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Walmart serves as the preeminent retailer in the United States, with its strategy predicated on superior operating efficiency and offering the lowest priced goods to consumers to drive robust store traffic and product turnover. Walmart augmented its low-price business strategy by offering a convenient one-stop shopping destination with the opening of its first supercenter in 1988.Today, Walmart operates over 4,600 stores in the United States (5,200 including Sam's Club) and over 10,000 stores globally. Walmart generated over $440 billion in domestic namesake sales in fiscal 2024, with Sam's Club contributing another $86 billion to the company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.

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Las acciones de Amazon (AMZN) suben impulsadas por fuertes datos de ventas minoristas y un optimista pronóstico de Walmart.

Las acciones de Amazon (AMZN) están subiendo el jueves: ¿qué está sucediendo?

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Aquí tienes cinco acciones estadounidenses que podrían llamar la atención de los inversores este jueves: WMT, TITN, BABA, LITE y DE.

5 acciones en el foco este jueves: WMT, TITN, BABA, LITE y DE

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Los mercados europeos anticipan un martes de modestas ganancias, con la inflación y la tensión geopolítica en Oriente Medio en el foco.

Tensión geopolítica y datos de inflación: factores clave para los mercados

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Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez maintains Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $75 to $98.

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Citigroup Maintains Buy on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $98

On Thursday, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cost#NASDAQ">COST</a>) issued its fiscal fourth quarter earnings. While slightly coming short on revenue, the warehouse retailer&rsquo;s earnings topped Wall Street estimates.
<h3>Fiscal Fourth Quarter Highlights</h3>
For the quarter ended on September 1st, revenue rose just 1% YoY to $79.7 billion, slightly below Bloomberg&rsquo;s estimate of $79.96 billion.
Membership fee revenue ticked up slightly to $1.51 billion. Despite increasing 18.9 YoY, e-commerce sales came short of estimates as growth slowed down from the previous quarter when they exceeded 20% with growth of 20.7% to be exact. Same-store sales grew 5.3% in the U.S. and 5.5% in Canada.
Net income grew 7% YoY to $2.35 billion with adjusted earnings being $5.29 per share, topping Bloomberg&rsquo; estimate of $5.07 per share. Strong customer engagement was reflected in a 6.4% rise in worldwide traffic.&nbsp;
Like its rival, Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), Costco is continuously working on enhancing the experience of its shoppers. Like Walmart, Costco is expanding its footprint. With a thriving business model. Both Walmart and Costco have been working on boosting e-commerce sales in attempt to rival Amazon.com (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), with e-commerce being a significant growth driver for all retailers. But despite efforts, Costco&rsquo;s e-commerce sales growth slowed down. Yet, unlike Walmart, Costco has a special bonus, its subscriptions. It can even be said that what Costco really sells is its memberships as it makes most of its money from them.
<h3>The Impact Of The Membership Fee Hike Is Still Unknown</h3>
This was the first quarter since the warehouse retailer rose its membership fees. While the recent hike did not impact the reported period but going forward, it could drag down Costco&rsquo;s results. On September 1st, Costco rose the price of its Gold Star membership by $5, and of its Executive membership by $10. This is the first time Costco raised its membership fees since 2017, impacting about 52 million memberships, with Executive memberships being a little over half of those. Therefore, Costco expects membership income growth in high single to low double digits. But as for the latest reported quarter, a small revenue miss was more than offset by strong profitability. Overall, Costco showed that while increasingly cautious, consumers are merely distributing as spend without running out of steam.&nbsp;
Unlike Amazon that has a business empire across industries, spanning from e-commerce to the cloud, advertising, in addition to unlocking new opportunities to AI, Costco&rsquo;s only business is retail. But, its business model is reliable and lucrative, and the latest quarter shows it is still working beautifully.&nbsp;
DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investing advice.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Costco's Latest Quarter Shows Its Business Model Continues To Work Beautifully

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Walmart shares are trading lower in sympathy with Costco.

<a href="https://chainstoreage.com/walmart-automating-two-regional-distribution-centers">https://chainstoreage.com/walmart-automating-two-regional-distribution-centers</a>
Walmart Inc. is continuing efforts to equip its entire regional distribution center network with robotics and software automation.
In an email to Chain Store Age, <a href="https://chainstoreage.com/company/walmart">Walmart</a> said it plans to install high-tech automaton from artificial intelligence-based supply chain technology company Symbiotic LLC in two of its regional distribution centers (RDCs) – one in Buckeye, Ariz., and another in Searcy, Ark.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Both projects will be completed in phases over several years and are part of a broader RDC initiative the discount giant launched in July 2021 and extended to include all 42 RDCs in May 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;
According to Walmart, the new technology enables it to double the number of cases processed per hour compared to a traditional RDC. By the end of 2025, the retailer expects that roughly 65% of its stores will receive merchandise from high-tech distribution centers.&nbsp;
The Buckeye RDC has been operating for nearly 25 years. Across the state of Arizona, Walmart operates three distribution centers, 124 retail stores and employs more than 37,600 associates.&nbsp;
The Searcy RDC has been operating for nearly 35 years. Across the state of Arkansas, Walmart operates eight distribution centers, 131 retail stores and employs 55,660 associates.&nbsp;
Walmart's RDC automation initiative is part of broader digital transformation effort in its supply chain aimed at increasing the speed, efficiency and safety at which products are distributed.&nbsp;
Since 2017, Walmart has worked with Symbotic to optimize an automated technology solution to sort, store, retrieve and pack freight onto pallets in its Brooksville, Fla. distribution center.&nbsp;
Under Walmart's traditional manual system, product arrives at one of its RDCs and is either cross-docked or warehoused, while being moved or stored manually. When it's time for the product to go to a store, a 53-ft. trailer is manually packed for transit. After the truck arrives at a store, associates unload it manually and place the items in the appropriate places.
With automation provided by the Symbotic solution, an algorithm determines how to store cases like puzzle pieces using high-speed mobile robots that reduce the time of the intake process and increase the accuracy of freight being stored for future orders.&nbsp;
This solution uses a combination of AI-powered software systems, robotics and automation to sort, store, retrieve and pack merchandise onto pallets which are then shipped to stores. The solution is designed to get products onto shelves quicker.
According to Walmart, the system transforms existing RDCs into high-density, automated facilities that provide faster product intake, increased inventory accuracy and a 2X increase in building capacity. The RDC transformation model is designed to save store associates time by creating store- and aisle-ready pallets, which take the guesswork out of unloading trucks.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., Walmart Inc. operates more than 10,500 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries.

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'Walmart Said It Plans To Install High-Tech Automaton From Artificial Intelligence-Based Supply Chain Technology Company Symbiotic In Two Of Its Regional Distribution Centers One In Buckeye, Ariz., And Another In Searcy, Ark.' - ChainStoreAge

Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) committed a minimum of 40 billion yuan ($5.7 billion) in resources to help merchants on Taobao and Tmall during the&nbsp;Singles' Day&nbsp;shopping festival.
Taobao and Tmall Group see 30 billion yuan in consumer vouchers and resources up to 10 billion yuan to boost traffic, SCMP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279954/alibabas-singles-day-preparation-includes-us57-billion-aid-merchants" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The platforms also introduced new measures to reduce merchant operational costs, including waiving commission fees.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/41023040/nvidia-xpeng-join-alibabas-apsara-conference-to-showcase-ai-tech-advancements" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia, XPeng Join Alibaba's Apsara Conference to Showcase AI Tech Advancements</a>
The Singles' Day shopping festival was originally a 24-hour event named for its date, November 11th, or 11/11.
During Alibaba's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39143383/alibabas-618-shopping-festival-boosts-sales-with-big-brands-like-apple-xiaomi-leading-the-way" rel="noreferrer noopener">618 shopping festival</a> in May and June, gross merchandise value (GMV) grew by 13.6%, but profit&nbsp;margins were hit, SCMP cites third-party data.
The margin hit probably reflects the intense domestic price war. Brands, including&nbsp;Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>),&nbsp;Xiaomi Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACF#OTC">XIACF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>), and Huawei Technologies Co, each exceeded 100 million yuan in gross merchandise value.
Earlier this week, Chinese stocks led by Alibaba got a boost from&nbsp;China's central bank's&nbsp;plans to cut <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/41004045/whats-going-on-with-chinese-stocks-alibaba-nio-xpeng-li-auto-on-tuesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR)</a> by 50 basis points or half a percentage point and trim the seven-day reverse repurchase rate to 1.5% from 1.7%.
China followed the U.S. Fed rate cut a week ago to spur growth by unlocking discretionary spending.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40927136/amazon-boosts-worker-pay-to-over-29hour-invests-2-2b-as-holiday-kicks-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recent reports indicated</a> that Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) are boosting workers' hourly wages before the holiday season. In 2023, Amazon's&nbsp;U.S. sales reached&nbsp;$12.4 billion on Cyber Monday, up 9.6%, quashing the estimated $12 billion. The total online sales for Cyber Week reached $38 billion, topping the $37.2 billion estimate.
Alibaba stock has been up over 11% in the last 12 months as the critical rate cuts have offered respite from domestic economic weakness.
Price Action: BABA stock is trading higher by 7.24% at $102.34 premarket at the last check on&nbsp;Thursday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40977069/alibaba-teams-up-with-nvidia-to-supercharge-evs-for-chinese-automakers-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Teams Up With Nvidia to Supercharge EVs for Chinese Automakers: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Via Shutterstock

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Alibaba Follows Amazon And Walmart, Pours $5.7B Into Holiday Sales Push

BofA Securities says U.S. consumers are focused on value and sees Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) well-positioned in the e-commerce industry to reap the benefits heading <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41023224/top-10-stock-picks-for-the-holiday-boom-adobe-forecasts-unprecedented-e-commerce-sales-this-season">into the holiday season.</a> 
What To Know: On Wednesday, BofA released its 2025 annual e-commerce survey which monitors sector trends, inflections and outlook for the next year. The research firm expects e-commerce to grow its market share during the upcoming holiday season as consumers are drawn to online shopping by convenience, price comparability and a shorter holiday shopping window after Thanksgiving.&nbsp;
The survey revealed 52% of respondents expect to increase their online spending year-over-year, compared to 46% last year. However, 62% of respondents said they are seeking lower prices due to economic changes and uncertainty about the upcoming Presidential election. 
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41011763/whats-going-on-with-intel-stock"> What&#8217;s Going On With Intel Stock?</a>
Why It Matters: BofA sees retailers offering consumables and value pricing, such as Walmart and Amazon, as best-positioned to gain market share as consumers look for lower prices and price comparability in an uncertain environment. 
Walmart remained the most popular online grocery retailer with 30% of respondents opting for the grocery giant. Amazon saw the highest spending intentions in the survey, with 45% of respondents intending to increase their usage over the next six months.&nbsp;
Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported using Temu, a subsidiary of PDD Holdings, Inc. &#8211; ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), a gain of 13 points year-over-year. However, only 20% intend to increase their Temu usage, down by eight points from last year. 
Overall, BofA forecasts healthy consumer online spending in the upcoming holiday shopping season with a shift from discretionary categories into consumables.&nbsp;
AMZN, WMT, PDD Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Amazon shares closed Wednesday's session down 0.74% at $192.53, Walmart shares rose 0.90% to $81.40 and PDD Holdings shares ended the session 0.12% higher at $113.94. 
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Photo: Jill Wellington from Pixabay

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Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Expect Healthy Online Spending This Holiday Season, Says Analyst: What To Know

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meli#NASDAQ">MELI</a>), the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, has seen its stock jump 62.9% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry&#39;s return of 36%, the broader retail sector&#39;s rally of 30.3% and the S&amp;P 500 index&#39;s gain of 31.1%.
This impressive growth has been fueled by several factors, including MELI&#39;s growing e-commerce business, robust shipping services, and strong presence in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
The company is also benefiting from the solid momentum in its Mercado Pago fintech platform that allows users to send and receive payments seamlessly, which is another positive.
<h2>One-Year Price Chart</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/71/78997.jpg?v=1972780575" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Although MercadoLibre has a strong foothold in the online retail market of Latin America, rising competitive pressure from the e-commerce giant Amazon, which is making strong efforts to expand its presence in LATAM, is concerning. MELI also faces strong competition from the retail behemoth Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), which is making good progress in the region, especially in Mexico.
Market uncertainties, high inflation, recessionary fears and weakening macro conditions are headwinds for MercadoLibre.
Margins are currently under pressure due to increased investments in free shipping, loyalty programs, and improvement in customer services, marketing and chargebacks, as well as higher maintenance, hosting and fraud prevention.
Against this backdrop, the question that arises is - How should investors play the MELI stock? Are a strong e-commerce business, growing fintech business and expanding logistics operations enough to jump into the stock or should investors worry about the headwinds surrounding the company&#39;s prospects?
<h2>MELI&#39;s Long-Term Prospects Ride on E-commerce Strength</h2>
MercadoLibre&#39;s expanding logistic operations are shaping up the growth trajectory of its e-commerce business.
Its growing efforts toward delivering enhanced user experience for buyers on the back of an expanding logistic and fulfillment network are positive. MELI has become a natural destination for buyers and sellers by building the fastest and most extensive delivery network in the region, and by offering the widest assortment.
MercadoLibre&#39;s latest introduction of robotics in its distribution center in Cajamar, remains noteworthy. It intends to deploy more than 300 robots by the end of this year. These robots will manage tasks like transporting shelves containing products from storage areas, which will optimize processing time by 20% and increase total storage capacity by up to 15% per square meter. These robots are capable of handling up to 20,000 items and 2,500 shelves per day, helping automate repetitive tasks like product sorting.
The company is also gaining traction with its MELI Delivery Day, which helps in the reduction of its last-mile delivery costs. With the option of MELI Delivery Day, several deliveries at a single address can be made on a single drop.
MercadoLibre introduced a concept called slower shipment service with its SLOW in order to bring flexibility to its logistic operations. SLOW offers shipping options for buyers who opt for slower shipping options. With SLOW shipments, the shipping window becomes larger and more flexible for MELI.
The company&#39;s strong efforts to expand outside of LATAM, especially in the United States, are noteworthy. In the quarter ending in June, MELI launched a fulfillment center in Texas to bring U.S. sellers into its ecosystem in order to boost the assortment of products for customers in Mexico.
On the back of this move, customers in north Mexico are receiving their orders from the United States within a couple of days for free.
In addition to logistics initiatives, MELI&#39;s efforts to improve product selection are driving growth across verticals, particularly fashion, consumer electronics, apparel and sports categories. It has integrated standardized filters across brands and sellers on its commerce platform.
Growing momentum across the MELI+ loyalty program is a major positive. The company remains optimistic about the impacts of MELI+ on future growth and customer retention as the user base continues to scale. MercadoLibre has observed that customers who enroll in the program increase their spending and buying frequency and shop across more categories than prior to enrollment.
<h2>Fintech Momentum Drives MELI&#39;s Growth</h2>
Solid momentum in MercadoLibre&#39;s Mercado Pago fintech platform and its well-performing credit business are major positives.
MercadoLibre&#39;s strong efforts to deliver an enhanced experience to Mercado Pago users are positive. Strength in assets under management and the Mercado Pago credit card is crucial for boosting user engagement of Mercado Pago.
The company is leveraging its rich data to cross-sell in the LATAM region and bolster its fintech business. The data also enables MELI to have a better view of credit risks and operate a business that matches the lowest cost-to-serve in the region.
<h2>Solid Projections Bode Well For MELI</h2>
MercadoLibre&#39;s long-term prospects are expected to benefit from strengthening commerce and fintech businesses. Its leading position in LATAM as an e-commerce and fintech company is anticipated to instill investor optimism in the stock.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 is pegged at $20.58 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 42.2%. The consensus mark for 2024 earnings stands at $35.79 per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 83.9%. Earnings estimates have moved north by 1.7% over the past seven days.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/56/79013.jpg?v=1255792089" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>MecadoLibre Stock Overvalued Right Now</h2>
The MELI stock is not so cheap, as the Value Score of C suggests a stretched valuation at this moment.
MELI is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 4.49X compared with the industry&#39;s average of 1.72X.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/5c/78996.jpg?v=1271081349" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Final Note</h2>
MercadoLibre&#39;s leading position in Latin America&#39;s e-commerce market, a growing footprint in the fintech domain and a strong logistic network are the key catalysts despite a stretched valuation.
However, challenging macroeconomic conditions, persistent inflation and intensifying competition are concerning for the stock.
Hence, existing investors may consider holding their positions in the stock, but new investors should exercise caution, potentially waiting for a more favorable entry point. MercadoLibre currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340752/meli-stock-up-62-9-in-a-year-can-e-commerce-strength-fuel-growth?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|most_popular_stocks-2340752">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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MELI Stock Up 62.9% in a Year: Can E-commerce Strength Fuel Growth?

Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is due to kick off its Connect 2024 event on Wednesday at 1 pm ET.
The company will live-stream the event on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/MetaforDevelopers/" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Meta for Developers&#8217;</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/facebook/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> page with plans to showcase its mixed-reality headsets, smart glasses, and AI software updates.
Prior reports indicated Quest 3S device for $299.99 and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Related: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40545520/metas-apple-vision-pro-rival-reportedly-canceled-after-a-review-meeting-between-mark-zuckerberg-cto" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta&#8217;s Apple Vision Pro Rival Reportedly Canceled After A Review Meeting Between Mark Zuckerberg, CTO Andrew Bosworth, And Others: &#8216;Decisions Like This Happen All The Time…&#8217;</a>
Bank of America analyst Justin Post and Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett expect a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40989179/meta-connect-2024-preview-cheaper-vr-expected-analysts-see-augmented-reality-and-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">cheaper virtual reality headset</a>. They eye a prototype of next-gen AR glasses with a bigger focus on mixed reality and augmented reality.
They expect AI product launches for core apps, announcements on Meta AI, new AI messaging capabilities, and an AI subscription product.
According to a Tom&#8217;s Guide <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/vr-ar/meta-quest-3s-key-specs-just-leaked-right-before-meta-connect-event" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, a Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) store display reveals details about the affordable headset, including its resolution, bundled controllers, and a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow. The headset could include both controllers and a game.
The headset display highlights a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 per eye, lower than the higher-end Quest 3&#8217;s 4K displays. It also features 256GB storage, up from prior expectations of 128GB, as per Tom&#8217;s Guide.
The higher storage could cost $50-$100 more. The leak notes that the more expensive Quest 3 will only include the game. Meta Connect could also finally provide an official launch date for Batman: Arkham Shadow per Tom&#8217;s Guide conjecture.
Last year, at Connect 2023, Meta <a target="_blank" href="https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/meta-connect-2024-live-updates-mark-zuckerberg-9587477/" rel="noreferrer noopener">unveiled the Quest 3</a> mixed-reality headset powered by Qualcomm Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with a Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) 365 integration.
The company also launched Ray-Ban smart glasses featuring a 2MP wide-angle camera, five mics, and built-in speakers. Connect 2023 also witnessed the debut of Meta AI and the revelation that Xbox Cloud Gaming was coming to Quest 3.
One of the most hyped and premium AR/VR headsets, Apple Vision Pro, is also having trouble justifying <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39747111/apples-vision-pro-struggles-to-find-its-killer-app-to-justify-3-500-price-tag-just-not-quite-hit-the" rel="noreferrer noopener">its $3,500 price tag</a>. Vision Pro's launch has been slower than anticipated due to developers dedicating their resources to platforms with billions of users.
Price Action: META stock is up 1.29% at $570.67 at the last check on Wednesday.
Meta Quest 3 Image via Shutterstock

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Meta Connect Leaks Reveal Affordable Quest 3S, Batman Game Bundle: Report

Tropical Storm Helene is forecasted to turn <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40259269/storm-debby-headed-for-nyc-highly-populated-areas-as-catastrophic-flooding-persists">into a hurricane</a> as it makes landfall over Florida on Thursday.
The storm was located about 60 miles northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, Wednesday morning, moving northwest at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it passes over the Gulf of Mexico&#8217;s eastern coast later Wednesday and into Thursday and reaches the Big Bend of Florida late Thursday.
The NWS has already issued a tropical storm warning for all of the Florida Keys, the state&#8217;s west coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, and the Florida east coast from Flamingo northward to Altamaha Sound, Georgia. 
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Helene is forecasted to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 15 inches over the southeastern U.S. This will likely result in considerable urban and flash flooding and significant river flooding. It may also cause landslides in steep terrain areas in the southern Appalachians.
Helene is also expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain to Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the northern Yucatan Peninsula before reaching the U.S.
Price Action: The approaching storm has impacted stocks of generator producers, retailers, and utility companies with a presence or a subsidiary in Florida.
Generators
<ul>
<li>Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNRC#NYSE">GNRC</a>) slipped 0.45% to $150.16</li>
<li>Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>) declined 0.55% to $321.78</li>
<li>Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) rose 0.27% to $32.83</li>
</ul>
Retailers
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) gained 0.56% to $81.12</li>
<li>Target Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) slipped 0.4% to $155.56</li>
<li>The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) fell 0.67% to $397.99</li>
</ul>
Utilities 
<ul>
<li>Emera Incorporated (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMA#TSX">EMA</a>) gained 0.55% to $52.83</li>
<li>Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>) slipped 0.12% to $115.85</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39581491/whats-going-on-with-cruise-stocks-as-category-4-hurricane-beryl-churns-in-the-caribbean">What&#8217;s Going On With Cruise Stocks As Category 4 Hurricane Beryl Churns In the Caribbean?</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

GNRC

TSX:EMA

Tropical Storm Helene Set To Become Hurricane: Generac, Duke Energy Stocks React As Florida Braces

Walmart Canada Announces Additional $92M Wage Investment For Frontline Associates, Including Pay Increases For Supply Chain, Frontline Management, And Retail Hourly Workers

Consumers remained a pillar of support for the economy despite the high interest-rate environment that has prevailed since early 2022. With the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40965372/fed-delivers-large-interest-rate-cut-in-bid-to-sustain-labor-market-stocks-gold-set-new-record-h">Federal Reserve implementing a substantial 50 basis-point</a> rate cut, the benefits of which are expected to trickle down to them, consumers are forecasted to splurge on purchases this holiday season, according to early forecasts provided by Adobe on Wednesday.
Vibrant Spending: Consumer E-commerce spending will likely reach a record $240.8 billion from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, Adobe said. This included spending online, discounting, &#8216;Buy Now, Pay Later,&#8217; mobile shopping and more, it said. The forecast would mean an 8.4% year-over-year increase from the $221.8 billion spent in 2023, which saw a more modest 4.9% growth.
Electronics, apparel and furniture/home goods will account for the bulk of the spending. The firm&#8217;s analytics show spending on Black Friday &#8211; the Friday that follows the Thanksgiving Thursday, and Thanksgiving day will grow 9.9% and 8.7%, respectively. Cyber Monday online spending is expected to be up a more modest 6.1%.
Adobe expects discounts to peak at 30% this season, and drive over $2 billion in incremental online spending for retailers. The firm also said consumers will likely trade up to more expensive goods this season as opposed to the trend seen in recent months. Expensive goods will likely make up 19% of the share of the total online spending. In electronics, the share will likely be a steeper 58%.
Mobile shopping could make up 53.2% of total online spending and spending through BNPL could see another record this time. BNPL sales are expected to rise 11.4% to $18.5 billion, over 75% of this driven by mobile purchases.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-retail-stocks">Best Retail Stocks</a>
Best Time To Buy: This time around, discounts would be more spread out, with deals starting in October itself, Adobe said, adding that goods could trade up to 16% off the listed price in October. The discount could go up to 18% in November before the Cyber Week.
Hot Sellers: Among the most sought-after items are:
<ul>
<li> Bluey Ultimate Lights</li>
<li> Sounds Playhouse​</li>
<li> Slime Kits</li>
<li>Sony Group Corp.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNE#NYSE">SNE</a>) PlayStation 5</li>
<li>Madden NFL 25</li>
<li>Apple, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40971882/as-apples-iphone-16-goes-on-sale-analyst-says-demand-off-to-strong-start-keeping-cu">iPhone 16</a></li>
<li> ice cream maker Ninja Creami</li>
</ul>
Stock Implications: With most spending likely happening online, those retailers having a strong online presence could be the ones to benefit the most. Pureplay electronics retailers such as Best Buy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NASDAQ">BBY</a>), Apple and Sony, e-commerce giant Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and retailers such as Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NYSE">COST</a>) could also be preferred destination for buying consumer electronics goods. 
Madden NFL 25 is an American football video game developed by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>) Orlando and published by EA Sports. It could be bought on EA&#8217;s website, Amazon, or any other video game retailer.
BNPL stocks such as Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and PayPal, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) could reap the benefit of rising interest in purchases via the BNPL route.
The Commerce Department&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40897882/retail-sales-rise-0-1-in-august-more-than-expected-boosting-odds-of-larger-fed-ra">retail sales report for August </a>released earlier this month showed an unexpected increase as weak auto &amp; auto parts sales were more than offset by strength in online sales, underlining the underlying strength. 
The SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRT#NYSE">XRT</a>) ended Tuesday&#8217;s session up 0.80% at $77.13 but it has lost about 0.8% for the year even as the broader market hovers at a record high. The Fed rate cuts &#8211; the one announced and the two more anticipated before the year-end, and the seasonally strong holiday season could bring these stocks back to favor in the near term.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/40984858/dont-miss-these-3-retail-stocks-for-fall-gains">Don&#8217;t Miss These 3 Retail Stocks for Fall Gains</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Unsplash

AFRM

PYPL

Top 10 Stock Picks For The Holiday Boom: Adobe Forecasts Unprecedented E-Commerce Sales This Season

The ongoing threat of labor<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40906726/us-port-strike-in-october-could-lead-to-major-supply-chain-disruptions-says-container-trade-expert"> strikes at U.S. ports</a>, typhoons in China and China&#8217;s upcoming seven-day National Golden Week holiday are set to disrupt the flow of containerized goods from China to the U.S., according to a container trade expert.
&#8220;Our regular surveys indicate that demand for U.S.-bound shipments from China remains strong, especially with Golden Week looming,&#8221; said Christian Roeloffs, CEO of Hamburg-based online container market platform Container xChange.
&#8220;Golden Week, starting Oct. 1, traditionally causes a temporary slowdown in logistics activities across China, with a noticeable dip lasting between seven and 10 days.&#8221;
&#8220;With these events in combination — the U.S. labor strikes, upcoming Golden Week, and port suspensions — the China-to-U.S. shipping route is set to be volatile and uncertain over the next 20 days,&#8221; Roeloffs added.
Chinese factories shut down during National Day Golden Week as its citizens celebrate the founding of the People&#8217;s Republic of China.
He noted that an anticipated strike by the International Longshoremen&#8217;s Association, which represents 85,000 dockworkers at 12 ports along the East and Gulf coasts, is prompting traders to accelerate their order schedules to avoid disruptions before the strike on Oct. 1.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40713418/retailers-plea-for-deal-us-ports-union-start-two-day-talk-in-effort-to-prevent-disruptive-strike">Retailers Plea For Deal: US Ports, Union Start Two-Day Talk In Effort To Prevent Disruptive Strike</a>
Last week, China faced its worst typhoon in 75 years, which made landfall on the east coast. According to container liner Hapag-Lloyd, the storm has caused delays of up to 60 hours at ports in Shanghai and up to 48 hours at ports in Ningbo. Another typhoon is also headed toward the region.
&#8220;This bottleneck is expected to worsen as Typhoon Pulasan approaches, potentially exacerbating the already strained situation,&#8221; Roeloffs said. &#8220;Several ports in Ningbo and Shanghai have announced the suspension of container operations.&#8221;
He added that these adverse conditions have not caused port congestion at Chinese ports due to trade volume declining in a tougher economic environment.
&#8220;At present, securing containers is not an issue, though this may change as market conditions evolve,&#8221; he said.
Price Action: A disruption of China&#8217;s exports to the U.S. will impact numerous sectors in the U.S. because they rely heavily on China for the products they need.
Retail, automotive, and semiconductor companies saw gains and losses in Tuesday&#8217;s early-afternoon trading.
Retail
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) rose 0.35% to $80.61.</li>
<li>Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) declined 0.58% to $192.76.</li>
<li>Loews Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/L#NYSE">L</a>) slipped 0.32% to $78.42.</li>
</ul>
Automotive
<ul>
<li>Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) fell 0.37% to $10.87.</li>
<li>General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) declined 0.42% to $47.84.</li>
<li>Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>) rose 0.55% to $15.53.</li>
</ul>
Semiconductors
<ul>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. NYSE: TSM)  went up 3.42% to $180.74.</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) rose 0.91% to $174.51.</li>
<li>Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) rose 1.14% to $167.85.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/08/40497103/strikes-at-us-ports-canadas-railways-may-cause-container-freight-rate-volatility">Strikes At US Ports, Canada&#8217;s Railways May Cause Container Freight Rate Volatility</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: ambient_pix/Shutterstock.com

Asia

Global

AVGO

STLA

China's Exports At Risk From Anticipated US Port Strikes, Typhoons, Golden Week, Warns Container Trade Expert

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in WMT usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 18 extraordinary options activities for Walmart. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 38% leaning bullish and 61% bearish. Among these notable options, 9 are puts, totaling $430,843, and 9 are calls, amounting to $414,453.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $63.33 and $105.0 for Walmart, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Walmart's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Walmart's whale trades within a strike price range from $63.33 to $105.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Walmart 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727198161_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$2.32</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
<td>$2.27</td>
<td>$66.67</td>
<td>$135.3K</td>
<td>466</td>
<td>600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$1.88</td>
<td>$1.78</td>
<td>$1.85</td>
<td>$79.00</td>
<td>$74.0K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>811</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>$0.65</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$73.1K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$2.97</td>
<td>$2.96</td>
<td>$2.97</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$52.2K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>313</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.35</td>
<td>$3.38</td>
<td>$78.00</td>
<td>$50.7K</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>152</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Walmart</h3>
Walmart serves as the preeminent retailer in the United States, with its strategy predicated on superior operating efficiency and offering the lowest priced goods to consumers to drive robust store traffic and product turnover. Walmart augmented its low-price business strategy by offering a convenient one-stop shopping destination with the opening of its first supercenter in 1988.Today, Walmart operates over 4,600 stores in the United States (5,200 including Sam's Club) and over 10,000 stores globally. Walmart generated over $440 billion in domestic namesake sales in fiscal 2024, with Sam's Club contributing another $86 billion to the company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Walmart, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Walmart's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 6,183,996, with WMT's price up by 0.33%, positioned at $80.59.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 56 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Walmart</h3>
A total of 4 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $90.5.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $88. 
&#x2A; Showing optimism, an analyst from Truist Securities upgrades its rating to Buy with a revised price target of $89. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Melius Research has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $95. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Jefferies keeps a Buy rating on Walmart with a target price of $90. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Walmart, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Walmart

Truist Securities analyst Scot Ciccarelli upgrades Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) from Hold to Buy and raises the price target from $76 to $89.

Upgrades

Truist Securities Upgrades Walmart to Buy, Raises Price Target to $89

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/23/final-trades-leidos-holdings-western-union-and-walmart.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners named Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LDOS/news">his final trade.</a>
On Sept. 18, Leidos said Tina Jonas has been appointed to the company&#8217;s board of directors, effective Sept. 25. 
&#8220;Tina Jonas brings extensive defense and aerospace leadership experience in both government and industry to the Leidos Board of Directors,&#8221; said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. &#8220;Her insights will be invaluable as we work to support our critical customer missions and our nation&#8217;s warfighters. We&#8217;re confident her contributions will help continue to drive innovation and growth for our organization, and we&#8217;re honored to welcome her to the board.&#8221;
Jenny Harrington of Gilman Hill Asset Management said The Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) has an 8% dividend yield.
On July 30, Western Union reported worse-than-expected second-quarter adjusted EPS results. Western Union reported quarterly earnings of 44 cents per share, which missed the analyst consensus estimate of 45 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.066 billion, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.060 billion.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
On Sept. 23, Melius Research analyst Karen Short initiated coverage on Walmart with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $95. Walmart is reportedly sweetening its pay-by-bank feature in Walmart Pay, allowing customers to pay directly from their checking accounts rather than debit cards, with transactions instantly reflected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40945833/walmart-to-offer-pay-by-bank-feature-for-online-transactions-with-launch-in-2025">in their bank accounts.</a>
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Leidos gained 1.7% to close at $159.68 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Western Union shares gained 2% to settle at $11.98 on Monday.</li>
<li>Walmart shares gained 1.6% to close at $80.33 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40980672/top-3-financials-stocks-that-may-plunge-in-september">Top 3 Financials Stocks That May Plunge In September</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Long Ideas

LDOS

Walmart, Leidos And A Financial Stock: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Melius Research analyst Karen Short initiates coverage on Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $95.

Initiation

Melius Research Initiates Coverage On Walmart with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $95

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Leidos Holdings, The Western Union Company, Walmart

Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) underwent analysis by 31 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">17</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $80.55, a high estimate of $90.00, and a low estimate of $71.00. Observing a 7.73% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $74.77. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727100038_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
The standing of Walmart among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Edward Kelly</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corey Tarlowe</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Melich</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$78.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Baker</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Robert Drbul</td>
<td>Guggenheim</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Krisztina Katai</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$77.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Robert Ohmes</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oliver Chen</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kate McShane</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scot Ciccarelli</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Keith</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lasser</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Melich</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$78.00</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Kirk</td>
<td>Roth MKM</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kelly Bania</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Edward Kelly</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Seth Sigman</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$78.00</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steven Shemesh</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Horvers</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simeon Gutman</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joe Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Astrachan</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joe Feldman</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Edward Kelly</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kelly Bania</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ivan Feinseth</td>
<td>Tigress Financial</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$86.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bradley Thomas</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Melich</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Keith</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Astrachan</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Krisztina Katai</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$77.00</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Walmart. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Walmart compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Walmart's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Walmart's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WMT/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Walmart analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Walmart</h2>
Walmart serves as the preeminent retailer in the United States, with its strategy predicated on superior operating efficiency and offering the lowest priced goods to consumers to drive robust store traffic and product turnover. Walmart augmented its low-price business strategy by offering a convenient one-stop shopping destination with the opening of its first supercenter in 1988.Today, Walmart operates over 4,600 stores in the United States (5,200 including Sam's Club) and over 10,000 stores globally. Walmart generated over $440 billion in domestic namesake sales in fiscal 2024, with Sam's Club contributing another $86 billion to the company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.
<h3>Walmart's Economic Impact: An Analysis</h3>
Market Capitalization: Surpassing industry standards, the company's market capitalization asserts its dominance in terms of size, suggesting a robust market position.
Revenue Growth: Walmart's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 31 July, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 4.77%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Consumer Staples sector.
Net Margin: Walmart's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 2.66%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Walmart's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 5.43%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Walmart's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 1.77%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: Walmart's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.73, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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This story was originally published on the&nbsp;<a href="http://in.benzinga.com/" target="_blank">Benzinga India portal</a>.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has reportedly intensified its antitrust investigation into e-commerce giants&nbsp;Amazon (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>)-backed&nbsp;Flipkart, requesting their financial statements.
What Happened: The CCI&#39;s demand for financial records from Amazon Seller Services and Flipkart Internet will play a major role in determining a potential penalty on the firms, based on the companies&#39; defense in a four-year-long case, Mint reported.
A 2023 amendment to the competition law enables the CCI to impose a fine of up to 10% of a company&#39;s global turnover or income of the preceding three financial years for anti-competitive conduct.
The global turnover is anticipated to encompass the revenue generated by the entity in India and overseas, excluding the turnover of any sister enterprise operating in a different market.&nbsp;
After CCI&rsquo;s Director General of Investigation (DG) findings were reported in the media, Amazon and Flipkart raised concerns about the potential public disclosure of sensitive information in non-confidential reports.
Do you want to keep up with all the latest stock market updates in India? Sign up for the&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1K1H7Kd0aRhmSdDIuxTAkxg1npzh?utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Epn7q6aJNp9GSC5EOIhi4bHzDb9Xseqz4PYaEI7sGMhIcV2Rv9ZPxiCYKVKvNojA6WoH5" target="_blank">Benzinga India weekly newsletter</a>.
The DG&#39;s findings, which will serve as the foundation for CCI&rsquo;s judgment on the case, examined complaints of alleged anti-competitive behavior by the two e-commerce giants. The companies will have the chance to defend their case once the confidential version of the report is shared with them.
This comes after the DG&#39;s confirmation in August of suspected violations of competition law by the two internet platforms. Practices under scrutiny include giving preferential treatment and preferential listing to certain sellers on the platform, exclusive product launches and deep discounting, which may have adversely affected small retailers on the platform and beyond.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40970969/indian-coldplay-fans-cry-foul-as-tickets-hit-2-lakh-on-reselling-platform">Indian Coldplay Fans Cry Foul As Tickets Hit Sky-High Prices&nbsp;On Reselling Platform</a>
Disclaimer: Artificial intelligence was used as a secondary aid in writing this story.

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