New York, January 5, 2026, 12:44 EST — Regular session
- Walmart shares rose about 0.8% in midday trading after Mizuho lifted its price target and kept an Outperform rating.
- The move came as retail stocks broadly advanced while investors weighed fresh U.S. economic data.
- Next catalysts include the ISM services report on Jan. 7 and the U.S. jobs report on Jan. 9, ahead of Walmart’s Feb. 19 earnings.
Walmart Inc shares rose 0.8% to $113.62 in midday trading on Monday after Mizuho raised its price target to $125 while maintaining an “Outperform” rating on the retailer. A price target is an analyst’s estimate of where the stock could trade over the next 12 months. 1
The call matters early in 2026 because Walmart is one of the market’s clearest reads on value-focused consumers, and the stock is often treated as a defensive bet when investors worry about the economy. With investors looking for proof that spending is holding up, any shift in sentiment around the biggest U.S. retailer can ripple across the sector.
Monday’s trade unfolded against a choppy macro backdrop. U.S. manufacturing activity weakened more than expected in December, with the ISM manufacturing PMI — a monthly survey-based gauge of factory activity — falling to 47.9, a level consistent with contraction, Reuters reported. 2
Mizuho analyst David Bellinger wrote the retail group enters 2026 with “signs of strained consumer sentiment, although the key underpinnings of spending are still very much intact.” He also said Mizuho installed Chewy as its overall Top Pick and dropped Walmart from that list. 3
Walmart’s gains trailed a broader rise in retail names. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF rose about 1.7%, while Amazon.com, Target and Costco traded higher by roughly 1.8% to 2.9%.
Technicians noted Walmart remained within a tight band on the day. The stock traded between $112.15 and $113.73 and sat about 3% below its 52-week high of $117.45, according to Investing.com data. 4
The risk for bulls is that Walmart’s premium valuation leaves less room for disappointment if margins tighten or shoppers pull back on discretionary purchases. Cost pressures tied to wages and supply chains remain a watchpoint, particularly if price-sensitive customers turn more cautious.
The next near-term test for sentiment comes this week. Investors will watch the ISM services PMI on Jan. 7 and the U.S. employment report for December on Jan. 9 for clues on demand and the path for interest rates. 5
For Walmart investors, the next major catalyst is the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings release and conference call on Feb. 19, according to Walmart’s events calendar. 6
