cNEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2025, 10:58 a.m. ET — Market closed (weekend)
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) heads into the final full trading week of 2025 with U.S. equity markets closed for the weekend and investors preparing for Monday’s reopening amid a strong year-end backdrop for risk assets. Reuters’ “Week Ahead” outlook noted the S&P 500 was hovering within roughly 1% of the 7,000 milestone as 2025 winds down, keeping attention on positioning and catalysts that can sway sentiment into the new year. [1]
Where Walmart stock stands heading into the next session
Walmart shares last finished the most recent regular session (Friday, Dec. 26) at $111.74, up about 0.12% on the day, according to MarketBeat’s snapshot. [2] The latest available quote also shows $111.74 as the most recent reported price heading into the weekend.
With markets shut today, there is no premarket or after-hours trading in U.S. equities until trading resumes. Stock index futures are set to reopen Sunday evening, which can shape the tone for Monday’s cash session. [3]
News flow in the last 24–48 hours: light corporate headlines, more positioning and commentary
Company-specific breaking news has been relatively quiet over the past couple of days, but there has been fresh positioning and market commentary tied to WMT:
- Institutional/filing-driven updates: A MarketBeat filing roundup published Sunday said Carnegie Investment Counsel increased its Walmart position in the third quarter and also flagged other large-investor activity and recent insider sales mentioned in the same filing-based summary. [4]
- Investor commentary: A Motley Fool piece published Saturday reiterated a long-term bullish view centered on Walmart’s value positioning and durability when consumers trade down. [5]
- Leadership context resurfacing in retail coverage: Business Insider’s weekend roundup of incoming retail CEOs again highlighted that John Furner is slated to step into the CEO role at Walmart on Feb. 1, 2026. [6]
Street forecasts: “Moderate Buy” consensus, with targets clustered above the current price
Analyst targets remain a key part of the Walmart stock debate as the market approaches year-end.
MarketBeat’s consensus compilation shows:
- Consensus rating: Moderate Buy
- Rating breakdown: 32 “Buy,” 1 “Hold” (based on 33 analyst ratings in the last 12 months)
- Average 12-month price target:$120.69
- Target range:$91 (low) to $135 (high) [7]
Separately, a Nasdaq.com item summarizing Fintel data cited an average one-year price target of $122.40 (with a wider high/low range), underscoring that target databases can differ by methodology and source universe. [8]
Technical picture: mixed momentum signals into the weekend
For investors watching near-term positioning, Investing.com’s technical snapshot (timestamped to late Dec. 26 GMT) showed an overall “Buy” summary while also flagging some mixed indicator reads—for example, RSI(14) around 41.446 (often interpreted as weaker momentum), alongside moving averages that leaned “Buy” in its table. [9]
Technical dashboards can shift quickly—especially around year-end liquidity—so many traders treat them as context, not a forecast.
Bigger drivers still shaping Walmart’s stock narrative
1) The Nasdaq listing shift is now live—and keeps the “tech-powered retailer” story front and center
Walmart completed its listing transfer of common stock and bonds to Nasdaq and began trading there on Dec. 9, 2025, according to the company’s own announcement. [10] Walmart framed the move as aligned with technology-driven innovation and long-term value creation, while Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman said Nasdaq was proud to support Walmart’s next era of growth. [11]
The earlier announcement detailing the transfer plan (with the ticker remaining WMT) was published Nov. 20. [12]
Beyond the symbolism, Reuters described Walmart’s switch as a major win for Nasdaq and quoted market participants arguing it could bring Walmart into the orbit of more tech-oriented investor flows. [13] Retail Dive also cited Jefferies analysts saying the move “signals” strategic alignment with the tech-heavy exchange and could position Walmart for potential Nasdaq-100 consideration—an outcome that, if it occurred, could affect passive ownership dynamics. [14]
2) CEO transition: investors continue to handicap leadership continuity and strategy execution
Walmart’s board elected John Furner to succeed Doug McMillon as President and CEO effective Feb. 1, 2026, with McMillon retiring Jan. 31, 2026, per Walmart’s press release filed with the SEC. [15]
Reuters’ coverage of the announcement included two notable, named analyst perspectives:
- Chuck Grom (Gordon Haskett) said the earlier-than-anticipated change could create some shareholder anxiety. [16]
- Joseph Feldman (Telsey Advisory Group) praised McMillon’s tech-fueled transformation and called Furner the logical successor and a cultural fit. [17]
Walmart’s Nasdaq debut announcement also explicitly connected the listing move to the coming leadership chapter, noting Furner is set to become CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. [18]
3) Consumer and “trade-down” dynamics remain central to the Walmart thesis
Walmart’s positioning as a value leader continues to be a recurring theme in both analyst and investor commentary. Reuters previously quoted Bryan Hayes (Zacks Investment Research) saying Walmart’s performance signaled a bifurcated consumer landscape in which value-oriented giants can pull demand across income cohorts. [19]
That general idea—Walmart as a “go-to” when budgets tighten—also echoed in weekend investor commentary around WMT’s resilience narrative. [20]
If you’re watching WMT before Monday’s open: what matters next
The market setup: futures tonight, macro catalysts this week, and a holiday closure ahead
With the cash equity market closed today, attention shifts to the macro calendar and the futures reopen:
- Futures reopen Sunday evening: Several market outlets flagged that index futures are set to open Sunday night, which can shape the direction and leadership groups into Monday. [21]
- This week’s key U.S. data: Investopedia highlighted pending home sales (Monday), Case-Shiller home prices (Tuesday), and jobless claims (Wednesday), plus Fed minutes due Tuesday. [22]
- New Year’s Day closure: The same outlook noted the week is holiday-shortened due to New Year’s Day (Thursday). [23]
- Big-picture tape: Reuters’ week-ahead piece emphasized year-end momentum and key policy watchpoints (including Fed signals), which can influence defensive megacaps like Walmart as portfolio managers rebalance. [24]
A retail-specific seasonal detail investors may not want to ignore: post-holiday returns
Operationally, “Returnuary” can affect retailers through reverse logistics and margin mix. Walmart’s current return-policy page states that most items purchased between Oct. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025, are returnable until Jan. 31, 2026, with exceptions for certain categories. [25]
For WMT investors, the key is not the policy itself—common across retail—but whether management commentary points to unusual return rates, shrink trends, or merchandising mix effects as the quarter closes.
Bottom line
Walmart stock enters the final stretch of 2025 with markets closed for the weekend, the last recorded price near $111.74, and a market narrative that blends defensive positioning with tech-forward strategic messaging—from the Nasdaq move to the coming CEO transition. [26]
For Monday, the most actionable “tells” for WMT holders will likely come from (1) Sunday-night futures direction, (2) this week’s macro releases and Fed minutes, and (3) any fresh analyst notes or filing-driven flows that emerge in thin year-end liquidity. [27]
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. www.marketbeat.com, 3. www.investors.com, 4. www.marketbeat.com, 5. www.fool.com, 6. www.businessinsider.com, 7. www.marketbeat.com, 8. www.nasdaq.com, 9. www.investing.com, 10. corporate.walmart.com, 11. corporate.walmart.com, 12. stock.walmart.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.retaildive.com, 15. www.sec.gov, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. corporate.walmart.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.fool.com, 21. www.investors.com, 22. www.investopedia.com, 23. www.investopedia.com, 24. www.reuters.com, 25. corporate.walmart.com, 26. www.marketbeat.com, 27. www.investors.com
