Walmart stock touched a new all-time high of $134.71 on Monday, as investors position ahead of the retailer’s first-quarter earnings report due Thursday morning before the opening bell.
The stock is up roughly 20% since January 1, making it one of the stronger performers among large-cap retailers so far this year.
Based on current options pricing, traders are pricing in a move of up to 5% in either direction by the end of the week. On the upside, that would push WMT above $139 — past its February record. On the downside, a 5% drop would take it below $127.
Thursday’s report is the first earnings release under new CEO John Furner, who took over in February. The call will give Furner a chance to lay out his priorities for the company.
Wall Street expects first-quarter revenue of $174.94 billion, up nearly 6% year-over-year, according to Visible Alpha. Adjusted EPS is forecast at 66 cents, up 5 cents from the same quarter a year ago.
Comparable store sales are expected to have grown 3.8%, while e-commerce sales are projected to have climbed around 22%.
Analyst sentiment is firmly in Walmart’s corner. Of the 11 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha, 10 have a Buy rating and one is neutral. The average price target sits just above $140.
UBS is maintaining a Buy rating with a $147 target, while TD Cowen raised its target to $150, also with a Buy. KeyBanc reiterated an Overweight rating, pointing to market share momentum.
Oppenheimer expects a solid quarter but thinks Walmart will likely keep full-year guidance unchanged, given that elevated fuel costs could persist.
Morgan Stanley says Walmart is well-positioned to benefit from consumers trading down as inflation squeezes household budgets.
Rising prices have been a quiet tailwind for Walmart. As more Americans look for value, foot traffic and basket sizes have held up better at Walmart than at some higher-priced rivals.
This quarter comes as inflation and fuel costs remain elevated, in part due to the ongoing Iran war. Results from Walmart and other retailers this week may offer a clearer picture of how consumers are coping.
Walmart has raised its dividend for 31 consecutive years. The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 49.11, which InvestingPro flags as overvalued relative to its Fair Value estimate.
The company’s market cap currently sits at $1.07 trillion.
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