Why Walmart (WMT) Outpaced the Stock Market Today

Company Performance - Walmart's stock closed at $89.76, reflecting a +1.05% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.67% [1] - Over the past month, Walmart's stock has decreased by 6.47%, which is better than the Retail-Wholesale sector's decline of 6.91% but worse than the S&P 500's loss of 5.28% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Walmart is expected to report earnings of$ 0.59 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 1.67%, with projected revenue of $165.92 billion, representing a 2.73% growth compared to the same quarter last year [2] - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are estimated at$ 2.63 per share and revenue at $703.77 billion, reflecting increases of +4.78% and +3.35% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes in analyst estimates for Walmart suggest a favorable outlook on the company's business health and profitability [4] - The consensus EPS projection has decreased by 0.21% in the past 30 days, and Walmart currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] Valuation Metrics - Walmart is trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 33.81, significantly higher than the industry average of 13.07, indicating a premium valuation [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 4.72, compared to the Retail - Supermarkets industry average PEG ratio of 2.18, suggesting a higher expected earnings growth trajectory relative to its price [8] Industry Context - The Retail - Supermarkets industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 149, placing it in the bottom 41% of over 250 industries [9]