12 additional key insights about Walmart’s valuation and future prospects.
In addition to these sales, the trust distributed 45,000 shares to a beneficiary at no cost. Following these transactions, the Walton Family Holdings Trust retains ownership of 571,739,478 shares in Walmart, which has demonstrated its shareholder commitment by raising dividends for 30 consecutive years.
In other recent news, Walmart reported impressive first-quarter results, surpassing expectations with a 4.0% increase in constant currency net sales and a 3.0% rise in adjusted constant currency EBIT. The company’s adjusted earnings per share also exceeded forecasts, contributing to a strong performance that saw U.S. comparable sales growth of 4.5%. Despite the challenging economic landscape, Walmart has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, reflecting confidence in its ability to navigate ongoing market uncertainties, including tariffs. In a strategic move, Walmart announced plans to cut approximately 1,500 jobs as part of a restructuring effort aimed at streamlining expenses and improving decision-making processes. These job cuts will impact various sectors, including global technology operations and e-commerce fulfillment. KeyBanc Capital Markets and Raymond James both maintained their positive ratings on Walmart, citing the company’s robust performance and strategic positioning. KeyBanc sustained an Overweight rating with a $105 price target, while Raymond James reaffirmed an Outperform rating with the same target. Additionally, Bernstein reiterated its Outperform rating with a $108 price target, highlighting Walmart’s resilience and improved earnings algorithm as key factors for future growth.
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