Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Walmart WMT, 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 22 extraordinary options activities for Walmart. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 36% leaning bullish and 63% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $362,850, and 16 are calls, amounting to $1,007,435.
What's The Price Target?
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $56.67 to $80.0 for Walmart over the recent three months.
Analyzing Volume & Open Interest
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Walmart stands at 2807.94, with a total volume reaching 6,655.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Walmart, situated within the strike price corridor from $56.67 to $80.0, throughout the last 30 days.
Walmart Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days
Biggest Options Spotted:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $8.9 | $8.8 | $8.88 | $70.00 | $325.7K | 1.4K | 66 |
| WMT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 06/20/25 | $4.4 | $4.15 | $4.32 | $70.00 | $131.7K | 1.6K | 0 |
| WMT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 01/17/25 | $1.51 | $1.5 | $1.51 | $65.00 | $97.5K | 2.4K | 520 |
| WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 07/12/24 | $1.65 | $1.61 | $1.65 | $67.00 | $76.3K | 1.8K | 73 |
| WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/17/25 | $7.35 | $7.3 | $7.3 | $65.00 | $73.0K | 6.6K | 18 |
About 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 stores globally. Walmart generated over $440 billion in domestic namesake sales in fiscal 2024, with Sam's Club contributing another $86 billion to the firm'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.
Where Is Walmart Standing Right Now?
- With a trading volume of 8,787,100, the price of WMT is up by 2.18%, reaching $69.73.
- Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.
- Next earnings report is scheduled for 41 days from now.
What The Experts Say On Walmart
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $75.4.
- An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their Outperform rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $73.
- An analyst from Stifel has decided to maintain their Hold rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $71.
- An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $77.
- An analyst from HSBC has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $81.
- Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Oppenheimer continues to hold a Outperform rating for Walmart, targeting a price of $75.
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 Benzinga Pro.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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