Street View: Brokers see Walmart's growth story trumping consumer worries

Walmart

21/08/2026 11:11

** Retail giant Walmart WMT.O on Thursday reported its weakest quarterly comparable sales growth in six years and cautioned that elevated gasoline prices were putting pressure on shoppers, raising concerns about growing strain on U.S. consumers
** Median PT of 44 brokerages covering the stock is $132 - LSEG-compiled data
     
CART'S STILL FULL FOR NOW
** Morgan Stanley ("overweight," PT: $125) says weak consumer sentiment, especially among lower-income households, could weigh on near-term sales, but co's profit growth and e-commerce momentum remain intact, with a rebound expected in FY28
** Morningstar (fair value: $81) says WMT's expanding digital ecosystem, stronger marketplace, and focus on low prices help it maintain customer traffic, market share, and profitability, even as U.S. comparable sales growth slows
** J.P. Morgan ("overweight," PT: $125) says co's long-term growth story remains intact, with marketplace expansion and growth in alternative profit streams supporting investment case
** TD Cowen ("buy," PT: $125) says ongoing price cuts to drive traffic, steady market share gains, and a growing portfolio of higher-margin businesses support investment thesis despite weaker U.S. sales trends     
     

 (Reporting by Kanishka Ajmera in Bengaluru)
 ((Kanishka.Ajmera@thomsonreuters.com))