New York, Feb 9, 2026, 11:09 EST — Regular session on tap.
- Walmart slipped roughly 0.3% in late morning action, following a Friday close at $131.18.
- Several brokerages bumped up their price targets for Walmart just before the retailer’s earnings coming up later this month.
- U.S. payrolls and inflation readings are in focus this week as investors hunt for signals on rates and consumer demand.
Walmart Inc. shares slipped on Monday, brushing off several broker price target hikes just ahead of the retailer’s quarterly results coming up later this month.
This small move stands out, given the stock’s sharp climb ahead of earnings—surprise potential is thinner now. Traders are still puzzling over whether higher prices are pushing U.S. consumers to the brink, and how that could shake up the outlook for rate cuts or boost defensive plays.
Walmart shares slipped 0.3% to $130.81 as of 11:09 a.m. EST, after hovering close to their 52-week high in recent days.
Oppenheimer bumped up its price target on Walmart to $140 from $125, sticking with its “Outperform” call, Investing.com reported. Price targets, put out by brokers, indicate where they think a stock might land in the next year—no promises. Investing.com
Mizuho’s David Bellinger bumped up his target on Walmart to $137 from $125, citing the potential boost from “AI-powered shopping capabilities” tied to rising big tech investment. Oppenheimer’s Rupesh Parikh, meanwhile, flagged solid holiday performance and shifted his Q4 earnings estimate toward the upper end of management’s guidance. JPMorgan moved its own target higher, up to $137 from $129, according to TipRanks. TipRanks
Monday saw a choppy Wall Street, with investors holding off as they eyed the postponed January U.S. nonfarm payrolls report set for Wednesday and January CPI numbers coming Friday. Both data points have the potential to shake up expectations for the Fed’s next steps. Retail stocks, which are closely linked to household spending, often move in step with those shifts.
Walmart notched its $1 trillion market cap milestone last week, propelled by dominance in groceries and a bigger bet on advertising and delivery—marking the first time a retailer has hit that threshold, according to Reuters.
Leadership at the company is shifting: John Furner stepped in as CEO on Feb. 1, following Walmart’s broader exec shake-up that hit headlines in January.
The rivalry isn’t cooling any time soon. Amazon’s been ratcheting up efforts in brick-and-mortar grocery, intensifying its bid for wealthier consumers and speedier delivery — both key battlegrounds where Walmart’s been plowing in resources.
Still, there’s risk on the table. Shares are trading close to their peaks, so even a hint of caution around sales growth, margins, or consumer spending could rattle a valuation that’s already pricing in flawless performance. If inflation hangs on and those rate-cut bets slip, the impact could be sharper.
Walmart’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings are due out Feb. 19, according to the company’s events page, with results set to drop around 6 a.m. Central and the conference call lined up for 7 a.m. Central.
