MetLife Investment Management LLC Lowers Stock Holdings in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

MetLife Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 356,509 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 5,803 shares during the quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Walmart were worth $56,036,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Sageworth Trust Co raised its position in shares of Walmart by 2,414.3% during the 1st quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 176 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. PFG Private Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Knott David M Jr purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Milestone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walmart in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 33.18% of the company’s stock.

Walmart Trading Down 0.1 %

WMT traded down $0.18 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $155.17. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,749,072 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,972,214. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $136.09 and a 52-week high of $169.94. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $162.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $157.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm has a market cap of $417.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.76, a PEG ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.53.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 16th. The retailer reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.53. The business had revenue of $160.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $159.65 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.55% and a return on equity of 21.20%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.50 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

In related news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.40, for a total value of $1,576,579.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,461,509 shares in the company, valued at $237,349,061.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.40, for a total value of $1,576,579.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,461,509 shares in the company, valued at $237,349,061.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP John D. Rainey sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.37, for a total transaction of $164,370.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 167,735 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $27,570,601.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 31,166 shares of company stock worth $5,066,701 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 46.51% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WMT has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Stephens lifted their price target on Walmart from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Walmart from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 18th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Walmart from $187.00 to $177.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Tigress Financial lifted their price target on Walmart from $182.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Walmart from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $179.00.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units 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, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications.