$WMT

Walmart에 대한 매도 수량은 투자자에게 Walmart의 주식 하락에 베팅하는 정도를 알려줍니다. 매도 수량 데이터는 2주마다 업데이트됩니다.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) 주식, 공매도 수량 보고

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 company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.

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투자자들은 앞으로 몇 주 동안 주가와 섹터에 잠재적으로 영향을 미칠 수 있는 일련의 사건에 반응하면서 주식 시장에서 격동의 하루를 보냈다. S&amp;P 500과 나스닥 지수는 중동의 지정학적 긴장, 허리케인 헬렌의 여파, 진행 중인 항구 파업의 영향을 받았다.

화요일 주목받은 주식 5종목: 테슬라, 아마존, 나이키, 월마트 및 알리바바

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월마트(NYSE:WMT)의 주식은 상승할 가능성이 있어 보인다. 아래의 차트상 주가가 돌파하는 모습이다. 돌파(breakouts)는 일반적으로 금융 시장에서 긍정적인 발전으로 간주된다. 이러한 이유로 우리의 거래 전문가 팀은 월마트를 오늘의 주식으로 선정했다.

오늘의 주식: 월마트의 돌파가 새로운 상승세를 불러일으킬 것인가?

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식품 및 가정용품에 대한 소비자 지출을 둘러싼 싸움이 계속 가열되고 있으며 대형 소매업체들은 여러 카테고리에 걸쳐 달러 매장들에서 더 많은 시장 점유율을 차지할 수 있는 것으로 보인다.

월마트와 타깃이 달러 스토어들의 시장을 잠식: 달러 제너럴 지침 하향, 다음은 달러 트리?

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Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)&nbsp;is targeting 250,000 transportation and warehouse workers in the U.S. to capitalize on the 2024 holiday rush, Reuters reports.
The hiring numbers remain the same as in 2023. The hiring ahead of the holiday season underscores the importance of the extra hands in the retail industry.
Discount retailer Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) planned to employ 100,000&nbsp;to help tide through the holiday season.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41162084/amazon-prime-video-ramps-up-ads-taking-on-netflix-and-disney-in-streaming-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Prime Video Ramps Up Ads, Taking on Netflix and Disney+ in Streaming Battle</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04080038/newplot-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-580495" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04080038/newplot-5.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04080038/newplot-5-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
In September, Amazon raised the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40927136/amazon-boosts-worker-pay-to-over-29hour-invests-2-2b-as-holiday-kicks-in" rel="noreferrer noopener"> average hourly total compensation</a> for fulfillment and transportation employees in the U.S. to over $29.
Walmart Inc's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) Sam's Club also targeted higher hourly pay for frontline associates to over $19 with thousands of dollars annually in bonuses.
It is worth noting that on Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charged Amazon, a joint employer of its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) drivers, for failing to acknowledge and bargain with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nlrb-doubles-down-amazon-is-a-joint-employer-302266076.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">Teamsters Union</a>.
As per the NLRB, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41171072/amazon-accused-of-union-busting-after-drivers-unionize-nlrb-files-complaint" rel="noreferrer noopener">employed multiple unfair labor practices</a> to prevent union activities at a facility in Palmdale, California.
The charges against Amazon included its refusal to recognize the workers' right to unionize, its refusal to bargain with the Teamsters over employment conditions, and the termination of its DSP contract.
In 2023, Amazon's U.S. sales were $12.4 billion on Cyber Monday, up by 9.6%, quashing the estimate of $12 billion. Amazon's total online sales for Cyber Week were $38 billion, topping the $37.2 billion estimate.
U.S. retailers could add 520,000 jobs during the holiday season, down from 2023's 564,200, per Reuters.
Reuters cites Mastercard's projection that online holiday shopping could reach $240.8 billion, up 4.9%.
Price Action: AMZN stock is up 2.11% to $185.80 premarket at the last check Friday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41169322/amazons-profitable-essential-merchandise-efficiency-gains-set-to-drive-growth-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon's Profitable Essential Merchandise, Efficiency Gains Set To Drive Growth: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
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NVDA

Amazon To Boost Workforce by 250K for 2024 Holidays, Joining Retail Hiring Surge

Jim Cramer has urged companies to reduce prices to attract consumers amid ongoing inflation concerns. He emphasized the need for a &#8220;giant reset&#8221; in pricing strategies.
What Happened: Cramer pointed out that while price increases have slowed, many businesses are hesitant to lower them due to worries about gross margins. He believes this reluctance is misguided and that companies must recognize the necessity for price reductions, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/02/cramer-says-companies-must-lower-prices-time-for-a-giant-reset.html">reported</a> on Wednesday.
"Companies are so reluctant to take prices down because they don't want to hurt their treasured gross margins," he said.
"But I think it may be time for a giant reset."
He cited examples, such as liquor companies attributing declining sales to changing consumer preferences rather than high costs. Cramer also mentioned Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), which reported a mixed quarter, as an example of how inflation is affecting business.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41134194/odds-of-tim-walz-winning-the-vp-debate-drop-on-polymarket-as-bettors-favor-jd-vance-harris?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Odds Of Tim Walz Winning The VP Debate Drop On Polymarket As Bettors Favor JD Vance — Harris Maintains Lead Over Trump</a>
Cramer noted that consumers and Wall Street are favoring companies offering lower prices. He mentioned McDonald&#8217;s Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) extending its $5 value meal and noted stock gains for Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>), and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) as evidence.
Cramer predicted that 2024 will be remembered as the year consumers rejected inflated prices, leading to significant consequences for companies that fail to adjust.
Why It Matters: The call for price reductions comes at a time when market sentiment remains cautious. Traders are in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41161081/us-stocks-staring-at-another-weak-open-as-traders-await-key-jobs-report-sentiment-wavers-as-oil-ext">&#8220;wait-and-watch&#8221; mode</a>, anticipating key economic data, including non-farm payrolls. This cautious sentiment is compounded by geopolitical tensions and other economic factors.
Additionally, the S&amp;P 500 recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41029448/s-p-500-hits-all-time-highs-nasdaq-100-tops-20k-ahead-of-key-economic-data-whats-driving-markets">reached record highs</a>, with the Nasdaq 100 surpassing the 20,000-point mark. Despite these gains, the market has shown sideways performance as investors digest positive stimulus news from China and await further economic data. 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/10/41151338/biden-the-master-oil-trader-part-iv-president-loads-up-on-millions-of-barrels-to-refill-emerg?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden The Master Oil Trader Part IV? President Loads Up On Millions Of Barrels To Refill Emergency Stash In &#8216;One Of The Best Oil Trades In History&#8217;</a></li>
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Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

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COST

Jim Cramer Pushes For Strategic Price Cuts Among Companies Amid Inflation Worries: 'It May Be Time For A Giant Reset'

An apparent tailwind hit yesterday&#39;s value stocks, a new development seen in the declining shares of Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cost#NASDAQ">COST</a>) after the company released its latest set of quarterly earnings this week. Costco stock is now down over 2% after the report, a bearish sentiment that comes despite the Federal Reserve (the Fed) recently cutting interest rates by the most since the 2008 financial crisis.
However, some investors argue these rate cuts might have been priced into stocks like Costco and Walmart Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>). However, some of this momentum has not worked its way through stocks like Dollar General Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dg#NYSE">DG</a>), which supposedly offer more value to the consumer. In today&#39;s economy, value isn&#39;t enough. Markets seem to prefer economies of scale and big enough cash flows to enable management to reinvest in technology and efficiency.
The consumer staples sector could become the main preference for investors during this consumer uncertainty, the question becomes whether Costco can still deliver more upside after pricing in interest rate cuts and trading as high as a 55.0x price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio today. This can be answered by comparing the recent company results to what Wall Street analysts now expect to see out of the company moving forward.
<h2>Costco Stock&#39;s Strong Financials Set High Expectations for Future Growth</h2>
Starting with the most common driver, the top line. Costco delivered a net increase in revenues of 1.0% over the past 12 months, which may have been enough to lower the stock since inflation over the year was clearly above what Costco managed to push out in revenues.
However, the way revenues grew is more important than the net. Comparable sales rose by 5.4%, a retail sector metric indicating whether growth is coming from opening new locations or from higher demand and traffic in existing stores. Considering that traffic was up 6.4% in the year for Costco stores, investors can assume the latter is the case.
Another interesting metric investors should pay attention to in these wholesale value businesses is whether management is shifting with the times. Costco reports an 18.9% growth in e-commerce sales, meaning they are aware of consumer preferences and trends today and are making suitable investments to position Costco for this wave.
This shift in volume and technology drove the company&#39;s gross margin higher, to 11%, compared to 10.6% last year. This may not seem like much on a percentage basis, but it was enough to drive the bottom-line net income to $2.35 billion, or 9% higher.
Here is what investors can take away from Costco&#39;s trends when in doubt. Membership users grew to 76.2 million this quarter, or 7.3% over last year, driving subscription revenue higher by 6.5% to amplify the stock&#39;s potential for stable and predictable cash flows in the future.
The only negative factor working against Costo is its valuation. Some argue that some stocks are expensive for a reason, and while Costco does have enough quality and growth to justify higher multiples, here&#39;s what Wall Street has to say about it potentially being too high.
<h2>Wall Street&#39;s Outlook on Costco Stock and Its Future Growth Potential</h2>
The camp is divided, as most Wall Street analysts now have a consensus price target of only $874.6 for Costco stock, which is basically where it trades today, plus or minus 1.5%. Willing to stand out from the pack, those at Goldman Sachs had something else in mind.
These analysts see a $995 share valuation for Costco stock, calling for a further upside of 13.8% from where it trades today. Goldman is not alone in taking a view for further upside in Costco stock, though. Despite the recent price action, bearish traders decided to step away from this name over the past month.
Costco stock&#39;s short interest declined by 2.9% during this period, showing signs of potential bearish capitulation today. More than that, those at Legal &amp; General Group decided to boost their holdings in Costco stock by 2.5% as of August 2024, bringing their net investment up to $3.1 billion today.
All of these new bulls may have been looking at Wall Street&#39;s earnings per share (EPS) growth forecasts, which now point to Costco swinging to $5.58 for next year, up from today&#39;s $5.15, which calls for a 13.6% annual growth rate.
Regarding sentiment, it looks like markets are justified in paying a premium for Costco stock, considering where the company fundamentals have been headed lately. However, recent volatility might shake off a few of the late buyers in Costco stock, an event new buyers might want to watch out for as a potential dip buying opportunity.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/can-costco-stock-hit-new-highs-as-interest-rates-drop/">Can Costco Stock Hit New Highs as Interest Rates Drop?</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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Can Costco Stock Hit New Highs as Interest Rates Drop?

Investors faced a turbulent day in the stock market, reacting to a series of events that could potentially impact the values of stocks and sectors in the coming weeks. The S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq indices were affected by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and ongoing port strikes. 
The major indices closed the day lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 0.4% to 42,156.97 and the S&amp;P 500 falling 0.9% to 5,708.75. The Nasdaq finished Tuesday down 1.5% at 17,910.36.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) closed down 1.38% at $258.02, with an intraday high of $263.98 and low of $248.53. Tesla&#8217;s recent 24% monthly surge sets the stage for a pivotal October, with analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/10/41116889/tesla-stock-speeds-ahead-of-mag7-peers-can-octobers-robotaxi-reveal-keep-the-momentum">closely watching</a> the upcoming Robotaxi event on Oct. 10, anticipated to bring significant updates on full self-driving and autonomous vehicles. Key announcements on operating costs, scaling, and potential new models could shape Tesla&#8217;s next chapter.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) ended the day down 0.64% at $185.13. The tech giant&#8217;s stock was affected by a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41111978/dockworkers-strike-will-it-impact-your-holiday-shopping">dockworkers strike</a> that could potentially impact holiday shopping and cost the economy $540 million daily. Tech giants are bracing for potential disruptions that may affect East Coast ports.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41084992/nvidia-stock-could-touch-800-by-2030-bgg-executive-predicts-550-upside-driven-by-ai-revolution-a?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Stock Could Touch $800 By 2030, BGG Executive Predicts 550% Upside Driven By AI Revolution And Web3 Transition</a>
Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) closed up 0.83% at $89.13. The company&#8217;s shares rose despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41129610/nike-q1-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-beat-teams-energized-amid-ceo-transition-a-comeback-at-this-scale">missing revenue estimates</a> in its first-quarter financial results.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) ended the day up 0.64% at $81.27. The retail giant&#8217;s stock was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/24/10/41121254/walmart-president-and-ceo-trades-companys-stock">influenced</a> by the company&#8217;s CEO Douglas McMillon selling 29,124 shares of Walmart, as revealed in a recent SEC filing.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) closed up 6.24% at $112.74. The company&#8217;s shares surged amidst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41120957/alibabas-sun-art-faces-uncertainty-as-trading-suspension-fuels-divestment-rumors-report">speculation about Alibaba&#8217;s divestment</a> of stake in Sun Art Retail Group.
Image via Shutterstock
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="Premarket Movers &amp; News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Tesla, Amazon, Nike, Walmart, Alibaba: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), the consumer defensive giant, has been on an impressive run in 2024, surging over 51% year-to-date (YTD) and outperforming both its sector and the broader market. Recently, analysts at Citi upgraded their stance on the stock, becoming even more bullish after already being long-time supporters. They raised their price target on Walmart, citing significant growth ahead, and believe the company is well-positioned to continue dominating the retail space, gaining more market share.
Despite Walmart&#39;s nearly 50% rally over the past year, Citi&#39;s recent upgrade begs the question: Is it still a good time to buy?
<h2>Citi Analysts Turn More Bullish on Walmart</h2>
According to Citi&#39;s latest research note, Walmart is &quot;well-positioned&quot; for future growth despite potential consumer uncertainty. Citi raised its price target to $98 from $75, highlighting Walmart&#39;s substantial market share gains, especially in its grocery segment and solid e-commerce presence. Analysts noted that Walmart has been capitalizing on its strength in food and grocery by offering value in an inflationary environment, all while enhancing convenience with services like curbside pickup.
Beyond groceries, Citi points out that Walmart is in the early stages of building out several high-margin growth businesses, including marketplace operations, fulfillment services, data services, and advertising. According to the analysts, these initiatives will help Walmart maintain its competitive edge for years to come.
Citi&#39;s bullish commentary comes just over a month after Walmart posted its second-quarter earnings, where the retailer posted solid results. Walmart exceeded expectations with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.67, beating the $0.65 consensus, while revenue hit $169.3 billion, up 4.7% year-over-year. CEO Doug McMillon highlighted that each segment of the business is growing, from in-store and club sales to e-commerce. McMillon also emphasized that newer ventures like advertising and membership services are adding to the company&#39;s diverse profit streams.
For the upcoming quarter, Walmart expects earnings per share to fall between $0.51 and $0.52, slightly below the consensus of $0.54. However, the company raised its full-year forecast, projecting EPS of $2.35 to $2.43, up from the previous range of $2.23 to $2.37.
<h2>Time to Buy Walmart?</h2>
From a technical standpoint, Walmart&#39;s momentum is strong, with the stock trading just over 2% away from its 52-week high and above all key moving averages. However, given the recent surge, it may be wise for investors to wait for a pullback, possibly closer to its rising 200-day moving average of around $75. Walmart&#39;s current P/E ratio of 41.45 and forward P/E of 29.32 are elevated, further suggesting that waiting for a pullback could offer a more favorable entry point.
Still, Walmart&#39;s longer-term growth story remains compelling. The retailer continues to raise its guidance, gain market share, and diversify into higher-margin businesses, making it a potential top pick for capital appreciation and income generation through its dividend. Even with the stock&#39;s significant rally, its combination of strong fundamentals and future growth potential makes it a solid choice for long-term investors.
While short-term caution might be advisable, Walmart&#39;s overall bullish outlook and dominance in key segments make it a stock to watch closely for any potential buying opportunities.&nbsp;
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/citi-analysts-turn-more-bullish-on-walmart-stock-time-to-buy/">Citi Analysts Turn More Bullish on Walmart Stock: Time to Buy?</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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Retail Sales

Citi Analysts Turn More Bullish on Walmart Stock: Time to Buy?

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), 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 29 extraordinary options activities for Walmart. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 24% leaning bullish and 65% bearish. Among these notable options, 18 are puts, totaling $747,290, and 11 are calls, amounting to $1,199,345.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $66.67 to $110.0 for Walmart over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Walmart stands at 7058.28, with a total volume reaching 22,142.00. 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 $66.67 to $110.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Walmart Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727800239_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.1</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$500.0K</td>
<td>33.1K</td>
<td>273</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$3.65</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$166.5K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td>450</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.82</td>
<td>$1.81</td>
<td>$1.82</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$122.4K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$100.0K</td>
<td>33.1K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$3.15</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$56.4K</td>
<td>27.2K</td>
<td>433</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Walmart</h3>
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 company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Walmart, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Walmart's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 4,903,195, the price of WMT is up by 0.17%, reaching $80.89.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 49 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Walmart</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $92.2.
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&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $90. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Baird continues to hold a Outperform rating for Walmart, targeting a price of $90. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Buy rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $98. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $88. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Melius Research downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $95. 
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If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Walmart, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

A Closer Look at Walmart's Options Market Dynamics

The labor contract between the International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41111978/dockworkers-strike-will-it-impact-your-holiday-shopping">expired overnight on Tuesday</a>. The ILA — whose members comprise dockworkers on the East Coast —&nbsp;is now officially on strike.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/supply-chain">Supply chain disruptions</a> stemming from a prolonged strike may affect several companies and the U.S. economy as a whole.
What Happened: The dispute stems from two fundamental disagreements between the stevedores and port employers.
In their collective bargaining agreement, the ILA proposed a 77% pay raise over the next six years. The USMX <a href="https://www.usmx.com/assets/content/public-resources/9-30-24_USMX_UPDATE_Status_of_USMX-ILA_Negotiations.pdf">countered</a> with 50%.
&#8220;Our offer would increase wages by nearly 50 percent, triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans, strengthen our health care options, and retain the current language around automation and semi-automation,&#8221; the association said in a statement.
ILA President Harold Daggett <a href="https://ilaunion.org/letter-of-opposition-to-usmxs-misleading-statement/">urged</a> the USMX to agree to a larger wage increase to address inflation.
&#8220;USMX claims to offer industry-leading wages. However, their interpretation of &#8216;leading wages&#8217; is polar opposite to ours. Inflation has completely eaten into any raises and wages,&#8221; Daggett said.
Another fundamental disagreement comes from efforts to automate several port functions.
&#8220;USMX is trying to fool you with promises of workforce protections for semi-automation,&#8221; Daggett said. &#8220;Let me be clear: we don't want any form of semi-automation or full automation. We want our jobs—the jobs we have historically done for over 132 years.&#8221;
President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/09/30/remarks-by-president-biden-before-air-force-one-departure-dover-de/">told</a> reporters on Monday that he would not intervene in the matter, reiterating support for collective bargaining.
The closure will <a href="https://ilaunion.org/map/">affect</a> several U.S. ports, including Baltimore, Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
Economic Impact: RSM economist Joseph Brusuelas said the strike implies a modest impact on the U.S. economy.
&#8220;Labor action by port workers along the East and Gulf coast of the United States will provide a modest hit to GDP of a little greater than 0.1 percentage points per week or roughly $4.3 billion in lost exports and imports. If sustained that would result in roughly 0.5% percentage points shaved from overall GDP in the final quarter of 2024,&#8221; Brusuelas said.
&#8220;Given that the American economy is on a 3% growth path at this time, we do not expect the strike to derail the trajectory of the domestic economy or present a risk to an early and unnecessary end to the current economic expansion.&#8221;
The economist said the continued operation of ports in the western U.S. would likely lessen much of the strike&#8217;s economic impact.
When will the Strike End?: In a note published Monday, Morgan Stanley logistics analyst Ravi Shanker expressed a belief that the strike will end sooner rather than later.
&#8220;&#8230;in the event of a work stoppage, we believe it is highly unlikely to be prolonged,&#8221; Shanker said.
Affected Companies: ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZIM#NYSE">ZIM</a>), A P Moller Maersk (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMKBY#OTC">AMKBY</a>), XPO Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPO#NYSE">XPO</a>) are publicly traded logistics companies likely to be affected by a sustained supply chain disruption.
Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>), two of the largest U.S. retailers, could face increased supply chain costs and inventory shortages if the dockworker strike persists.
Additionally, an agreement between the ILA and USMX on automation protection would likely affect companies manufacturing the equipment.
ABB Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBNY#OTC">ABBNY</a>) and Cargotec Corp (HEL: CGCBV) are among the largest distributors of dock automation technology.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41108345/apples-satellite-messaging-feature-emerges-as-lifeline-after-hurricane-helene-leaves-thousands-witho">Apple&#8217;s Satellite Messaging Feature Emerges As Lifeline After Hurricane Helene Leaves Thousands Without Cell Phone Service: Here&#8217;s How You Can Use It</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

ABBNY

AMKBY

East Coast Dockworkers Strike: How Labor Dispute Impacts Economy, Logistics Companies

Douglas McMillon, President and CEO at Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), disclosed an insider sell on September 30, according to a recent SEC filing.
What Happened: McMillon's decision to sell 29,124 shares of Walmart was revealed in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000104169/000112760224024576//Archives/edgar/data/104169/000112760224024576/0001127602-24-024576-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Monday. The total value of the sale is $2,348,635.
The latest update on Tuesday morning shows Walmart shares up by 0.19%, trading at $80.91.
<h3>All You Need to Know About Walmart</h3>
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 company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.
<h3>A Deep Dive into Walmart's Financials</h3>
Revenue Growth: Walmart displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 31 July, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 4.77%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Consumer Staples sector.
Profitability Metrics: Unlocking Value
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: With a high gross margin of 25.11%, the company demonstrates effective cost control and strong profitability relative to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): Walmart's EPS outshines the industry average, indicating a strong bottom-line trend with a current EPS of 0.56.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: Walmart's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 0.73, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
Evaluating Valuation:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: Walmart's stock is currently priced at a premium level, as reflected in the higher-than-average P/E ratio of 42.06.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 0.98 as compared to the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): Walmart's EV/EBITDA ratio stands at 19.02, surpassing industry benchmarks. This places the company in a position with a higher-than-average market valuation.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence.
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<h3>Unmasking the Significance of Insider Transactions</h3>
Insightful as they may be, insider transactions should be considered alongside a thorough examination of other investment criteria.
In legal terms, an "insider" refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of a company's equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This can include executives in the c-suite and large hedge funds. These insiders are required to let the public know of their transactions via a Form 4 filing, which must be filed within two business days of the transaction.
When a company insider makes a new purchase, that is an indication that they expect the stock to rise.
Insider sells, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean that the seller thinks the stock will go down. 
<h3>A Closer Look at Important Transaction Codes</h3>
Taking a closer look at transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000104169">Check Out The Full List Of Walmart's Insider Trades.</a>
Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Walmart President and CEO Trades Company's Stock

In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of business, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) in comparison to its major competitors within the Consumer Staples Distribution &amp; Retail industry. By analyzing crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company's performance in the industry.
<h3>Walmart Background</h3>
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 company's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The retailer serves around 240 million customers globally each week.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Walmart Inc</td>
<td>42.06</td>
<td>7.69</td>
<td>0.98</td>
<td>5.43%</td>
<td>$10.1</td>
<td>$42.52</td>
<td>4.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Costco Wholesale Corp</td>
<td>53.53</td>
<td>16.63</td>
<td>1.55</td>
<td>7.9%</td>
<td>$2.84</td>
<td>$7.34</td>
<td>9.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Target Corp</td>
<td>16.10</td>
<td>4.98</td>
<td>0.67</td>
<td>8.43%</td>
<td>$2.4</td>
<td>$7.65</td>
<td>2.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dollar General Corp</td>
<td>13.15</td>
<td>2.56</td>
<td>0.47</td>
<td>5.25%</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>$3.06</td>
<td>4.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc</td>
<td>20.83</td>
<td>6.61</td>
<td>0.54</td>
<td>9.11%</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>4.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pricesmart Inc</td>
<td>22.36</td>
<td>2.57</td>
<td>0.58</td>
<td>2.96%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.21</td>
<td>12.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sendas Distribuidora SA</td>
<td>15.25</td>
<td>2.10</td>
<td>0.14</td>
<td>2.58%</td>
<td>$1.34</td>
<td>$2.95</td>
<td>11.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Almacenes Exito SA</td>
<td>91.92</td>
<td>0.43</td>
<td>0.13</td>
<td>-0.29%</td>
<td>$303.29</td>
<td>$1299.7</td>
<td>-0.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>33.31</td>
<td>5.13</td>
<td>0.58</td>
<td>5.13%</td>
<td>$44.43</td>
<td>$188.84</td>
<td>6.28%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>Through a thorough examination of Walmart, we can discern the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
At 42.06, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio significantly exceeds the industry average by 1.26x, suggesting a premium valuation relative to industry peers.
</li>
<li>
It could be trading at a premium in relation to its book value, as indicated by its Price to Book ratio of 7.69 which exceeds the industry average by 1.5x.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 0.98, which is 1.69x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 5.43% is 0.3% above the industry average, highlighting efficient use of equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has lower Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $10.1 Billion, which is 0.23x below the industry average, potentially indicating lower profitability or financial challenges.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has lower gross profit of $42.52 Billion, which indicates 0.23x below the industry average, potentially indicating lower revenue after accounting for production costs.
</li>
<li>
The company is witnessing a substantial decline in revenue growth, with a rate of 4.77% compared to the industry average of 6.28%, which indicates a challenging sales environment.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727794838_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is an important measure to assess the financial structure and risk profile of a company.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
In terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Walmart can be assessed by comparing it to its top 4 peers, resulting in the following observations:
<ul>
<li>
When considering the debt-to-equity ratio, Walmart exhibits a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
This indicates that the company has a favorable balance between debt and equity, with a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, which can be perceived as a positive aspect by investors.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
The high PE, PB, and PS ratios of Walmart indicate that the company is relatively overvalued compared to its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution &amp; Retail industry. On the other hand, Walmart's high ROE suggests strong profitability, while its low EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth may raise concerns about the company's operational efficiency and growth potential within the industry sector.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

In-Depth Analysis: Walmart Versus Competitors In Consumer Staples Distribution &amp; Retail Industry

Tens of thousands of dockworkers have gone on strike, potentially affecting holiday shopping. The strike began after the International Longshoremen&#8217;s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance failed to agree on a new labor contract.
What Happened: The strike has led to the closure of 36 ports along the East and Gulf Coasts, which handle nearly half of all U.S. ocean imports. This could cost the economy $540 million daily, as per The Conference Board&#8217;s analysis, Business Insider <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longshoremen-strike-leaves-east-and-gulf-coast-ports-shuttered-2024-9">reported</a> on Tuesday.
The union is demanding a 77% pay increase over six years to match inflation. This demand would still place them below many of their West Coast counterparts, CBS News reported.
The timing is critical, with the U.S. presidential election a month away and the holiday season approaching. The strike follows Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage and disrupted supply chains in the Southeast.
While large retailers like Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Home Depot Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) have prepared for such disruptions, mid-size and smaller businesses may face significant challenges.
&#8220;The Fortune 100s — your Walmarts and even Home Depots — are probably going to be fine,&#8221; Pacula said. 
&#8220;They generally have very mature supply chains,&#8221; Brian Pacula, a supply chain partner at West Monroe consulting firms, said.
Michael Yamartino, CEO of Route, noted that rerouting shipments to the West Coast will be costly and time-consuming, thus affecting mid-sized and smaller businesses that rely on European suppliers.
&#8220;The auto industry is high on that list,&#8221; Yamartino added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41060268/elon-musks-not-so-long-ago-prediction-of-a-1929-market-crash-falls-flat-as-s-p-500-soars-50-defy?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s Not-So-Long-Ago Prediction Of A 1929 Market Crash Falls Flat As S&amp;P 500 Soars 50%, Defying Tesla CEO&#8217;s Gloomy Outlook</a>
President Joe Biden has stated he has no plans to intervene, despite calls from trade groups. However, if the strike continues, federal involvement may become necessary to prevent further economic damage.
Why It Matters: The strike&#8217;s impact extends beyond the immediate closure of ports. Major companies like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Apple Inc., (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41097541/amazon-apple-tesla-brace-for-supply-chain-disruptions-as-potential-east-coast-dockworkers-strike">bracing for substantial disruptions</a>. These companies rely heavily on East Coast ports for consumer electronics and inventory, and delays could significantly impact their operations, especially with the holiday shopping season around the corner.
The strike, which began on Oct.1, could halt billions of dollars worth of goods, potentially complicating holiday shopping. The New York Times reported that the last time the International Longshoremen&#8217;s Association orchestrated a strike of this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/24/09/41098327/longshoremen-strike-looms-standoff-could-cost-1b-a-day-leave-thanksgiving-prep-in-a-pinch">magnitude was in 1977.</a> Recent labor victories by major unions like the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have set a high bar, giving the dockworkers significant leverage in their negotiations.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41084992/nvidia-stock-could-touch-800-by-2030-bgg-executive-predicts-550-upside-driven-by-ai-revolution-a?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Stock Could Touch $800 By 2030, BGG Executive Predicts 550% Upside Driven By AI Revolution And Web3 Transition</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

AAPL

Dockworkers Strike: Will It Impact Your Holiday Shopping?

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) secured a partial dismissal in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Monday. The FTC accused <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/09/41107170/jeff-bezos-used-this-method-to-get-true-opinions-from-employees-amazon-founder-says-youre-the-b">Amazon of maintaining illegal monopolies</a>.
What Happened: The FTC&#8217;s lawsuit claims Amazon employs anti-competitive practices to dominate online marketplaces. In December, Amazon requested U.S. District Judge John Chun to dismiss the case, arguing the FTC failed to show consumer harm, reported Reuters.
Judge Chun&#8217;s ruling, issued under seal, partially granted Amazon&#8217;s motion. Court records indicate the FTC can still pursue claims not permanently dismissed. Chun also decided the case will be tried in two parts, denying Amazon&#8217;s request to consolidate evidence and remedies in a single trial.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40972893/trumps-mars-landing-promise-gets-slammed-by-peter-schiff-even-as-elon-musk-says-spacex-plans-5-launc?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s Mars Landing Promise Gets Slammed By Peter Schiff Even As Elon Musk Says SpaceX Plans 5 Launches To Red Planet In 2 Years: &#8216;Just Don&#8217;t Want The Government To Do It&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters; This partial dismissal is a significant development in the ongoing antitrust scrutiny faced by Amazon. The FTC&#8217;s allegations are part of a broader pattern of antitrust challenges against the e-commerce giant globally.
Recently, an antitrust probe in India accused Amazon and Walmart Inc-owned Flipkart of violating local competition laws by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40860373/amazon-walmarts-flipkart-violate-indias-antitrust-laws-investigators-allege-report">favoring specific sellers on their platforms</a>. The Indian e-retail sector, valued at $57-$60 billion in 2023, is projected to exceed $160 billion by 2028, according to Bain.
Moreover, the FTC <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35068969/ftc-exposes-amazons-hidden-algorithm-amid-antitrust-concerns">recently exposed Amazon&#8217;s hidden algorithm</a>, code-named &#8220;Project Nessie,&#8221; which allegedly manipulated prices to test competitors&#8217; reactions. These revelations are part of the FTC&#8217;s monopoly lawsuit against Amazon, highlighting the company&#8217;s controversial practices. 
Additionally, Amazon&#8217;s competitive landscape is evolving. In a recent antitrust trial, Alphabet Inc executive Jerry Dischler testified that Google is losing market share to emerging players like Amazon and TikTok. This underscores the increasing competition Amazon faces in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/09/34754532/antitrust-trial-exposes-googles-battle-against-amazon-for-advertising-supremacy">digital advertising space</a>. 
Price Action: Amazon stock closed at $186.33 on Monday, down 0.87% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock slipped further by 0.34%. Year to date, Amazon&#8217;s stock has gained 24.28%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41082667/heres-why-china-is-urging-its-companies-to-forgo-nvidias-chips?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here&#8217;s Why China is Urging Its Companies to Forgo Nvidia&#8217;s Chips</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Legal

GOOGL

Amazon Secures Partial Victory Over FTC In Monopoly Case, Trial Split Into Two By Judge

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Needham raised the price target for Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZETA#NYSE">ZETA</a>) from $33 to $36. Needham analyst Ryan MacDonald maintained a Buy rating. Zeta Global shares fell 0.8% to close at $29.51 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/zeta/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>TD Cowen increased the price target for Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) from $321 to $400. TD Cowen analyst Bryan Bergin upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Accenture shares fell 1.7% to close at $349.70 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/acn/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Needham raised CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>) price target from $87 to $90. Needham analyst Chris Pierce maintained a Buy rating. CarMax shares fell 1.1% to close at $77.32 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/kmx/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley boosted Cadence Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CADE#NYSE">CADE</a>) price target from $36 to $39. Morgan Stanley analyst Manan Gosalia upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Cadence Bank shares fell 1.1% to close at $31.28 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/cade/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Bernstein raised Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) price target from $201 to $202. Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler maintained an Outperform rating. Oracle shares gained 0.4% to close at $168.74 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/orcl/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised the price target for U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>) from $54 to $57. Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. U.S. Bancorp gained 0.4% to close at $45.48 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/usb/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird raised Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) price target from $82 to $90. Baird analyst Peter Benedict maintained an Outperform rating. Walmart shares fell 0.2% to close at $79.78 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Keybanc raised the price target for Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>) from $265 to $279. Keybanc analyst Sangita Jain maintained an Overweight rating. Constellation Energy shares gained 0.1% to close at $257.00 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ceg/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank boosted Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) price target from $24 to $27. Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Bedell maintained a Buy rating. Robinhood shares gained 6.5% to close at $23.89 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/hood/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird raised Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>) price target from $56 to $75. Baird analyst Vikram Kesavabhotla maintained a Neutral rating. Roku shares gained 1% to close at $74.41 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/roku/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying HOOD stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="463" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30072209/image-233-1024x463.png" alt="" class="wp-image-572152" style="width:613px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30072209/image-233-1024x463.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30072209/image-233-300x136.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30072209/image-233-768x347.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30072209/image-233.png 1393w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

Pre-Market Outlook

CADE

HOOD

ORCL

ROKU

ZETA

Robinhood To Rally Over 13%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Monday

Baird analyst Peter Benedict maintains Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $82 to $90.

Baird Maintains Outperform on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $90

Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez maintains Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $75 to $98.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Walmart, Raises Price Target to $98

On Thursday, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cost#NASDAQ">COST</a>) issued its fiscal fourth quarter earnings. While slightly coming short on revenue, the warehouse retailer&rsquo;s earnings topped Wall Street estimates.
<h3>Fiscal Fourth Quarter Highlights</h3>
For the quarter ended on September 1st, revenue rose just 1% YoY to $79.7 billion, slightly below Bloomberg&rsquo;s estimate of $79.96 billion.
Membership fee revenue ticked up slightly to $1.51 billion. Despite increasing 18.9 YoY, e-commerce sales came short of estimates as growth slowed down from the previous quarter when they exceeded 20% with growth of 20.7% to be exact. Same-store sales grew 5.3% in the U.S. and 5.5% in Canada.
Net income grew 7% YoY to $2.35 billion with adjusted earnings being $5.29 per share, topping Bloomberg&rsquo; estimate of $5.07 per share. Strong customer engagement was reflected in a 6.4% rise in worldwide traffic.&nbsp;
Like its rival, Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), Costco is continuously working on enhancing the experience of its shoppers. Like Walmart, Costco is expanding its footprint. With a thriving business model. Both Walmart and Costco have been working on boosting e-commerce sales in attempt to rival Amazon.com (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), with e-commerce being a significant growth driver for all retailers. But despite efforts, Costco&rsquo;s e-commerce sales growth slowed down. Yet, unlike Walmart, Costco has a special bonus, its subscriptions. It can even be said that what Costco really sells is its memberships as it makes most of its money from them.
<h3>The Impact Of The Membership Fee Hike Is Still Unknown</h3>
This was the first quarter since the warehouse retailer rose its membership fees. While the recent hike did not impact the reported period but going forward, it could drag down Costco&rsquo;s results. On September 1st, Costco rose the price of its Gold Star membership by $5, and of its Executive membership by $10. This is the first time Costco raised its membership fees since 2017, impacting about 52 million memberships, with Executive memberships being a little over half of those. Therefore, Costco expects membership income growth in high single to low double digits. But as for the latest reported quarter, a small revenue miss was more than offset by strong profitability. Overall, Costco showed that while increasingly cautious, consumers are merely distributing as spend without running out of steam.&nbsp;
Unlike Amazon that has a business empire across industries, spanning from e-commerce to the cloud, advertising, in addition to unlocking new opportunities to AI, Costco&rsquo;s only business is retail. But, its business model is reliable and lucrative, and the latest quarter shows it is still working beautifully.&nbsp;
DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investing advice.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Costco's Latest Quarter Shows Its Business Model Continues To Work Beautifully

WIIM

Walmart shares are trading lower in sympathy with Costco.

<a href="https://chainstoreage.com/walmart-automating-two-regional-distribution-centers">https://chainstoreage.com/walmart-automating-two-regional-distribution-centers</a>
Walmart Inc. is continuing efforts to equip its entire regional distribution center network with robotics and software automation.
In an email to Chain Store Age, <a href="https://chainstoreage.com/company/walmart">Walmart</a> said it plans to install high-tech automaton from artificial intelligence-based supply chain technology company Symbiotic LLC in two of its regional distribution centers (RDCs) – one in Buckeye, Ariz., and another in Searcy, Ark.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Both projects will be completed in phases over several years and are part of a broader RDC initiative the discount giant launched in July 2021 and extended to include all 42 RDCs in May 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;
According to Walmart, the new technology enables it to double the number of cases processed per hour compared to a traditional RDC. By the end of 2025, the retailer expects that roughly 65% of its stores will receive merchandise from high-tech distribution centers.&nbsp;
The Buckeye RDC has been operating for nearly 25 years. Across the state of Arizona, Walmart operates three distribution centers, 124 retail stores and employs more than 37,600 associates.&nbsp;
The Searcy RDC has been operating for nearly 35 years. Across the state of Arkansas, Walmart operates eight distribution centers, 131 retail stores and employs 55,660 associates.&nbsp;
Walmart's RDC automation initiative is part of broader digital transformation effort in its supply chain aimed at increasing the speed, efficiency and safety at which products are distributed.&nbsp;
Since 2017, Walmart has worked with Symbotic to optimize an automated technology solution to sort, store, retrieve and pack freight onto pallets in its Brooksville, Fla. distribution center.&nbsp;
Under Walmart's traditional manual system, product arrives at one of its RDCs and is either cross-docked or warehoused, while being moved or stored manually. When it's time for the product to go to a store, a 53-ft. trailer is manually packed for transit. After the truck arrives at a store, associates unload it manually and place the items in the appropriate places.
With automation provided by the Symbotic solution, an algorithm determines how to store cases like puzzle pieces using high-speed mobile robots that reduce the time of the intake process and increase the accuracy of freight being stored for future orders.&nbsp;
This solution uses a combination of AI-powered software systems, robotics and automation to sort, store, retrieve and pack merchandise onto pallets which are then shipped to stores. The solution is designed to get products onto shelves quicker.
According to Walmart, the system transforms existing RDCs into high-density, automated facilities that provide faster product intake, increased inventory accuracy and a 2X increase in building capacity. The RDC transformation model is designed to save store associates time by creating store- and aisle-ready pallets, which take the guesswork out of unloading trucks.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., Walmart Inc. operates more than 10,500 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries.

Contracts

'Walmart Said It Plans To Install High-Tech Automaton From Artificial Intelligence-Based Supply Chain Technology Company Symbiotic In Two Of Its Regional Distribution Centers One In Buckeye, Ariz., And Another In Searcy, Ark.' - ChainStoreAge

Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) committed a minimum of 40 billion yuan ($5.7 billion) in resources to help merchants on Taobao and Tmall during the&nbsp;Singles' Day&nbsp;shopping festival.
Taobao and Tmall Group see 30 billion yuan in consumer vouchers and resources up to 10 billion yuan to boost traffic, SCMP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279954/alibabas-singles-day-preparation-includes-us57-billion-aid-merchants" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The platforms also introduced new measures to reduce merchant operational costs, including waiving commission fees.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/41023040/nvidia-xpeng-join-alibabas-apsara-conference-to-showcase-ai-tech-advancements" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia, XPeng Join Alibaba's Apsara Conference to Showcase AI Tech Advancements</a>
The Singles' Day shopping festival was originally a 24-hour event named for its date, November 11th, or 11/11.
During Alibaba's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39143383/alibabas-618-shopping-festival-boosts-sales-with-big-brands-like-apple-xiaomi-leading-the-way" rel="noreferrer noopener">618 shopping festival</a> in May and June, gross merchandise value (GMV) grew by 13.6%, but profit&nbsp;margins were hit, SCMP cites third-party data.
The margin hit probably reflects the intense domestic price war. Brands, including&nbsp;Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>),&nbsp;Xiaomi Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACF#OTC">XIACF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>), and Huawei Technologies Co, each exceeded 100 million yuan in gross merchandise value.
Earlier this week, Chinese stocks led by Alibaba got a boost from&nbsp;China's central bank's&nbsp;plans to cut <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/41004045/whats-going-on-with-chinese-stocks-alibaba-nio-xpeng-li-auto-on-tuesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR)</a> by 50 basis points or half a percentage point and trim the seven-day reverse repurchase rate to 1.5% from 1.7%.
China followed the U.S. Fed rate cut a week ago to spur growth by unlocking discretionary spending.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40927136/amazon-boosts-worker-pay-to-over-29hour-invests-2-2b-as-holiday-kicks-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recent reports indicated</a> that Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) are boosting workers' hourly wages before the holiday season. In 2023, Amazon's&nbsp;U.S. sales reached&nbsp;$12.4 billion on Cyber Monday, up 9.6%, quashing the estimated $12 billion. The total online sales for Cyber Week reached $38 billion, topping the $37.2 billion estimate.
Alibaba stock has been up over 11% in the last 12 months as the critical rate cuts have offered respite from domestic economic weakness.
Price Action: BABA stock is trading higher by 7.24% at $102.34 premarket at the last check on&nbsp;Thursday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40977069/alibaba-teams-up-with-nvidia-to-supercharge-evs-for-chinese-automakers-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Teams Up With Nvidia to Supercharge EVs for Chinese Automakers: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Via Shutterstock

Movers

XIACF

XIACY

Alibaba Follows Amazon And Walmart, Pours $5.7B Into Holiday Sales Push

BofA Securities says U.S. consumers are focused on value and sees Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) well-positioned in the e-commerce industry to reap the benefits heading <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41023224/top-10-stock-picks-for-the-holiday-boom-adobe-forecasts-unprecedented-e-commerce-sales-this-season">into the holiday season.</a> 
What To Know: On Wednesday, BofA released its 2025 annual e-commerce survey which monitors sector trends, inflections and outlook for the next year. The research firm expects e-commerce to grow its market share during the upcoming holiday season as consumers are drawn to online shopping by convenience, price comparability and a shorter holiday shopping window after Thanksgiving.&nbsp;
The survey revealed 52% of respondents expect to increase their online spending year-over-year, compared to 46% last year. However, 62% of respondents said they are seeking lower prices due to economic changes and uncertainty about the upcoming Presidential election. 
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41011763/whats-going-on-with-intel-stock"> What&#8217;s Going On With Intel Stock?</a>
Why It Matters: BofA sees retailers offering consumables and value pricing, such as Walmart and Amazon, as best-positioned to gain market share as consumers look for lower prices and price comparability in an uncertain environment. 
Walmart remained the most popular online grocery retailer with 30% of respondents opting for the grocery giant. Amazon saw the highest spending intentions in the survey, with 45% of respondents intending to increase their usage over the next six months.&nbsp;
Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported using Temu, a subsidiary of PDD Holdings, Inc. &#8211; ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), a gain of 13 points year-over-year. However, only 20% intend to increase their Temu usage, down by eight points from last year. 
Overall, BofA forecasts healthy consumer online spending in the upcoming holiday shopping season with a shift from discretionary categories into consumables.&nbsp;
AMZN, WMT, PDD Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Amazon shares closed Wednesday's session down 0.74% at $192.53, Walmart shares rose 0.90% to $81.40 and PDD Holdings shares ended the session 0.12% higher at $113.94. 
Read Also:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40991529/what-happened-with-palantir-stock-today">What Happened With Palantir Stock Today?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Expect Healthy Online Spending This Holiday Season, Says Analyst: What To Know

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meli#NASDAQ">MELI</a>), the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, has seen its stock jump 62.9% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry&#39;s return of 36%, the broader retail sector&#39;s rally of 30.3% and the S&amp;P 500 index&#39;s gain of 31.1%.
This impressive growth has been fueled by several factors, including MELI&#39;s growing e-commerce business, robust shipping services, and strong presence in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
The company is also benefiting from the solid momentum in its Mercado Pago fintech platform that allows users to send and receive payments seamlessly, which is another positive.
<h2>One-Year Price Chart</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/71/78997.jpg?v=1972780575" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Although MercadoLibre has a strong foothold in the online retail market of Latin America, rising competitive pressure from the e-commerce giant Amazon, which is making strong efforts to expand its presence in LATAM, is concerning. MELI also faces strong competition from the retail behemoth Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), which is making good progress in the region, especially in Mexico.
Market uncertainties, high inflation, recessionary fears and weakening macro conditions are headwinds for MercadoLibre.
Margins are currently under pressure due to increased investments in free shipping, loyalty programs, and improvement in customer services, marketing and chargebacks, as well as higher maintenance, hosting and fraud prevention.
Against this backdrop, the question that arises is - How should investors play the MELI stock? Are a strong e-commerce business, growing fintech business and expanding logistics operations enough to jump into the stock or should investors worry about the headwinds surrounding the company&#39;s prospects?
<h2>MELI&#39;s Long-Term Prospects Ride on E-commerce Strength</h2>
MercadoLibre&#39;s expanding logistic operations are shaping up the growth trajectory of its e-commerce business.
Its growing efforts toward delivering enhanced user experience for buyers on the back of an expanding logistic and fulfillment network are positive. MELI has become a natural destination for buyers and sellers by building the fastest and most extensive delivery network in the region, and by offering the widest assortment.
MercadoLibre&#39;s latest introduction of robotics in its distribution center in Cajamar, remains noteworthy. It intends to deploy more than 300 robots by the end of this year. These robots will manage tasks like transporting shelves containing products from storage areas, which will optimize processing time by 20% and increase total storage capacity by up to 15% per square meter. These robots are capable of handling up to 20,000 items and 2,500 shelves per day, helping automate repetitive tasks like product sorting.
The company is also gaining traction with its MELI Delivery Day, which helps in the reduction of its last-mile delivery costs. With the option of MELI Delivery Day, several deliveries at a single address can be made on a single drop.
MercadoLibre introduced a concept called slower shipment service with its SLOW in order to bring flexibility to its logistic operations. SLOW offers shipping options for buyers who opt for slower shipping options. With SLOW shipments, the shipping window becomes larger and more flexible for MELI.
The company&#39;s strong efforts to expand outside of LATAM, especially in the United States, are noteworthy. In the quarter ending in June, MELI launched a fulfillment center in Texas to bring U.S. sellers into its ecosystem in order to boost the assortment of products for customers in Mexico.
On the back of this move, customers in north Mexico are receiving their orders from the United States within a couple of days for free.
In addition to logistics initiatives, MELI&#39;s efforts to improve product selection are driving growth across verticals, particularly fashion, consumer electronics, apparel and sports categories. It has integrated standardized filters across brands and sellers on its commerce platform.
Growing momentum across the MELI+ loyalty program is a major positive. The company remains optimistic about the impacts of MELI+ on future growth and customer retention as the user base continues to scale. MercadoLibre has observed that customers who enroll in the program increase their spending and buying frequency and shop across more categories than prior to enrollment.
<h2>Fintech Momentum Drives MELI&#39;s Growth</h2>
Solid momentum in MercadoLibre&#39;s Mercado Pago fintech platform and its well-performing credit business are major positives.
MercadoLibre&#39;s strong efforts to deliver an enhanced experience to Mercado Pago users are positive. Strength in assets under management and the Mercado Pago credit card is crucial for boosting user engagement of Mercado Pago.
The company is leveraging its rich data to cross-sell in the LATAM region and bolster its fintech business. The data also enables MELI to have a better view of credit risks and operate a business that matches the lowest cost-to-serve in the region.
<h2>Solid Projections Bode Well For MELI</h2>
MercadoLibre&#39;s long-term prospects are expected to benefit from strengthening commerce and fintech businesses. Its leading position in LATAM as an e-commerce and fintech company is anticipated to instill investor optimism in the stock.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 is pegged at $20.58 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 42.2%. The consensus mark for 2024 earnings stands at $35.79 per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 83.9%. Earnings estimates have moved north by 1.7% over the past seven days.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/56/79013.jpg?v=1255792089" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>MecadoLibre Stock Overvalued Right Now</h2>
The MELI stock is not so cheap, as the Value Score of C suggests a stretched valuation at this moment.
MELI is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 4.49X compared with the industry&#39;s average of 1.72X.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/5c/78996.jpg?v=1271081349" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Final Note</h2>
MercadoLibre&#39;s leading position in Latin America&#39;s e-commerce market, a growing footprint in the fintech domain and a strong logistic network are the key catalysts despite a stretched valuation.
However, challenging macroeconomic conditions, persistent inflation and intensifying competition are concerning for the stock.
Hence, existing investors may consider holding their positions in the stock, but new investors should exercise caution, potentially waiting for a more favorable entry point. MercadoLibre currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340752/meli-stock-up-62-9-in-a-year-can-e-commerce-strength-fuel-growth?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|most_popular_stocks-2340752">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Fintech news covering the emerging Financial Technology services sector

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Latin America

MELI

MELI Stock Up 62.9% in a Year: Can E-commerce Strength Fuel Growth?

Consumer staples with lowest quant rating are worst performers in Q3: DLTR, DG, LW

It is very hard for the S&P 500 to escape the gravitational pull of Apple and Microsoft. But it's clear that at least a piece of the decline is simply giving back the end of quarter pump.

A Quick One While He's Away

In uncertain times, consumer staples stocks offer stability through consistent demand and reliable dividends. As markets brace for potential shifts from the Federal Reserve, investors could consider investing in companies like Walmart (WMT), Philip Morris International (PM), and Colgate-Palmolive (CL) for a resilient portfolio. Read more… Consumer staples are the everyday essentials that people continue to buy, even when the economy slows down. Thanks to this steady demand, stocks in this sector tend to outperform cyclical industries during uncertain times. For investors seeking stability, investing in companies such as Walmart Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">WMT</a>), Philip Morris International Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PM/">PM</a>), and Colgate-Palmolive Company (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CL/">CL</a>) could be wise.
As of September 2024, markets are on edge as they await the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates. There's much speculation around whether they'll go for a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/global-markets-wrapup-1-2024-09-18/">quarter-point or a half-point cut</a>, but for now, U.S. stock indexes remain mostly flat. The Fed's decision could cause significant market shifts and influence investment strategies, adding to the current atmosphere of uncertainty.
However, with the <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/investors-consumer-staples-economic-slowdown-defensive-stocks-recession-stock-market-2024-9">S&amp;P 500 rising 4.1%</a>, the consumer staples sector has outpaced the broader market as investors flock to more stable options. Companies in this sector, which produce essential goods like groceries, household items, and even tobacco, tend to weather market ups and downs with resilience.
According to Statista, the consumer goods market is expected to grow by $594.50 billion this year, with an annual growth rate of <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/io/manufacturing/consumer-goods/united-states#:~:text=Output%20in%20the%20Consumer%20Goods,US%2416.6m%20in%202024.">1.3% from 2024 to 2029</a>. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the tobacco products market is projected to generate $107.50 billion this year, growing by <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/tobacco-products/united-states#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20the%20revenue%20in,amounts%20to%20US%24107.5bn.">0.84% annually</a> over the same period.
Considering these conducive trends, let's examine the fundamentals of the above-mentioned stocks in detail:  
Walmart Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">WMT</a>)
WMT operates a global network of retail, wholesale, and other business units through three segments: Walmart U.S.; Walmart International; and Sam's Club. Its operations include supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, discount stores, membership-only warehouse clubs, e-commerce websites, and mobile commerce applications.
On August 27, 2024, WMT announced the expansion of its Marketplace with new categories, multichannel fulfillment solutions, and innovations to simplify selling. The company also introduced Premium Beauty, pre-owned items, and new omnichannel features to enhance the customer and seller experience.
In terms of the trailing-12-month Return on Common Equity, WMT's 18.97% is 78.4% higher than the 10.63% industry average. Likewise, its 11.56% trailing-12-month Return on Total Capital is 66.4% higher than the 6.95% industry average. In addition, its trailing-12-month <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/assetturnover.asp">asset turnover ratio</a> of 2.61x compares to the industry average of 0.85x.
WMT has paid dividends for 50 consecutive years. Its annual dividend is $0.83, which translates to a yield of 1.05% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 1.49%. Moreover, the company's dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 3.6% over the past three years.
For the fiscal second quarter that ended July 31, 2024, WMT's total revenues increased 4.8% year-over-year to $169.34 billion. Likewise, its adjusted operating income rose 7.2% from the year-ago value to $7.94 billion. Moreover, the company's consolidated attributable net income came in at $4.50 billion, or $0.56 per common share.
Street expects WMT's EPS and revenue for the quarter ending October 31, 2024, to increase 3.7% and 4.1% year-over-year to $0.53 and $166.01 billion, respectively. Moreover, it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Over the past nine months, the stock has gained 53% to close the last trading session at $79.03.
WMT's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect its strong fundamentals. It has an overall rating of A, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.
It has an A grade for Stability and a B for Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality. Within the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/grocery-big-box-retailers/">Grocery/Big Box Retailers</a> industry, it is ranked #6 out of 37 stocks. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/WMT/">Click here</a> to see WMT's ratings for Value.
Philip Morris International Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PM/">PM</a>)
PM operates as a tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolve its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sectors. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes, smoke-free products, and consumer accessories such as lighters and matches.
On September 12, 2024, PM announced a 3.8% increase in its annualized dividend rate to $5.40 per share. The new quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share is payable on October 10, 2024, to shareholders of record on September 26, 2024.
PM's annual dividend translates to a yield of 4.46% at the current share price, while its four-year average dividend yield is 5.26%. In addition, the company's dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 2.7% over the past three years. PM has paid dividends for the past 15 years.
In terms of the trailing-12-month Capex / Sales, PM's 4.03% is 25.2% higher than the 3.22% industry average. Its 19.69% trailing-12-month Return on Total Capital is 183.4% higher than the 6.95% industry average. Moreover, its 24.15% trailing-12-month net income margin compares favorably to the industry average of 4.42%.
During the second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, PM's net revenues increased 5.6% year-over-year to $9.47 billion. Similarly, its adjusted operating income grew 3.5% from the year-ago value to $3.66 billion. Additionally, the company's adjusted EPS stood at $1.59.
The consensus revenue estimate of $9.68 billion for the fiscal third quarter (ending September 2024) represents a 5.9% increase year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate of $1.82 for the ongoing quarter represents an 8.8% growth from the same period last year. The company has a promising earnings surprise history, as it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.
PM shares have gained 26.9% over the past six months and 28.6% year-to-date to close the last trading session at $120.96.
PM's bright prospects are reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has a B grade for Stability and Quality. It is ranked #4 out of 10 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/tobacco/">Tobacco</a> industry. To access the additional grades of PM for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Sentiment, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PM/">click here</a>.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CL/">CL</a>)
CL and its subsidiaries manufacture and sell consumer products internationally. The company offers a wide range of oral, personal, home care, and pet nutrition products under various well-known brands worldwide. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal, and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.
On September 12, 2024, CL announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, payable on November 15, 2024, to shareholders of record on October 18, 2024.
The company's annualized dividend of $2 per share translates to a dividend yield of 1.94% on the current share price. Its four-year average yield is 2.31%. Its dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 3.3% over the past three years. Also, CL has paid dividends for 60 consecutive years.
CL's trailing-12-month gross profit margin of 59.70% is 66.5% higher than the 35.85% industry average. Likewise, its trailing-12-month EBITDA and levered FCF margins of 24.17% and 14.25% are 84.8% and 162.6% higher than their respective industry averages of 13.07% and 5.43%.
In the second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, CL's net sales rose 4.9% year-over-year to $5.06 billion. Its non-GAAP operating profit grew 12.7% from the year-ago value to $1.12 billion. Furthermore, its non-GAAP net income attributable to CL came in at $753 million or $0.91 per share, up 16.9% and 18.2% over the prior-year quarter, respectively.
Analysts expect CL's revenue for the current quarter (ending September 30, 2024) to increase 2% year-over-year to $5.01 billion. Its EPS for the same quarter is expected to grow 2.8% year-over-year to $0.88. Also, it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is impressive.
CL's stock has gained 39.7% over the past year to close the last trading session at $103.18.
It's no surprise that CL has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary POWR Rating system.
It has an A grade for Quality and a B for Stability. Out of 53 stocks in the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/consumer-goods/">Consumer Goods</a> industry, it is ranked #15. Beyond what we have stated above, we also have given CL grades for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Sentiment. Get all the CL ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CL/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
Get your hands on this special report with 3 low priced companies with tremendous upside potential even in today's volatile markets:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/3stocks/?formplacement=artbotad_3s">3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year &gt;</a>

<hr />
WMT shares were trading at $78.34 per share on Thursday afternoon, down $0.69 (-0.87%). Year-to-date, WMT has gained 50.52%, versus a 21.06% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Abhishek Bhuyan</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ABhuyan.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Abhishek embarked on his professional journey as a financial journalist due to his keen interest in discerning the fundamental factors that influence the future performance of financial instruments.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=abhishek-bhuyan">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/wmt-pm-cl-3-consumer-staples-stocks-that-provide-stability-in-uncertain-times/>3 Consumer Staples Stocks That Provide Stability in Uncertain Times</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 Consumer Staples Stocks That Provide Stability in Uncertain Times

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