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 11 extraordinary options activities for Walmart. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 27% leaning bullish and 72% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $117,762, and 8 are calls, amounting to $524,935.
Predicted Price Range
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $140.0 and $160.0 for Walmart, spanning the last three months.
Analyzing Volume & Open Interest
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 $140.0 to $160.0 in the last 30 days.
Walmart 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot
Significant Options Trades Detected:
Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 01/19/24 | $160.00 | $113.0K | 20.0K | 834 |
WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/15/24 | $150.00 | $101.9K | 781 | 182 |
WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/15/24 | $150.00 | $83.3K | 781 | 168 |
WMT | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/15/24 | $155.00 | $62.7K | 3.6K | 263 |
WMT | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 12/01/23 | $155.00 | $53.0K | 3.7K | 727 |
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 4,700 stores in the United States (5,300 including Sam's Club) and over 10,000 stores globally. Walmart generated over $420 billion in domestic namesake sales last year, with Sam's Club contributing another $84 billion to the firm's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $100 billion in sales. The company serves around 240 million customers globally each week.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Walmart, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
Walmart's Current Market Status
- Currently trading with a volume of 3,830,941, the WMT's price is up by 0.05%, now at $156.85.
- RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
- Anticipated earnings release is in 84 days.
What The Experts Say On Walmart
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $179.6.
- An analyst from RBC Capital downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $168.
- An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $195.
- An analyst from Stephens & Co. persists with their Overweight rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $190.
- Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Truist Securities continues to hold a Hold rating for Walmart, targeting a price of $170.
- Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from BMO Capital keeps a Outperform rating on Walmart with a target price of $175.
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, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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