New York, Feb 24, 2026, 11:19 EST — Regular session in progress.
- Walmart shares climbed in morning trading, buoyed by fresh price target increases from several top brokers.
- Two top executives have sold shares, according to new SEC filings.
- Tariff headlines and swings tied to AI are keeping investors on edge as they look toward major earnings reports due later this week.
Walmart Inc. climbed 1.7% to $127.89 Tuesday morning, trading between $127.91 and a low of $124.95. That comes after closing Monday at $125.81, a 2.3% move up. Evercore ISI bumped its price target to $135—previously $130—while Barclays set its new target at $132, up from $125.
Markets remain jittery over U.S. trade policy, while fresh concerns about AI’s impact on employment and consumer habits have resurfaced. Chris Turner, strategist at ING, flagged Nvidia’s earnings set for Wednesday—he thinks that could be the next headline mover.
This context is suddenly relevant for Walmart, as the shares have begun behaving more like a “steady” pick in a volatile market. Investors are also questioning whether the recent rally in the stock is already reflected in its price. When risk sentiment falters, traders lean toward firms that can keep store traffic up and defend profit margins, even if the broader economy loses momentum.
Walmart turned in fourth-quarter revenue of $190.7 billion last week, with global eCommerce up 24%. The retailer is projecting net sales growth between 3.5% and 4.5% for fiscal 2027, and sees adjusted earnings per share landing in a $2.75 to $2.85 range. A fresh $30 billion share buyback was also unveiled. “The pace of change in retail is accelerating,” CEO John Furner noted in the release. SEC
Bulls are banking on those higher-margin streams — advertising, memberships, marketplace fees — to carry more weight, while Walmart pushes ahead with its value-focused approach. That’s what’s been driving a lot of the recent target bumps: it’s not just about this quarter, it’s the shift in mix that matters.
Late Monday’s regulatory filings revealed that two of Walmart’s executive vice presidents unloaded shares in open-market trades on Feb. 20. Nicholas Christopher James offloaded 34,082 shares at $122 each, while Latriece Watkins disposed of 10,000 shares at a weighted average of roughly $121.46, according to the filings.
Sales by insiders aren’t unusual, though they often get a closer look when shares are priced for long-term execution rather than short-term results.
Even so, mapping out the risks isn’t difficult. Tariff costs weaving into the supply chain, or Walmart’s price investments cutting deeper than planned, could mean slower profit growth—even if sales stay solid. A weaker consumer could challenge the notion that Walmart keeps gaining share without sacrificing too much margin.
Walmart’s dividend schedule is on the radar for income investors. The retail giant set March 20 as the record date for its first fiscal 2027 quarterly dividend, payable April 6. CFO John David Rainey characterized the latest raise as a “proof point” demonstrating faith in the company’s performance and ongoing momentum. businesswire.com
