Walmart's Earnings Report: Navigating Market Reaction and...Walmart's Earnings Report: Navigating Market Reaction and Embracing Growth Opportunities
Walmart's recent earnings report sparked a market reaction that many deemed an overreaction, considering the positive trajectory revealed in the company's outlook for 2023. Despite initial disappointment from Wall Street, there are three compelling reasons to believe that Walmart's potential in the remainder of 2023 remains robust.
Solid, Though Mixed, Growth:
Walmart showcased its impressive sales trends with a 5% increase in comparable-store sales for the third consecutive quarter. This growth, though slightly decelerated, demonstrated a balanced approach between increased customer traffic and higher average spending. Notably, Walmart continued to gain market share in the grocery segment and expand in health and wellness. While there was a deceleration in general merchandise sales, the overall growth trajectory remained positive.
Financial Resilience:
Despite a nominal dip in operating income, Walmart's financials demonstrated resilience, attributed to a strategic shift in the timing of a sales event. Adjusting for this, the operating profit margin experienced positive momentum. The company reported a significant surge in cash flow, reaching $19 billion, providing Walmart with the financial strength to invest in growth initiatives, maintain price leadership, and offer returns to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
Guidance for Future Growth:
Walmart's forward-looking indicators suggest promising growth ahead. The strategic reduction in inventory by $1 billion reflects the company's agility in understanding demand trends, crucial as the holiday season approaches. Looking to 2023, Walmart adjusted its sales growth projection to 5% to 5.5%, a notable increase from the previous range of 4% to 4.5%. While the earnings forecast remained unchanged, the adjusted guidance indicates robust profit growth and a modest increase in the operating profit margin.
Despite shares lagging in performance compared to the market, with a 10% increase in 2023 versus the market's 17%, this relative discount presents an additional reason for investors to favor Walmart. As the company approaches the holiday season cautiously, it maintains strong customer traffic and rising profit margins. Combined with a growing dividend payment, these factors position Walmart for positive investor returns in the foreseeable future.
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WMTC trade ideas
Walmart's Bold Move: A 3-for-1 Stock Split to Empower Associates
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) has recently announced a significant development in its financial strategy – a 3-for-1 stock split. The decision, driven by a commitment to inclusive shareholder participation and a desire to align with founder Sam Walton's vision, reflects Walmart's ongoing dedication to its associates and a long-standing legacy of fostering financial health. We will delve into the details of this strategic move, its implications for investors and associates, and the broader context within which Walmart (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) operates.
Empowering Associates through Accessibility:
At the heart of Walmart's decision lies a commitment to its associates. With over 400,000 participating in Walmart's Associate Stock Purchase Plan, the 3-for-1 stock split aims to make share ownership more accessible. Walmart's President and CEO, Doug McMillon, echoes Sam Walton's belief that keeping share prices within reach for associates is crucial for fostering a sense of unity and shared success. By reducing the share price through the stock split, Walmart (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) is encouraging its workforce to actively participate in the company's growth journey.
Historical Context and Sam Walton's Vision:
Walmart's decision to split its shares resonates with the principles laid down by its founder, Sam Walton. Walton believed in the power of unity and famously said, "We're all in this together. That's the secret." The stock split aligns with Walton's vision of creating opportunities for associates to benefit from the company's success. Walmart's (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) focus on its associates' financial health, coupled with a commitment to providing good jobs and attractive benefits, underscores a tradition that spans over six decades.
Practical Implications for Investors:
For existing shareholders, the stock split means a distribution of two additional shares for every share held. This not only dilutes the share price but also increases the total number of outstanding shares from approximately 2.7 billion to 8.1 billion. The move is expected to make Walmart's (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) stock more attractive to a broader range of investors, potentially enhancing liquidity and market participation.
Market Reaction and Technical Outlook:
Technically, Walmart's stock is currently in a rising trend channel, indicating increasing optimism among investors. The recent break above the resistance level at $165 signals a potential upward trajectory. Investors are likely to respond positively to the stock split, viewing it as a strategic move that reinforces Walmart's commitment to growth and inclusivity.
Conclusion:
Walmart's (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) decision to undergo a 3-for-1 stock split is a strategic move with deep-rooted connections to its founder's vision and a commitment to associates' financial well-being. As the company enters a new phase with an increased number of outstanding shares, investors and associates alike are poised to benefit from this bold initiative. The stock split not only aligns with Walmart's (NYSE: NYSE:WMT ) historical principles but also positions the retail giant for continued success in an ever-evolving market.
Walmart: Almost there 🏁Over the past few trading days, the Walmart stock has continued along its path toward our magenta Target Zone (between $164.10 and $170.42), steadily recovering from the drastic sell-offs that happened in mid-November last year. Our Target Zone should now be reached soon, and we expect wave (2) to conclude there, which is why our Zone presents an opportunity to open short positions. Those who open short trades should consider the possibility (33%) of our alternative scenario, though: it calls for the dark green wave alt.(B) to head much higher, even above $173.08.
Walmart Close to Megaphone SupportWalmart had a failed daily cycle 3, currently price is seeking a half cycle high. The blue line defines weekly price decline resistance, when price closes above this line on a weekly basis we know a weekly low is behind and price is moving higher. There is a possibility price will decline towards the 200 week moving average but before that we want to see how it reacts at the support of the megaphone pattern as this aligns with the 200 day moving average. As the cycle unfolds we will be able to take risk accordingly as things become clear.
WMT Major support bounceRationale: Following the previous earnings beat, WMT (Walmart) has sold off -12% from all time highs. It made its way down to a major support area at 152.70 - 153.67 which it broke below and then reclaimed after yesterday's FED meeting. It also bounced off of a long term uptrend line in confluence with the 60% fibonacci level.
Additional confluences:
- Rising Volume
- RSI, MACD, and STOCH divergences
-Large Megaphone pattern support bounce.
Idea: I am looking to buy LEAPS options contracts, a short term options swing, and day trade Walmart from this level to target the gap fill at 159.48 - 167.54. I will be scaling buy my LEAPS and short term swing today.
WALMART SUPER CYCLE PEAKThe chart posted is that of WMT Walmart I am now stating this stock bull run from1985 has ENDED first target 122 a final low is 85 a share I saw this forming on the weekly and was in court the other day and wanted to post but was exhausted .This should drop like Meta and last year
Is Walmart stock sinking?Is Walmart stock sinking?
Walmart Inc. has revised its earnings per share forecast from 6.40 USD to 6.48 USD, significantly below market expectations. In addition, the company's revenue projections have deteriorated. Against the backdrop of decreasing inflation in the US, there has been a sell-off of the issuer's securities. Concerns about competition with the e-commerce sector have re-emerged.
Today, let's focus on the Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) stock chart.
On the D1 timeframe, resistance has formed at 169.94, but support has not yet been established. The important historical levels were broken through during pre-market trading.
On the H1 timeframe, if the downward trend in the asset continues, the short-term target may be placed at 148.82. In the medium term, the target may hover around 145.14.
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WMT: Outlining a Long Strategy Through EarningsRetail earnings season is upon us. So far, FactSet notes that 92% of the S&P 500 has reported Q3 results, and the total beat rate is strong at 81% - the highest since Q3 2021. What’s more, the blended EPS growth rate is now seen at +4.1% - the first positive YoY earnings growth rate quarter in a year. Analysts have turned more optimistic about how Q3 progressed, perhaps not surprising since last quarter’s GDP growth rate surged past most economists’ expectations from the summer.
All eyes are now on the consumer sectors. Major Staples and Discretionary names report Q3 profit figures this week and before Turkey Day next week. I'm going to home in on Walmart (WMT). The largest big-box retailer has been on an impressive uptrend, sharply outpacing the Consumer Staples sector and S&P 500 over the last year. Let’s check out the chart to see if more gains are ahead.
Overall, I like the trend and would prefer a long play into and through earnings. According to Option Research & Technology Services (ORATS), WMT is expected to move plus or minus 3.1% after reporting in the premarket on Thursday. With 20.4% implied volatility, the $447 billion market cap retailer has beaten bottom-line numbers in each of the previous 5 reports with shares trading higher post-earnings in 4 of the last 5 instances. Analysts expect $1.51 of operating EPS and there have been three analyst upgrades of earnings recently.
As for the chart, the uptrend is impressive. Shares are basically at all-time highs near $166 and the long-term 200-day moving average is positively sloped, indicating that the bulls are in charge. WMT has held that indicator line on a host of occasions since Q1 this year. What concerns me, though, is somewhat weaker RSI momentum readings as shares have marched higher - I would like to see momentum and price confirm each other to support a bigger and more sustained move up into year-end. For now, long with a stop under the early October low of $151 (and rising 200dma) appears as a favorable way to play it this week. Based on the $152 in October and call it $166 resistance, a bullish measured move upside price target is $180.
#WMT#Walmart (WMT) stock trades at $166.03, with a market capitalization of approximately $447.1 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $498 billion. A closer look at the financial metrics reveals earnings per share (EPS) of $5.2138 and strong cash flow, with operating cash flow per share of $14.1336 and free cash flow of $7.2339. Walmart's current ratio is 0.8267, which maintains liquidity even though it indicates tighter working capital management.
Its asset base is supported by a solid book value of $29.5417 per share and a tangible book value of $21.274 per share. Meanwhile, shareholders' equity is $29.5417 per share, interest-bearing debt is $24.991 per share, and the debt-to-equity ratio is 0.8145, indicating significant leverage.
Walmart's valuation multiples, such as a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.8591, a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.7087, and a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 5.6228, indicate that the company is relatively valued. Current Market. Additionally, enterprise value multiples such as EV/Sales 0.7894 and EV/EBITDA 14.3509 indicate the market's expectations for future growth and profitability.
The company has a modest dividend yield of 1.3665% and a sustainable payout ratio of 0.4347, indicating a cautious approach to returning income to shareholders. Additionally, an earnings quality ratio of 2.7204 indicates solid profitability.
Technically, Walmart appears to be at the peak of the fifth wave of the Elliott Wave pattern, with the RSI indicator on the 4-hour chart approaching overbought territory. This indicates that a correction phase may be coming. Therefore, it may be prudent to hold off on buying the stock for now. Investors interested in Walmart should watch for a pullback to support around $151, which could signal the start of the next bullish wave and where it may be advantageous to establish a position.
All in all, Walmart stock demonstrates strong financials, and its premium valuation multiple suggests market optimism. However, with technical indicators pointing to a potential near-term correction, the strategic approach will include waiting for a more favorable entry point while focusing on the longer-term fundamentals that support the company's health.