Walmart (WMT) Beats Stock Market Upswing: What Investors Need to Know

In the latest trading session, Walmart (WMT) closed at $112.76, marking a +1.21% move from the previous day. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.19%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.66%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.03%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the world's largest retailer had lost 2.99% lagged the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 1.45% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.54%.Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Walmart in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on February 19, 2026. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $0.72, showcasing a 9.09% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $190.16 billion, indicating a 5.32% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $2.63 per share and a revenue of $711.97 billion, signifying shifts of +4.78% and +4.55%, respectively, from the last year. Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Walmart. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook. Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.06% higher. Walmart is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Walmart has a Forward P/E ratio of 42.33 right now. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 15.12. It's also important to note that WMT currently trades at a PEG ratio of 5.14. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. WMT's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.14 as of yesterday's close. The Retail - Supermarkets industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 171, finds itself in the bottom 31% echelons of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow WMT in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. Quantum Computing Stocks Set To SoarArtificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.Access the Report Free Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Walmart Inc. (WMT): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks