Financial Security Advisor Inc. Acquires 37,367 Shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Financial Security Advisor Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) by 199.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 56,101 shares of the retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 37,367 shares during the quarter. Walmart comprises approximately 1.2% of Financial Security Advisor Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Financial Security Advisor Inc.’s holdings in Walmart were worth $3,376,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of WMT. State of Michigan Retirement System grew its position in shares of Walmart by 200.3% during the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 1,172,820 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $70,569,000 after purchasing an additional 782,280 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Ridge Investment Management grew its position in shares of Walmart by 200.0% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Ridge Investment Management now owns 9,432 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $568,000 after purchasing an additional 6,288 shares in the last quarter. Buffington Mohr McNeal grew its position in shares of Walmart by 190.5% during the 1st quarter. Buffington Mohr McNeal now owns 18,918 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 12,406 shares in the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Walmart by 226.8% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 58,831 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $3,540,000 after purchasing an additional 40,828 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its position in shares of Walmart by 217.3% during the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 3,751 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $226,000 after purchasing an additional 2,569 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.76% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 29,124 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.03, for a total value of $1,748,313.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 4,018,650 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $241,239,559.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 29,124 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.03, for a total value of $1,748,313.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 4,018,650 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $241,239,559.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP John D. Rainey sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.08, for a total transaction of $177,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 521,613 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $30,816,896.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 14,525,340 shares of company stock valued at $953,023,399. Insiders own 45.58% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Walmart from $67.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Walmart from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Walmart from $62.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Tigress Financial upped their target price on shares of Walmart from $65.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Finally, Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Walmart from $63.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $70.47.

Walmart Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMT opened at $68.24 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $548.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $64.40 and a 200-day moving average price of $59.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a 12 month low of $49.85 and a 12 month high of $69.04.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 16th. The retailer reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $161.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $159.57 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.88% and a return on equity of 21.57%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.49 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 2.43 EPS for the current year.

Walmart Company Profile

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications.