Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) closed at $131.18 on February 6, 2026, up 3.34% on the day. The stock recently crossed $1 trillion in market capitalization, making it the first traditional retailer to reach that threshold. Walmart's 52-week range sits between $79.81 and $131.70.
Stock Price of Walmart
Walmart Stock Forecast
Wall Street analysts give Walmart a "Strong Buy" consensus, though the average 12-month price target of $122.83 sits about 6% below the current price. Targets range from $91 on the low end (Stifel) to $147 at the top. Some firms, including Goldman Sachs and Evercore ISI, recently removed Walmart from their top picks lists, citing stretched valuations at roughly 45x forward earnings. Bernstein and Mizuho remain more optimistic, having raised their targets in early 2026. The stock trades at a premium to both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100 on a forward P/E basis. Earnings are due February 19, 2026, which could reset expectations in either direction.
Walmart Valuation
Timeline of Walmart Funding
1962 – 1969
Sam Walton financed early store growth through local banks in each town where stores opened. Regional lenders provided working capital. Total annual revenue reached $21.5 million by 1969 across 18 stores.
1969
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance (MassMutual) provided a critical loan to Walmart in exchange for warrants on 45,000 shares. MassMutual later sold 180,000 post-split shares in 1972 for $7.8 million — one of the earliest big wins from Walmart equity.
October 1, 1970
Walmart went public at $16.50 per share, offering 300,000 shares and raising approximately $4.95 million. Stephens Inc. and White Weld & Co. served as lead underwriters across a syndicate of 44 investment firms.
1972
Walmart listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), broadening access to institutional capital. The stock had already completed its first two 2-for-1 splits by this point.
1970 – 1999
Walmart executed 11 two-for-one stock splits between 1971 and 1999, turning one original IPO share into 2,048 shares. The company funded its aggressive store expansion largely through retained earnings and debt markets.
2016 – 2024
Walmart spent $3.3 billion to acquire Jet.com in 2016, then acquired Flipkart for $16 billion in 2018. These moves were funded through a mix of cash on hand and debt issuance, accelerating its e-commerce transformation.
December 2025
Walmart transferred its listing from the NYSE to the Nasdaq, signaling its shift toward being perceived as a technology-oriented retailer. A 3-for-1 stock split was completed, the company's 12th forward split overall.
February 3, 2026
Walmart's market capitalization surpassed $1 trillion for the first time, closing at $127.71 per share. It became the first traditional retailer and only the 12th U.S. company ever to cross the $1T mark.
Walmart Investors
Walton Enterprises LLC
Shares: ~3.00 billion
Ownership: 37.63%
Est. Value: ~$394 billion
Type: Insider / Family Holding Company
Notes: Founded by Sam Walton in 1953. Primary vehicle for Walton family control of Walmart.
Walton Family Holdings Trust
Shares: ~552 million
Ownership: 6.92%
Est. Value: ~$72 billion
Type: Insider / Family Trust
Notes: Established by Sam Walton in 1989. Combined with Walton Enterprises, the family holds about 44.6% of all shares.
The Vanguard Group
Shares: ~435 million
Ownership: 5.46%
Est. Value: ~$57 billion
Type: Institutional / Index Funds
Notes: Largest institutional shareholder. Holds shares primarily through index funds including Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF.
BlackRock Inc.
Shares: ~346 million
Ownership: 4.33%
Est. Value: ~$45 billion
Type: Institutional / Asset Management
Notes: World's largest asset manager. Holds Walmart across multiple funds including iShares ETFs and institutional trusts.
State Street Corporation
Shares: ~184 million
Ownership: 2.30%
Est. Value: ~$24 billion
Type: Institutional / Custodian Bank
Notes: Holds shares via SPDR ETFs and Global Advisors funds. One of the "Big Three" passive fund managers.
Geode Capital Management
Shares: ~94 million
Ownership: 1.18%
Est. Value: ~$12 billion
Type: Institutional / Quantitative
Notes: Systematic investment manager. Manages index and quantitative strategies for institutional clients.
JP Morgan Asset Management
Shares: ~71 million
Ownership: 0.89%
Est. Value: ~$9.3 billion
Type: Institutional / Banking
Notes: Part of JPMorgan Chase. Holds across multiple actively managed and index portfolios.
Jim Walton
Shares: ~31.5 million (individual)
Ownership: 0.39%
Est. Value: ~$4.1 billion
Type: Individual / Insider
Notes: Youngest son of founder Sam Walton. Former Walmart board member. Also chairs Arvest Bank Group.