Walmart Stock Analyst Ratings: What You Need to Know Right Now
If you’re looking at Walmart’s stock (WMT) and wondering whether the pros think it’s a buy, hold, or sell, you’ve come to the right place. This piece breaks down how analysts currently rate Walmart, how you can check the latest ratings yourself (with screenshots), and what those ratings mean in real life. I’ll walk you through the steps I use to check analyst opinions, share some surprising findings and mistakes I’ve made, and finish with a few reflections on why these ratings matter—but also why you should take them with a pinch of salt.
Summary Table: Latest Walmart Analyst Ratings (as of June 2024)
| Firm | Rating | Target Price | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley | Overweight | $205 | 2024-06-10 | TipRanks |
| Goldman Sachs | Buy | $210 | 2024-06-09 | MarketBeat |
| J.P. Morgan | Neutral | $195 | 2024-06-07 | Barron's |
| UBS | Buy | $215 | 2024-06-06 | Nasdaq |
Quick takeaway: The majority of analysts rate Walmart as a Buy or Overweight, with target prices ranging from $195 to $215, indicating optimism about Walmart’s near-term prospects.
How I Check Walmart Analyst Ratings—Step by Step (with Screenshots)
Let me walk you through the process I use to verify the latest analyst ratings for Walmart. I’ll show where I messed up at first (so you don’t have to), and what finally worked for me. If you want to double-check any stock, especially a giant like Walmart, here’s how.
Step 1: Go to a Reliable Financial Data Website
My first instinct was to check Yahoo Finance (link). But I’ll admit, I got lost in the sea of numbers at first—there’s a ton of info, and it’s not always front-and-center. So here’s what actually worked:
Step 2: Find the 'Analysis' or 'Research' Tab
Usually, you’ll see tabs near the top—‘Summary’, ‘Financials’, ‘Analysis’, etc. Click on ‘Analysis’ or sometimes ‘Research’—that’s where analyst opinions usually live.
Step 3: Read the Ratings—And Watch Out for Jargon
Ratings are usually shown as ‘Buy’, ‘Hold’, or ‘Sell’—but sometimes you’ll see ‘Overweight’, ‘Outperform’, or ‘Neutral’. Here’s a quick cheat sheet I made for myself:
- Buy/Outperform/Overweight: Analyst expects the stock to do well
- Hold/Neutral: Analyst expects average performance
- Sell/Underweight: Analyst sees trouble ahead
Step 4: Cross-Check Across Multiple Sources (TipRanks, Nasdaq, Barron’s)
I always double-check with at least two sources, because analyst ratings can vary slightly depending on who you ask. Sites like TipRanks (link) and Nasdaq (link) are excellent for this.
What Are Analysts Saying About Walmart Right Now?
Based on my latest check (June 10, 2024), here’s the consensus:
- The majority of large banks and research houses rate Walmart as a ‘Buy’ or ‘Overweight’.
- Target prices mostly range from $195 to $215, suggesting they see some upside from current prices.
- Most analysts cite Walmart’s strong grocery and e-commerce growth—even in a tough retail environment. Goldman Sachs, for example, just reiterated a ‘Buy’ with a $210 target (source).
I noticed a few outlier opinions—one or two analysts are ‘Neutral’, usually citing concerns about tight consumer budgets. But no major bank is recommending an outright ‘Sell’ at this time.
Real-World Example: How Analyst Ratings Played Out
Here’s a quick story from last year: In April 2023, several analysts upgraded Walmart just before its Q2 earnings. I remember reading UBS’s ‘Buy’ rating with a $170 target on Reuters (see here). Walmart beat earnings expectations, and the stock jumped almost 7% in the following week. It’s not always that neat, but it shows how analyst sentiment sometimes aligns with reality.
Of course, I’ve also chased analyst ‘buys’ and watched the stock go nowhere—so don’t treat these ratings as gospel.
Expert View: What Professionals Say About Analyst Ratings
“Analyst ratings are a useful snapshot of institutional sentiment, but they’re just one data point. Always look at the underlying assumptions—like earnings growth, cost pressures, and sector trends. For a large-cap like Walmart, ratings tend to be more stable, but still keep an eye on sudden changes.” — Sarah Liu, Equity Research Director, CNBC interview
I’ve found this especially true with Walmart—analysts rarely swing to a ‘Sell’, but shifts in price targets can signal changing confidence.
How Do Analyst Ratings Differ Across Countries? (Bonus Table)
If you trade international stocks, you’ll notice that ‘verified trade’ standards and analyst protocols aren’t the same everywhere. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Country/Region | Verified Trade Standard | Legal Basis | Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA Rule 2241 (analyst research regulations) | Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | FINRA, SEC |
| European Union | MiFID II (research independence) | MiFID II Directive (2014/65/EU) | ESMA, National Regulators |
| China | SAC Code of Practice for Analysts | China Securities Law | CSRC |
| Japan | JSDA Best Practices | Financial Instruments and Exchange Act | JSDA, FSA |
If you’re curious about the specifics, you can check the FINRA Rule 2241 for U.S. research standards, or ESMA/MiFID II framework for Europe.
Simulated Case: Analyst Disagreement Across Borders
Suppose an American bank rates Walmart ‘Buy’, but a European firm sticks with ‘Hold’ due to stricter ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria under MiFID II. This isn’t hypothetical—EU regulators have cracked down on greenwashing, and this can affect analyst outlooks on multinationals like Walmart.
In a call with industry analyst Tomoko Sato (not her real name), she told me: “Japanese analysts tend to be more conservative in their ratings, especially for U.S. retailers, because of cultural and regulatory differences. We focus more on balance sheet risk and less on short-term sales momentum.”
Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts
After years of following Big Retail, here’s what I’ve learned: Analyst ratings are a helpful shortcut, but never the whole story. I’ve chased ‘Buy’ ratings and regretted it, and I’ve ignored ‘Hold’ warnings and been pleasantly surprised. Use these ratings as a starting point, not a finish line.
To wrap up: Most analysts are bullish on Walmart right now, but always check for yourself, and look at why they’re optimistic. If you’re serious, read the actual research notes (most brokers or paid services provide them), and remember—no rating can predict the future with certainty.
Next steps: If you want to track Walmart’s ratings in real time, bookmark sites like MarketBeat or TipRanks. And if you’re trading seriously, consider reading the underlying legal and regulatory standards for analyst research, especially if you invest globally.