$WMT

Últimas noticias sobre Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Bolsa

Walmart

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 locations 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

CSCO

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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America's wealthiest billionaires have witnessed an extraordinary year in 2024, with their fortunes far outpacing the 3% growth of the U.S. economy. 
What Happened: Surging markets, fueled by advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, have propelled their wealth to unprecedented levels. 
According to the report <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/these-ten-people-made-796b-in-this-years-tech-stock-surge/">by</a> The Daily Beast, these top 10 billionaires amassed gains nearly equivalent to the U.S. government's annual defense budget of $850 billion.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">10. Michael Dell: $14 Billion</h3>
The founder of Dell Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) saw a 55% surge in his company's stock this year, thanks to its transformation into an infrastructure powerhouse for the AI age. Dell owns approximately half of the company, contributing significantly to his fortune.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">9. Larry Page and Sergey Brin: $19–20 Billion</h3>
The Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) founders benefited from the company's $650 billion valuation increase in 2024. Despite stepping back from operations, they retain control through super-voting shares, owning just over 3% each of the tech giant.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">8. Steve Ballmer: $20 Billion</h3>
The former Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO continues to profit from the company's revival under Satya Nadella. Ballmer owns 4.5% of Microsoft, which has funded ventures such as a new stadium for the LA Clippers, the NBA team he owns.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. Warren Buffett: $29 Billion</h3>
Through Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), Buffett continues to outperform the market. The company's value rose 28% this year, helping Buffett build his cash reserves to an impressive $325 million, or 30% of Berkshire's valuation.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. Jeff Bezos: $63 Billion</h3>
Bezos, the founder of Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), saw his wealth soar by over $1 billion weekly as Amazon stock rebounded. Bezos retains nearly 9% of the company, funding projects like Blue Origin through periodic stock sales.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37059392/from-steve-ballmer-to-jamie-dimon-meet-the-billionaires-who-amassed-their-wealth-without-founding-a">From Steve Ballmer To Jamie Dimon, Meet The Billionaires Who Amassed Their Wealth Without Founding A Company</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. Jensen Huang: $72 Billion</h3>
The founder of Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) reaped immense gains as the company became the darling of the AI revolution. Nvidia's value more than doubled in 2024, with Huang's 3.8% stake driving his fortune.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Larry Ellison: $73 Billion</h3>
The Oracle founder's fortune grew alongside the company's role as a key player in cloud computing. Ellison owns 43% of Oracle, benefiting significantly from the AI-driven surge in enterprise demand.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Mark Zuckerberg: $82 Billion</h3>
Zuckerberg's Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) saw its value rise more than sixfold since late 2022, thanks to strong margins and AI developments like the Llama open-source model. His 13.5% stake in Meta underpins his staggering gains.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. The Waltons: $148 Billion</h3>
America's richest family, heirs to Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), collectively control the fortune built by Sam Walton. Their wealth solidifies Walmart's status as one of the largest employers in the country.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Elon Musk: $252 Billion</h3>
The Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and SpaceX founder tops the list with his fortune growing by nearly $5 billion weekly. Musk's ventures, including Neuralink, the Boring Company, and his federal government initiatives, further cement his status as the most influential figure in business.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32705841/billionaires-paradise-new-york-tops-the-list-of-16-cities-housing-the-worlds-richest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billionaires&#8217; Paradise: New York Tops The List Of 16 Cities Housing The World&#8217;s Richest</a>
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image: Shutterstock

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Tech Titans Triumph: The Top 10 Billionaires Who Made Big Gains In 2024

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 15 extraordinary options activities for Walmart. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 20% leaning bullish and 73% bearish. Among these notable options, 9 are puts, totaling $769,950, and 6 are calls, amounting to $201,928.
<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 $73.33 and $95.0 for Walmart, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Walmart's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Walmart's significant trades, within a strike price range of $73.33 to $95.0, over the past month.
<h3>Walmart Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734709528_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$0.86</td>
<td>$0.92</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$333.5K</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.02</td>
<td>$2.01</td>
<td>$2.02</td>
<td>$92.50</td>
<td>$90.4K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.96</td>
<td>$1.95</td>
<td>$1.96</td>
<td>$92.50</td>
<td>$67.8K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>895</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.92</td>
<td>$0.92</td>
<td>$73.33</td>
<td>$64.7K</td>
<td>205.1K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$54.7K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>127</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 locations 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.
In light of the recent options history for Walmart, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Walmart Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 7,608,341, the price of WMT is down by -0.75%, reaching $92.7.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 62 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Walmart</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $102.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Overweight rating on Walmart with a target price of $90. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Jefferies keeps a Buy rating on Walmart with a target price of $111. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Stifel keeps a Hold rating on Walmart with a target price of $94. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Tigress Financial keeps a Buy rating on Walmart with a target price of $115. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keybanc has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $100. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Walmart options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Behind the Scenes of Walmart's Latest Options Trends

On CNBC's &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; Jim Cramer said he likes Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
According to a CNBC report, Walmart started providing body cameras to some of its store-level employees across the U.S. as part of a pilot<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/psychology/24/12/42537321/walmart-begins-program-that-has-employees-wear-bodycams-for-safety"> program testing the technology</a>.
Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPRX#NASDAQ">RPRX</a>) is a &#8220;disappointing&#8221; stock, Cramer said. &#8220;I want you to stick with it, I would not get rid of the stock here, it's too good a company.&#8221;
On Nov. 6, Royalty Pharma reported quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 93 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $565.00 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $696.10 million.
Cramer said he doesn't want to own Magna International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGA#NYSE">MGA</a>). &#8220;The autos are the worst place to be,&#8221; he noted.
On Dec. 16, Wells Fargo analyst Colin Langan maintained Magna International with an Equal-Weight rating and lowered the price target from $46 to $44.
The &#8220;Mad Money&#8221; host recommended buying M&amp;T Bank Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>), adding that it is a &#8220;very, very good&#8221; company.
M&amp;T Bank will announce its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $3.74 per share on revenue of $2.34 billion.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Walmart shares fell 0.2% to settle at $93.40 on Thursday.</li>
<li>Royalty Pharma shares fell 0.8% to close at $24.28 during the session.</li>
<li>Magna International shares fell 1.6% to settle at $41.28 on Thursday.</li>
<li>M&amp;T Bank shares fell 0.4% to $185.42 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42582254/top-3-consumer-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-this-quarter">Top 3 Consumer Stocks You May Want To Dump This Quarter</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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Jim Cramer Likes Walmart, Recommends Buying This 'Very, Very Good' Financial Stock

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) announced Thursday that eight grandchildren of founder Sam Walton will gain voting rights over the family&#8217;s holdings, expanding the total number of voting members to 11 in a significant transition of power for America&#8217;s wealthiest retail dynasty.
What Happened: The Walton family holds roughly 46% of Walmart&#8217;s shares valued at approximately $345 billion at current market prices. Walmart&#8217;s current market capitalization stands at $750 billion.
The expansion marks a crucial step in preserving multi-generational control over the retail giant that began as a single Arkansas store in 1962.
According to Walmart&#8217;s disclosure, the transition will not affect existing leadership roles or board seats held by family members. The company currently has two Walton family members on its 12-person board, including Steuart Walton, who in 2016 became the first grandchild <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/23/12/36262896/passing-the-waltons-how-the-house-of-nahyan-family-of-abu-dhabi-surpassed-walmart-heirs-as-worlds-ri">elected to the board at age 34</a>.
&#8220;The Walton family continues to believe in the importance of maintaining the appropriate balance of family and non-family ownership,&#8221; the family stated in Thursday&#8217;s press release, emphasizing their commitment to supporting all shareholders&#8217; interests and long-term business success.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42608297/tom-lee-explains-why-fewer-cuts-in-2025-could-boost-the-market-urges-investors-to-buy-the-dip-amid-recent-volatility">Tom Lee Explains Why &#8216;Fewer Cuts In 2025&#8217; Could Boost The Market, Urges Investors To &#8216;Buy The Dip&#8217; Amid Recent Volatility</a>
Why It Matters: This move follows earlier leadership transitions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/15/06/5572729/a-history-of-the-waltons-reign-over-wal-mart">including the 2015 appointment</a> of Greg Penner, Sam Walton&#8217;s son-in-law, as chairman, succeeding Rob Walton. The founding generation, including siblings Alice, Jim, and Rob Walton, now in their 70s and 80s, has been gradually stepping back from direct involvement in the business.
In 2022, Rob Walton and his family members notably <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/08/28588081/have-the-walmart-heirs-been-selling-their-shares-heres-how-much-they-still-own">expanded their business empire</a> by acquiring the Denver Broncos NFL team for $4.65 billion.
Price Action: Walmart stock closed at $93.40 on Thursday, with analysts maintaining a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WMT/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> of $94.39, based on 31 analyst ratings.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42610523/charlie-mungers-bitcoin-warning-reignites-as-gordon-johnson-calls-king-crypto-worthless-with-btc-near-100k">Gordon Johnson Revives Charlie Munger&#8217;s Criticism Of Bitcoin As &#8216;Rat Poison,&#8217; Calls It &#8216;Worthless&#8217; With BTC Falling Below $100,000: &#8216;Purely Speculative Tulip That&#8217;s In A Bubble&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Walmart Founder Gives Voting Power To 8 Grandchildren As Walton Family Strengthens Control Over $345 Billion Retail Empire

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with WMT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 27 uncommon options trades for Walmart.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 44% bullish and 44%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $130,170, and 24 are calls, for a total amount of $1,644,031.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $46.67 to $130.0 for Walmart over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
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 activity within a strike price range from $46.67 to $130.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Walmart Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734552624_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$344.7K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$121.4K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>730</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$111.4K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>113</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$8.3</td>
<td>$8.25</td>
<td>$8.3</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$104.5K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
<td>131</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$98.9K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>323</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 locations 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>Current Position of Walmart</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 9,141,913, the WMT's price is down by -0.42%, now at $95.02. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 64 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Walmart</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $99.4.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from RBC Capital keeps a Outperform rating on Walmart with a target price of $96. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $94. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keybanc continues to hold a Overweight rating for Walmart, targeting a price of $96. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $111. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Guggenheim has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $100. 
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.

Smart Money Is Betting Big In WMT Options

The list of companies that have market capitalizations greater than $1 trillion continues to grow with Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) recently joining the club after its quarterly financial results sparked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42488220/broadcom-hits-1-trillion-milestone-the-next-magnificent-tech-giant">a rally in shares.</a>
A Benzinga poll asks readers which company could be next to join the elusive club.
What Happened: Less than two years ago, investors could count on one hand the number of companies that were valued at more than $1 trillion. That changed in May 2023 when NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) became the sixth company in the club and ninth public company in history to be valued at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32630114/nvidia-becomes-ninth-company-to-hit-1-trillion-market-cap-who-could-be-next-to-join-elusive-club">more than $1 trillion.</a>
Fast forward to December 2024 and there are now 10 companies valued at $1 trillion or more. Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) crossed the milestone earlier this year and currently hovers near it again, with a market capitalization of $983 billion.
Here is the current list of members in the $1 trillion market capitalization club, according to <a href="https://companiesmarketcap.com/">Companiesmarketcap.com</a>:
<ul>
<li>Apple: $3.82 trillion</li>
<li>Microsoft: $3.35 trillion</li>
<li>Nvidia: $3.30 trillion</li>
<li>Amazon.com: $2.43 trillion</li>
<li>Alphabet: $2.39 trillion</li>
<li>Saudi Aramco: $1.83 trillion</li>
<li>Meta Platforms: $1.57 trillion</li>
<li>Tesla: $1.52 trillion</li>
<li>Broadcom: $1.10 trillion</li>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor: $1.06 trillion</li>
</ul>
Benzinga recently asked who will be the next company to join the club for the first time with Berkshire Hathaway left out due to its close proximity and the fact it had already been in the club.
"Following Broadcom, which company will join the $1 trillion club next?" Benzinga asked.
The results were as follows along with the market caps at the time the poll was conducted:
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), $759 billion: 53%</li>
<li>Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), $757 billion: 24%</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), $675 billion: 13%</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), $619 billion: 9%</li>
</ul>
Over half of readers polled said they believe Walmart will be the next company to join the $1 trillion club for the first time, followed by Eli Lilly at around one fourth of readers.
Here's a look at the current year-to-date and five-year returns of the four stocks featured in the poll:
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="765" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-1024x765.png" alt="" class="wp-image-698436" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-1024x765.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-300x224.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-768x574.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output.png 1446w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Chart created using ChatGPT.
The chart above shows that while Walmart is the top gainer year-to-date, it is Eli Lilly that has the better five-year stock growth.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/24/07/39618512/nancy-pelosi-loads-up-on-more-nvidia-shares-sells-tesla-she-always-reports-right-before-a-hol">Nancy Pelosi Loads Up On More Nvidia Shares, Buys Broadcom Options </a>
Why It's Important: Broadcom stock is up 28% over the last five days and up over 113% year-to-date. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42472970/broadcom-reports-mixed-q4-results-eps-beat-revenues-miss-q1-guidance-in-line-with-estimates">beat fourth-quarter</a> analyst earnings per share, missed revenue estimates and provided guidance that was in-line. The guidance and positive outlook was enough to send shares higher and provide entry into the club.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), which was previously a member of the club, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/24/11/41856784/elon-musks-wealth-tops-300-billion-as-teslas-market-cap-soars-above-1-trillion">rejoined the $1 trillion club</a> thanks to impressive gains for the electric vehicle stock since Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is another company that was previously in the $1 trillion club years ago and rejoined the club earlier this year.
In August, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40604676/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-breaks-1-trillion-poll-points-to-big-pharma-not-tech-as-next-cont">Benzinga polled readers </a>to ask which company they thought would hit the $1 trillion valuation next after Berkshire Hathaway joined.
The results were:
<ul>
<li>Eli Lilly: 43%</li>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor: 25%</li>
<li>Tesla: 19%</li>
<li>Broadcom: 11%</li>
<li>Walmart: 3%</li>
</ul>
That poll was conducted when Eli Lilly and Taiwan Semiconductor both traded with market capitalizations of around $800 billion. Readers ended up being wrong with Eli Lilly still out of the club, while Taiwan Semiconductor, Tesla and Broadcom have all joined in recent months.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42121665/could-another-magnificent-7-stock-beat-nvidia-in-2025-poll-says-not-likely-27-pick-this-potential-winner">Could Another Magnificent 7 Stock Beat Nvidia In 2025? Poll Says Not Likely, 27% Pick This Potential Winner</a></li>
</ul>
The study was conducted by Benzinga from Dec. 16 through Dec. 17, 2024, and included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 128 adults.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Exclusives

AVGO

Who's Next To Join Tesla, Broadcom In $1 Trillion Club? Over 50% Say The World's Biggest Retailer

According to a CNBC<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/17/walmart-employees-wearing-body-cameras.html"> report</a>, Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) started providing body cameras to some of its store-level employees across the U.S. as part of a pilot program <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42530171/walmart-teams-up-with-chinas-meituan-to-boost-e-commerce">testing the technology. </a>
The Details: Shoppers have noticed Walmart associates wearing bodycams and signs posted at some store entrances warning shoppers that the store has "body-worn cameras in-use," according to photos <a href="https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fbody-cameras-for-the-front-end-v0-z8ut4kwzfc7d1.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dda8d496f9b671e48151f04b7a1e5ebda78a18bfc&amp;rdt=53348">posted</a> online. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/WalmartEmployees/comments/1gs1zm0/thoughts/">Thoughts? </a> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Savage-Senorita/">u/Savage-Senorita</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/WalmartEmployees/">WalmartEmployees</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script></div>
</figure>
A Walmart employee in Denton, Texas, was seen wearing a bodycam while checking receipts near the store's exit, according to a shopper who shared a photo with CNBC.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42515463/nike-needs-a-turnaround-after-q2-results-are-released-this-week-will-new-ceo-just-do-it">Nike Needs A Turnaround After Q2 Results Are Released This Week: Will New CEO &#8216;Just Do It?&#8217;</a>
It is unclear how many Walmart stores and employees are part of the bodycam pilot program, though the company said it is currently testing the tool in one market.&nbsp;
"While we don't talk about the specifics of our security measures, we are always looking at new and innovative technology used across the retail industry," a Walmart spokesperson told CNBC.&nbsp;
"This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any longer-term decisions," the spokesperson added.&nbsp;
Other retailers have started using body cameras for theft prevention, but sources told CNBC that Walmart intends to use the devices for worker safety purposes.&nbsp;
TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>) said earlier this year that it started using body cameras in its stores, which include TJ Maxx, Marshall's and HomeGoods. 
TJX Chief Financial Officer John Joseph Kilinger said on the company's first-quarter earnings call that the body cameras were an effective loss prevention tool. 
"One of the things that we've added — we started to do last year, late towards the year, wear body cameras on our [loss prevention] associates," said Klinger.&nbsp;
"When somebody comes in, it's sort of — it's almost like a deescalation where people are less likely to do something when they're being videotaped. So we definitely feel that that's playing a role also," added Klinger.&nbsp;
A TJX spokesperson told CNBC that employees who wear body cameras have gone through training on how to use them properly and footage is shared upon request by law enforcement or in response to a subpoena.&nbsp;
"Body cameras are just one of the many ways that we work to support a safe store environment. This includes a variety of policies, trainings and procedures," the spokesperson said. 
"We hope that these body cameras will help us de-escalate incidents, deter crime and demonstrate to our Associates and customers that we take safety in our stores seriously."
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42440681/markets-have-the-green-light-to-rally-after-novembers-yawner-inflation-report-experts-say">&#8216;Markets Have The Green Light To Rally&#8217; After November&#8217;s &#8216;Yawner&#8217; Inflation Report, Experts Say</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Psychology

Tech

General

Walmart Begins Program That Has Employees Wear Bodycams For Safety

Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe 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 $105 to $111.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Jefferies Maintains Buy on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $111

On Tuesday, Walmart&nbsp;Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>)&nbsp;said it has tapped&nbsp;Meituan (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPNGF#OTC">MPNGF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPNGY#OTC">MPNGY</a>) for its e-commerce delivery services in China.
The retailer&#8217;s goods will be available on the Chinese delivery company&#8217;s app, the Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/walmart-collaborates-with-meituan-to-boost-china-e-commerce-sales-e20159a5" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a> Walmart&#8217;s China unit in a&nbsp;WeChat&nbsp;post. Walmart&#8217;s e-commerce business in China accounts for nearly 50% of its sales in the country.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42489281/broadcoms-ai-chip-leadership-puts-pressure-on-nvidia-and-marvell-analysts-say" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broadcom&#8217;s AI Chip Leadership Puts Pressure on Nvidia and Marvell, Analysts Say</a>
In October, Walmart had 332 retail units in the country, including 49 members-only Sam&#8217;s Club stores, a hit with middle-class Chinese families, the report said.
The collaboration with Meituan came months after Walmart <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40531142/jd-stock-slips-into-death-cross-after-walmart-sells-stake" rel="noreferrer noopener">sold its ownership of</a> Chinese e-commerce company&nbsp;JD.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>)&nbsp;for $3.6 billion to focus on other priorities away from China&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/penny-stocks/24/08/40582575/resurging-walmart-shaky-jd-com-go-their-separate-ways-in-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenging and competitive market</a>.
In November, Walmart reported that its third-quarter net sales in China rose 17% to $4.9 billion, backed by growth during Chinese holidays. Total sales grew by 5.5% to&nbsp;$169.59 billion, above the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42060801/walmart-tops-q3-estimates-ecommerce-growth-shines-with-27-lifts-full-year-forecast" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of&nbsp;$167.72 billion</a>. The adjusted EPS&nbsp;of&nbsp;58 cents&nbsp;beat the consensus of&nbsp;53 cents.
Now, let us look at what is brewing with Walmart in the U.S. In November, Walmart CFO John David Rainey warned that President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42168305/walmart-cfo-says-they-dont-want-to-raise-prices-but-prices-will-go-up-for-consumers-due-to-upcoming-tariffs" rel="noreferrer noopener">proposed tariffs could</a> force Walmart to raise prices on some products.
In an interview with CNBC, Rainey acknowledged certain items may see increases if tariffs, ranging from 10%-20% on imports and up to 60%-100% on Chinese goods, take effect.
While two-thirds of Walmart&#8217;s products are U.S.-made, tariffs could significantly impact the remaining imports.
Walmart stock surged 79% year-to-date. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through iShares Russell 3000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWV#NYSE">IWV</a>) and iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACWI#NASDAQ">ACWI</a>).
Price Action: WMT stock closed higher by 0.66% at $94.87 on Monday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42487128/apples-2025-chip-transition-targets-new-wireless-edge-broadcom-to-retain-key-role" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s 2025 Chip Transition Targets New Wireless Edge, Broadcom To Retain Key Role</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Robert Way via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

Emerging Markets

ACWI

MPNGF

MPNGY

Walmart Teams Up With China's Meituan to Boost E-Commerce

Major investment boosts renewable energy production and creates more than 1,500 new jobs while delivering millions in energy savings for residential customers
BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexamp, a leader in community solar development, has partnered with Walmart to develop 31 community solar projects across the United States. These projects are expected to generate more than 120 Megawatts (DC) of renewable energy for the grid, create over 1,500 jobs, and provide millions in consumer savings for local businesses and approximately 8,000 residential customers. Walmart and Nexamp previously collaborated on a portfolio of community solar projects across New York in 2021.
The 31 community solar projects will focus on providing the benefits of affordable, renewable energy to subscribers across five states. Nexamp's community solar model allows residents to subscribe to solar energy without the need for rooftop installations, giving them access to the benefits of clean energy and lower utility bills. Customers can expect to see significant energy cost reductions, with overall savings totaling more than $2 million per year.

Nexamp Has Partnered With Walmart To Develop 31 Community Solar Projects Across The U.S., Projects Are Expected To Generate More Than 120 Megawatts Of Renewable Energy For The Grid, Create Over 1,500 Jobs, And Provide Millions In Consumer Savings For Local Businesses And ~8,000 Residential Customers

Pudgy Penguins is one of the most well-known NFT collections worldwide, and the floor price recently surpassed the $100,000 level as optimism builds for the launch of the $PENGU token. The takeover of the company and collection by Luca Netz in 2022 will go down as one of the biggest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/04/26449887/pudgy-penguins-founders-sell-control-how-new-leadership-is-boosting-the-floor-price">NFT storylines of all time.</a>
Here's a look back at the mint of Pudgy Penguins and how much you could have made investing $1,000 in the collection, and a look at what the future holds.
Pudgy Penguins History: Pudgy Penguins is a collection of 8,888 NFTs offering "good vibes" and "positivity for everyone." The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/11/29895821/exclusive-why-luca-netz-fell-in-love-with-pudgy-penguins-whats-next-for-nfts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collection w</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/11/29895821/exclusive-why-luca-netz-fell-in-love-with-pudgy-penguins-whats-next-for-nfts">as minted on </a>July 22, 2021, at a price of 0.03 Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) each.  
The collection sold out quickly and saw the floor price rise and draw attention from the New York Times and other outlets as one of the faces of the rapid rise of NFT popularity in 2021.
Two subsequent collections also launched with free claims for holders.
Pudgy Rods, originally <a href="https://media.pudgypenguins.com/post/rogs">misspelled </a>as Pudgy Rogs, were unveiled as what was hiding inside Pudgy Eggs, which were a free-to-claim NFT. The unveiling of the fishing rods and the misspelling upset the community and, for many, marked a turning point in the history of Pudgy Penguins.
Lil Pudgys is a collection of 22,222 NFTs, initially offered as a free claim for Pudgy Penguins holders, with the remaining NFTs made available for purchase through a mint. The collection debuted in December 2021.
The discontent within the community caused a decline in the Pudgy Penguins floor price. Frustrated by the project&#8217;s lackluster direction, the community voted to remove the founders from control.
In April 2022, entrepreneur Luca Netz bought Pudgy Penguins assets, the brand, company and more for 750 Ethereum, or around $2.5 million at the time.
The floor price jumped from a range of 0.7 ETH to 1.4 ETH to 2.5 ETH and beyond after Netz made the purchase. Optimism quickly spread, and the project appeared resurrected and brought back to life.
Since taking over, Netz has pushed Pudgy Penguins further and evolved the brand into Igloo Inc, which includes several other projects. He has also pushed the company into consumer products, a strategy that has benefitted holders who can collect licensing royalties.
Pudgy Penguins products have been found in stores like Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Target (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>), Five Below (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>), Walgreens (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) and online through Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>). With distribution in over 10,000 stores, the brand has sold millions of items.
The company has generated over 50 billion views on social media and has over 34 billion GIF views.
Netz was a speaker at Benzinga's Future of Digital Assets events in 2022 and 2023, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/11/35787692/exclusive-pudgy-penguins-the-next-chapter-in-the-ultimate-web3-comeback-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">where he shared</a> more about the future of the company.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Introducing <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PENGU&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PENGU</a>, the official coin of Pudgy Penguins. Launching in 2024. Learn more below. <a href="https://t.co/J715bODcM6">pic.twitter.com/J715bODcM6</a>
&mdash; Pudgy Penguins (@pudgypenguins) <a href="https://twitter.com/pudgypenguins/status/1864851993094664602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Pudgy Penguins recently announced the launch of the $PENGU token, which has led to a spike in the floor price, as holders will receive a portion of the new token.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/09/34922268/pudgy-penguins-walmart-debut-marks-huge-step-forward-for-web3-nfts">Pudgy Penguins Walmart Debut Marks &#8216;Huge Step Forward&#8217; For Web3, NFTs</a>
Investing $1,000 in Pudgy Penguins: The rapid rise of NFTs in mid-2021 saw many who had experience in the cryptocurrency sector or who had built up familiarity with NFTs and the blockchain through NBA Top Shot, buy up new NFTs from collections, including Bored Ape Yacht Club.
Pudgy Penguins, launching on July 22, 2021, came right during the increased attention for the NFT sector and also when fees to mint NFTs were high.
Ethereum traded between $1,954.30 and $2,044.12 on July 22, 2021. This means the 0.03 ETH price was around $58 to $61. When factoring in gas fees, minting a Pudgy Penguin is estimated at around $90.
A $1,000 investment at the time could have purchased around 11 Pudgy Penguins. Since the mint, that would have also turned into 11 Lil Pudgys and 11 Pudgy Rods.
Here are the current floor prices of the three assets:
<ul>
<li>Pudgy Penguins: 27.4 <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/pudgypenguins">ETH</a>, $106,783.83</li>
<li>Lil Pudgy: 3.477 <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/lilpudgys">ETH</a>, $13,614.09</li>
<li>Pudgy Rods: 1.7949 <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/pudgyrods">ETH</a>, $6,995.12</li>
</ul>
Here is a look at what the $1,000 investment and owning 11 Pudgy Penguins would be worth at the time of writing:
<ul>
<li>11 Pudgy Penguins: $1,174,622.13</li>
<li>11 Lil Pudgys: $149,754.99</li>
<li>11 Pudgy Rods: $76,946.32</li>
<li>Total: $1,401,323.44</li>
</ul>
That's right, a $1,000 investment in cute Penguin NFTs would now be worth more than $1.4 million three and a half years later.
Compare that to a $1,000 investment in Ethereum at the time, which would be worth $1,908.06 today, based on a price of $3,900.87 at the time of writing and the high price back on July 22, 2021.
The same $1,000 invested in the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&amp;P 500 stock index, would be worth $1,389.68 today.
What's Next: The launch of the $PENGU token will be a major catalyst for Pudgy Penguins and Igloo Inc that the cryptocurrency and NFT communities will be closely following.
Igloo Inc <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39936042/peter-thiel-founders-fund-lead-11m-investment-in-pudgy-penguins-parent-company-excited-to-">raised $11 million in July</a>, led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. The investment was said to help accelerate the development of Abstract, a blockchain designed to power consumer apps and drive mass adoption of cryptocurrency.
Pudgy Penguins is also building out Pudgy World and continues to lead the way in consumer products from NFT brands. At a previous Benzinga event, Netz shared that Pudgy Penguins had plans for books and could launch a movie or TV show in the future.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/11/29895821/exclusive-why-luca-netz-fell-in-love-with-pudgy-penguins-whats-next-for-nfts">EXCLUSIVE: Why Luca Netz Fell In Love With Pudgy Penguins</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: IHERPHOTO2/Shutterstock.com

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If You Invested $1,000 In Pudgy Penguins NFTs At Mint, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Barclays slashed the price target for The AES Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) from $23 to $17. Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella maintained an Overweight rating. AES shares closed at $13.41 on Thursday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised the price target for RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>) from $310 to $435. Morgan Stanley analyst Simeon Gutman maintained an Equal-Weight rating. RH shares closed at $381.38 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Rosenblatt boosted the price target for Ciena Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIEN#NYSE">CIEN</a>) from $75 to $94. Rosenblatt analyst Mike Genovese maintained a Neutral rating. Ciena shares closed at $84.52 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CIEN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley cut NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) price target from $82 to $80. Morgan Stanley analyst Alex Straton maintained an Equal-Weight rating. Nike shares settled at $77.96 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NKE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Tigress Financial raised Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) price target from $86 to $115. Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth maintained a Buy rating. Walmart shares closed at $93.88 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WMT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan cut D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) price target from $188 to $156. JP Morgan analyst Michael Rehaut downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underweight. D.R. Horton shares closed at $151.21 on Thursday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DHI/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stifel cut Editas Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDIT#NASDAQ">EDIT</a>) price target from $11 to $3. Stifel analyst Dae Gon Ha downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Editas Medicine shares closed at $1.89 on Thursday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank boosted the price target for Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) from $190 to $240. Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Seymore maintained a Buy rating. Broadcom shares settled at $180.66 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVGO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan slashed Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTH#NYSE">MTH</a>) price target from $220 to $197. JP Morgan analyst Michael Rehaut downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral. Meritage Homes shares closed at $177.45 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MTH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Barclays raised Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VAC#NYSE">VAC</a>) price target from $97 to $116. Barclays analyst Brandt Montour upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Marriott Vacations shares closed at $94.85 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/12/42460676/jim-cramer-amd-ceo-lisa-su-built-an-amazing-company">Jim Cramer Says This CEO &#8216;Built An Amazing Company,&#8217; Recommends Buying Netflix</a></li>
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CIEN

EDIT

Walmart To Rally Over 22%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Friday

Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth 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 $86 to $115.

Tigress Financial Maintains Buy on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $115

Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 4.82% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.41%. Currently, Walmart has a market capitalization of $755.86 billion. 
Buying $1000 In WMT: If an investor had bought $1000 of WMT stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,341.71 today based on a price of $94.09 for WMT at the time of writing.
<h3>Walmart's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734038111_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with WMT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Walmart.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $93,440, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $281,464.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $70.0 to $140.0 for Walmart during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Walmart's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Walmart's significant trades, within a strike price range of $70.0 to $140.0, over the past month.
<h3>Walmart 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734015018_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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 align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$25.4</td>
<td>$25.25</td>
<td>$25.28</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$126.4K</td>
<td>10.2K</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$47.35</td>
<td>$42.55</td>
<td>$44.71</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$67.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$1.56</td>
<td>$4.0</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>287</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$1.89</td>
<td>$1.84</td>
<td>$1.86</td>
<td>$94.00</td>
<td>$31.9K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td align="right">515</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$1.73</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.71</td>
<td>$94.00</td>
<td>$29.4K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td align="right">694</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 locations 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.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Walmart, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Walmart Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 364,928, the WMT's price is up by 0.7%, now at $95.62. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 68 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Walmart</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $98.4.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from RBC Capital has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $96. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Guggenheim continues to hold a Buy rating for Walmart, targeting a price of $100. 
&#x2A; An analyst from TD Cowen has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $100. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keybanc persists with their Overweight rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $100. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $96. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Walmart with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Decoding Walmart's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

Editor&#8217;s Note: This story has been updated to clarify that Block Blast is developed by Hungry Studio, not Artemis Limited, as previously stated in this article.
The latest rankings of the most popular free apps on Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone in the U.S. reveal a strong inclination toward games, social media platforms, and productivity tools.
What Happened: As of Nov. 28, 2024, here are the U.S. App Store&#8217;s 10 most popular free iPhone apps:
Block Blast: Developed by Hungry Studio, Block Blast is a puzzle game that combines block and jigsaw elements. The game offers offline play, simple controls, and smooth visuals, making it a quick and relaxing way to pass the time.
Threads: Created by Meta Platforms, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Instagram, Threads is a social network that was launched as a rival to Elon Musk's X. While reporting Meta's third-quarter revenue, Mark Zuckerberg said that Threads now has about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/10/41657772/musk-thinks-threads-is-boring-but-275-million-monthly-users-signal-zuckerbergs-platform-coul">275 million monthly active users</a>.
ChatGPT: Created by AI startup OpenAI, ChatGPT helps users with tasks like writing, brainstorming, and learning. Previously it was reported that OpenAI could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41078513/openai-plans-to-more-than-double-chatgpt-price-over-next-5-years-report">increase the price</a> of the ChatGPT Plus subscription which is currently available at $20/per month. The chatbot has surged to 250 million weekly active users since its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30908169/chatgpts-100-millionth-user-means-the-age-of-ai-is-here">launch two years ago</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42156013/bluesky-adds-millions-of-users-as-elon-musks-social-media-platform-faces-exodus-post-trump-win-here-are-a-few-starter-packs-to-help-you-get-going-on-latest-x-rival">Bluesky Adds Millions Of Users As Elon Musk&#8217;s X Faces Exodus Post Trump Victory: Here Are A Few Starter Packs To Help You Level Up On The Platform</a>
Bluesky: Another Twitter competitor, Bluesky is a decentralized social networking app designed to give users control over their content and data. Since Donald Trump emerged as the winner of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, the platform has been witnessing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41872302/taylor-swift-fans-abandon-elon-musks-x-for-bluesky-how-trumps-election-victory-triggered-swifties-uprising">massive surge of new users</a>, including a large number of Taylor Swift's fans.
Pokémon TCG Pocket: It is the latest mobile entry of Nintendo Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>) Pokémon Trading Card Game. As a free-to-play title, it lets players collect digital cards, construct decks, and compete in battles against AI or other players online. In November it was reported that TCG Pocket earned more than $12 million within just <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/11/41725114/pok-mon-tcg-pocket-earns-12-million-in-four-days-fueled-by-u-s-downloads">four days of its launch</a>.
Capital One Shopping: Created by Wikibuy, LLC, Capital One Shopping is a free browser extension and app that helps users save money when shopping online. It automatically finds coupons, compares prices from over 30,000 retailers, and offers rewards in the form of credits that can be redeemed for gift cards.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Walmart: The Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) app is a one-stop shopping tool for users to browse products, make purchases, and find deals. Users can also choose between home delivery or in-store pickup.
Google Gemini: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36127273/google-launches-gemini-ai-signals-new-era-in-artificial-intelligence">Developed</a> by Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, Gemini integrates multimodal processing with reasoning capabilities and integration into Google&#8217;s ecosystem. Like ChatGPT, it serves a variety of purposes from personal assistance to professional coding support.
Perfect Tidy: Created by ABI Game Studio, this game challenges players to clean up cluttered spaces within a limited time frame. It also combines puzzle-solving with elements of home organization, offering a relaxing and engaging experience.
TikTok: ByteDance-owned TikTok continues to remain one of the most popular entertainment apps, known for its short, viral videos. The app is currently facing legal and regulatory hurdles in the U.S., with the Joe Biden government asking ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by Jan. 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban.
However, President-elect Trump has stated <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/41911493/snap-stock-stumbles-as-trump-plans-to-push-back-against-tiktok-ban-what-you-need-to-know">that he will prevent TikTok</a>, which is used by 170 million Americans, from being banned.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash

Gaming

Social Media

AAPL

GOOG

NTDOY

Hottest Free iPhone Apps In America Right Now: Block Blast, Threads, And ChatGPT Lead The Pack (CORRECTED)

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Keybanc raised the price target for Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) from $96 to $100. Keybanc analyst Bradley Thomas maintained an Overweight rating. Walmart shares closed at $94.55 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WMT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Truist Securities boosted the price target for Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHR#NYSE">PHR</a>) from $31 to $34. Truist Securities analyst Jailendra Singh maintained a Buy rating. Phreesia shares closed at $24.14 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PHR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo cut RxSight, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXST#NASDAQ">RXST</a>) price target from $56 to $42. Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen downgraded the stock from Overweight to Equal-Weight. RxSight shares settled at $39.17 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RXST/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer increased Trimble Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRMB#NYSE">TRMB</a>) price target from $77 to $88. Oppenheimer analyst Kristen Owen maintained an Outperform rating. Trimble shares closed at $74.12 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Morgan Stanley cut Zenas BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBIO#NASDAQ">ZBIO</a>) price target from $40 to $35. Morgan Stanley analyst Vikram Purohit maintained an Overweight rating. Zenas BioPharma shares closed at $9.50 on Tuesday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZBIO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Susquehanna boosted Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) price target from $339 to $375. Susquehanna analyst James Friedman maintained a Positive rating on the stock. Visa shares closed at $312.38 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler raised the price target for Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) from $56 to $64. Piper Sandler analyst Brad Milsaps maintained an Overweight rating. Synovus Financial shares settled at $55.14 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SNV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley boosted United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) price target from $88 to $130. Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker maintained an Overweight rating. United Airlines shares closed at $96.53 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UAL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo increased the price target for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISRG#NASDAQ">ISRG</a>) from $549 to $630. Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen maintained an Overweight rating. Intuitive Surgical shares closed at $538.09 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ISRG/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stifel raised Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COLM#NASDAQ">COLM</a>) price target from $92 to $100. Stifel analyst Jim Duffy maintained a Buy rating. Columbia Sportswear shares closed at $90.09 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COLM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42432935/top-3-health-care-stocks-that-may-collapse-this-quarter">Top 3 Health Care Stocks That May Collapse This Quarter</a></li>
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ISRG

RXST

TRMB

ZBIO

Visa To Rally Over 20%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Wednesday

Keybanc analyst Bradley Thomas maintains Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $96 to $100.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $100

Stifel analyst Mark Astrachan maintains Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $89 to $94.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $94

Ohio Supreme Court Sides With CVS , Walmart And Walgreens In Appeal Of $650.9M Opioid Trial Judgement

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Retail reckoning: Party City is goes out of business after a 40-year run

Retail reckoning: Party City goes out of business after a 40-year run

If I Had To Invest $100,000 In A Dividend Growth Portfolio Right Now, Here's What I Would Buy

Retail stocks present significant growth opportunities as consumer behavior evolves, particularly during the holiday season. Therefore, it could be wise to watch top retail stocks such as Costco Wholesale (COST), Target Corp (TGT), and Walmart (WMT). Keep reading… The retail industry is undergoing a tremendous transition because of changing consumer tastes, technological improvements, and market trends shaping an ever-evolving landscape.
E-commerce has emerged as a dominant force, fueled by the widespread adoption of digital technologies, mobile commerce, and changing shopping behaviors. Therefore, investors might consider keeping track of retail stocks from Costco Wholesale Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/COST/">COST</a>), Target Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TGT/">TGT</a>), and Walmart Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">WMT</a>).
The retail industry has significantly benefited from the eCommerce era by expanding market reach, offering 24/7 accessibility, and reducing operational costs through fewer physical store requirements. It has enhanced customer experiences with personalized shopping, seamless omnichannel integration, and convenient fulfillment options like home delivery and in-store pickup.
IMARC Group expects the global retail market to grow at a <a href="https://www.imarcgroup.com/retail-market">CAGR of 5.3%</a> by 2033. Also, <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/retail-sales">retail sales in the United States increased 0.7% in November 2024</a>, following an upwardly revised 0.5% rise in October and above forecasts of 0.5%. The data continued to point to robust consumer spending during the holiday shopping season.
Considering these conducive trends, let's examine the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/grocery-big-box-retailers/">Grocery/Big Box Retailers</a> stocks in detail, starting with the third one:
Stock #3: Costco Wholesale Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/COST/">COST</a>)
COST engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. The company offers branded and private-label products in a range of merchandise categories.
COST's trailing-12-month ROCE and ROTC of 29.95% and 17.46% are 183.5% and 149.9% higher than the industry average of 10.56% and 6.99%, respectively. Its trailing-12-month ROTA of 10.32% is 171.6% higher than the industry average of 3.80%.
COST's total revenue for the third quarter that ended November 24, 2024, increased 7.8% year-over-year to $62.15 billion. Its gross profit grew 10.7% from the year-ago quarter to $2.20 billion. Net income came in at $1.80 billion and $4.04 per share, up 13.2% and 12.8% from the prior year's quarter, respectively.
Analysts expect COST's revenue and EPS for the second quarter (ending February 2024) to increase 7% and 9.1% year-over-year to $62.52 billion and $4.05, respectively. Furthermore, the company has topped the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is impressive.
Shares of COST have surged 10.6% over the past six months and 44.3% over the past year to close the last trading session at $954.07.
COST's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect its outlook. COST also has a B grade for Momentum and Sentiment. It is ranked #32 out of 37 stocks in the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/grocery-big-box-retailers/">Grocery/Big Box Retailers</a> industry. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.  
To see additional POWR Ratings for Growth, Value, Stability, and Quality, click <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/COST/">here</a>.
Stock #2: Target Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TGT/">TGT</a>)
TGT operates as a major U.S. general merchandise retailer that offers a wide range of products, including apparel, beauty, groceries, electronics, and home goods. It sells its merchandise through physical stores, Target.com, and digital channels, and it enhances the customer experience with design partnerships and in-store amenities.
On October 22, TGT announced its intention to lower regular prices on more than 2,000 items across owned and national brands this holiday season, which should boost its sales.
TGT's trailing-12-month asset turnover ratio of 1.87x is 118.3% higher than the 0.86x industry average. Its trailing-12-month ROCE of 32.37% is 206.4% higher than the industry average of 10.56%.
In the third quarter of 2024, which ended November 2, TGT's sales increased marginally year-over-year to $25.23 billion. Its operating income came in at $1.17 billion. The company reported net earnings of $854 million and $1.85 per share.
Analysts expect TGT's revenue and EPS for the fiscal first quarter (ending April 2024) to increase 2.3% and 1% year-over-year to $25.10 billion and $2.04, respectively.
The stock has gained 8% over the past month to close the last trading session at $131.48.   
TGT's POWR Ratings reflect robust prospects. TGT has a B grade for Value, Momentum, and Quality. It is ranked #31 in the same industry. 
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated TGT for Sentiment, Growth, and Stability. Get all TGT ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TGT/">here</a>.
Stock #1: Walmart Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">WMT</a>)
WMT engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club.
On October 8, 2024, WMT announced key expansions to its core pet care offerings, widening access to affordable in-person and virtual veterinary care, pet prescription delivery, grooming services, pet food, and supplies, all in one convenient experience for pet owners.
WMT's trailing-12-month ROCE and ROTC of 23.48% and 11.49% are 122.3% and 64.5% higher than the industry average of 10.56% and 6.99%, respectively. Its trailing-12-month ROTA of 7.47% is 96.5% higher than the industry average of 3.80%.
For the third quarter ended October 31, 2024, WMT's total revenues increased 5.5% year-over-year to $169.59 billion. Its operating income grew 8.2% year-over-year to $6.71 billion. The company's net earnings of $4.71 billion indicate growth of 633.1% year-over-year. Its net income per common share increased 850% year-over-year to $0.57.
Street expects WMT's revenue for the fourth quarter (ending January 2025) to increase 4% year-over-year to $178.78 billion, while its EPS is expected to grow 6.8% year-over-year to $0.64 for the same period. Moreover, the company surpassed revenue and EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is impressive.
Over the past six months, WMT's stock has gained 35.6% to close the last trading session at $92.24.
WMT's POWR Ratings reflect its bright outlook. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.   
WMT has an A grade for Stability and Sentiment and a B in Momentum. It is ranked #12 in the same industry.
For additional WMT's Growth, Quality, and Value, click <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">here</a>.   
What To Do Next?
Get your hands on this special report with 3 low priced companies with tremendous upside potential even in today's volatile markets:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/3stocks/?formplacement=artbotad_3s">3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year &gt;</a>

<hr />
WMT shares closed at $92.24 on Friday, down $-1.16 (-1.24%). Year-to-date, WMT has gained 77.62%, versus a 25.54% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Nidhi Agarwal</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Nidhi-Agarwal_Headshot-3.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Nidhi is passionate about the capital market and wealth management, which led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. She holds a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing and is pursuing the CFA program.

Her fundamental approach to analyzing stocks helps investors identify the best investment opportunities.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=nidhi-agarwal">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/wmt-tgt-cost-3-retail-stocks-thriving-in-the-e-commerce-era/>3 Retail Stocks Thriving in the E-Commerce Era</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 Retail Stocks Thriving in the E-Commerce Era

Dividend-paying consumer staples stocks offer consistent income and resilience. Therefore, investing in companies such as Walmart (WMT), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), and Sysco Corp (SYY) might be a good way to build a resilient portfolio. Read on… Dividend-paying <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerstaples.asp">consumer staples stocks</a> are a cornerstone of stable investment portfolios, especially during uncertain economic periods. Companies that operate in this sector provide essential goods, ensuring consistent demand regardless of market conditions and making them stable stocks.
Amid this backdrop, investors might consider investing in three fundamentally sound consumer staple stocks, Walmart Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">WMT</a>), Colgate-Palmolive Company (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CL/">CL</a>), and Sysco Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SYY/">SYY</a>), that are stable and reliable.
Income-focused investors also favor dividend-paying stocks in this sector. With yields often exceeding market averages, they provide a reliable income source while offering potential for capital appreciation.
The U.S. economy's real GDP grew <a href="https://nam.org/q3-gdp-driven-by-consumer-and-government-spending-while-housing-lags-32518/">2.8% in the third quarter of 2024</a>, driven by the rise in consumer spending, government spending, and exports. Consumer spending was at a CAGR of 3.7%, where the spending on health care and food services were the largest contributors.
The S&amp;P Consumer Staples Select Sector index has <a href="https://curvo.eu/backtest/en/market-index/sp-consumer-staples-select-sector?currency=usd">returned an average of 18.1%</a> so far in 2024. Also, for most of the 10 years, the consumer staples sector had a positive average annualized return of 8.4%. This consistent characteristic is particularly advantageous in inflationary environments, where maintaining margins becomes critical.
Moreover, as per Statista, the global consumer goods market is anticipated to <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/io/manufacturing/consumer-goods/worldwide#employment">reach $594.50 billion in 2024</a>, exhibiting a CAGR of 1.4% from 2024 to 2029. Further, rising incomes and population growth in these regions are expected to drive demand for consumer staples, further enhancing their long-term investment appeal.
Now, let us dive deep into the fundamentals of the above-mentioned three consumer staples:
Walmart Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">WMT</a>)
WMT is a technology-powered omnichannel retailer that engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and e-commerce worldwide. The company functions as supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, and cash and carry stores. It operates through three segments: Walmart U.S.; Walmart International; and Sam's Club. 
On December 3, WMT completed the acquisition of VIZIO. This acquisition should allow WMT to use VIZIO's SmartCast Operating System, enhancing customers' shopping journeys and serving them in new ways. It should help connect customers at scale and boost product discovery.
On February 20, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders, the company declared a quarterly <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dividend.asp">dividend</a> of $0.2075 per share, payable to its shareholders on January 6, 2025. With 51 years of consecutive dividend growth, WMT pays an annual dividend of $0.83, which translates to a yield of 0.90% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 1.46%.
In the fiscal third quarter that ended on October 31, 2024, WMT's total revenue increased 5.5% year-over-year to $169.59 billion. The company reported an operating income of $6.71 billion, indicating 8.2% growth from the prior year's quarter. WMT's attributable net income stood at $4.58 billion, up 910.4% year-over-year, while its EPS grew 850% from the year-ago value to $0.57.
The consensus revenue estimate of $178.78 billion for the fiscal first quarter (ending January 2025) represents a 3.9% increase year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate of $0.64 for the same quarter indicates a 6.8% improvement year-over-year. The company has an impressive surprise history; it surpassed the consensus revenue and EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
The stock has gained 80% over the past year and 50.6% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $92.24. Its 24-month beta is 0.54.
WMT's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect this robust outlook. The stock has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, each weighted to an optimal degree.
WMT has an A grade for Stability and Sentiment and a B for Momentum. It is ranked #12 out of the 37 stocks in the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/grocery-big-box-retailers/">Grocery/Big Box Retailers</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">Click here</a> to see the additional ratings for WMT (Growth, Value, and Quality).
Colgate-Palmolive Company (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CL/">CL</a>)
CL manufactures and sells a range of products for the personal and home care markets internationally. The company operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. 
On December 11, buoyed by strong financial performance, the company declared its quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share to its shareholders, payable on February 14, 2025, to shareholders of record on January 21, 2025.
CL pays an annual dividend of $2, which translates to a yield of 2.17% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 2.31%. Moreover, the company's dividend payouts have increased at an impressive CAGR of 3.4% over the past three years.
During the third quarter that ended on September 30, CL's net sales increased 2.4% year-over-year, amounting to $5.03 billion. It posted a gross profit of $3.07 billion, indicating a 6.8% increase from the prior-year quarter.
The company's non-GAAP operating profit rose 4.8% from the year-ago value to $1.08 billion, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 21.5% (up 50 bps year-over-year). In addition, CL's attributable non-GAAP net income stood at $750 million, up 5.6% year-over-year, while its non-GAAP earnings per share grew 5.8% from the year-ago value to $0.91. Also,
Street expects CL's revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to increase marginally year-over-year to $5.04 billion. Its EPS for the same period is expected to register a 3.3% growth from the prior year, settling at $0.90. In addition, it surpassed the consensus revenue and EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is impressive.
Over the past year, the stock has surged 19%, closing the last trading session at $92.03. It has a two-year beta of 0.24.
CL's bright prospects are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It also has an A grade for Quality and a B for Stability. Within the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/consumer-goods/">Consumer Goods</a> industry, it is ranked #20 out of 55 stocks. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CL/">Click here</a> to see CL's ratings for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Sentiment.
Sysco Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SYY/">SYY</a>)
SYY sells, markets, and distributes food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments, and other customers who prepare meals away from home globally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Foodservice Operations; International Foodservice Operations; SYGMA; and Other.
On December 18, SYY announced a new partnership with Square to help restaurants of all sizes succeed and work smarter through powerful technology. This partnership allows customers to receive a compelling processing fee rebate and hardware credits when enrolling through SYY, which will save the business time with its easy-to-use technology.
On November 15, the company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share, payable to its shareholders on January 24, 2025. SYY pays an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, which translates to a yield of 2.65% on the prevailing share price. The company's dividend payouts have increased at an impressive CAGR of 5.3% over the past five years. Also, its four-year average dividend yield is 2.50%. 
For the fiscal 2025 first quarter that ended on September 28, 2024, SYY's sales increased 4.4% year-over-year to $20.48 billion. The company's non-GAAP operating income rose 2.2% from the prior year's quarter to $873 million. SYY's non-GAAP net earnings came in at $540 million, and its non-GAAP EPS grew marginally from the year-ago value to $1.39.
Analysts expect SYY's revenue for the second quarter (ending December 2024) to increase 4.3% year-over-year to $20.11 billion, while its EPS for the same quarter is expected to grow 3.7% from the prior year to $0.92. Moreover, the company has surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.
SYY shares have surged 5.8% over the past six months to close the last trading session at $76.97. Also, it has a 24-month beta of 0.38.
It's no surprise that SYY has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. It has a B grade for Value and Stability. Out of 75 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/food-makers/">Food Makers</a> industry, SYY is ranked #8.
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated SYY for Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality. Get all SYY ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SYY/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
Get your hands on this special report with 3 low priced companies with tremendous upside potential even in today's volatile markets:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/3stocks/?formplacement=artbotad_3s">3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year &gt;</a>

<hr />
WMT shares closed at $92.24 on Friday, down $-1.16 (-1.24%). Year-to-date, WMT has gained 77.62%, versus a 25.54% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: ShreyaRathi</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0.jpeg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;"><a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=shreya-rathi">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/wmt-cl-syy-3-dividend-paying-consumer-staples-stocks-for-stability/>3 Dividend-Paying Consumer Staples Stocks for Stability</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 Dividend-Paying Consumer Staples Stocks for Stability

In this video, we dive deep into the world of options trading, investment strategies, and wealth-building tactics to consider.

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