Berkshire Asset Management decreased its stake in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) by 12.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 83,478 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 11,609 shares during the period. Berkshire Asset Management’s holdings in Wal-Mart Stores were worth $5,117,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WMT. Lowe FS increased its position in shares of Wal-Mart Stores by 0.6% in the third quarter. Lowe FS now owns 314 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $20,000 after buying an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning acquired a new position in shares of Wal-Mart Stores during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $0. Vicus Capital acquired a new position in shares of Wal-Mart Stores during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $257,000. Alpha Windward increased its position in shares of Wal-Mart Stores by 29.9% in the fourth quarter. Alpha Windward now owns 4,484 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 1,032 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management Company increased its position in shares of Wal-Mart Stores by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Company now owns 5,699 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $490,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) opened at 62.69 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $61.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $64.17. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has a 52 week low of $56.30 and a 52 week high of $89.16. The company has a market capitalization of $200.73 billion and a PE ratio of 13.42.

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 17th. The retailer reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. The company earned $117.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $117.79 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. Wal-Mart Stores’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will post $4.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $68.00 target price (down previously from $73.00) on shares of Wal-Mart Stores in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Deutsche Bank lowered their target price on Wal-Mart Stores from $76.00 to $70.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Macquarie reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $67.00 target price on shares of Wal-Mart Stores in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Bank of America reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Wal-Mart Stores in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Vetr raised Wal-Mart Stores from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $67.77 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, January 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty-one have given a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $65.42.

In related news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $58.46 per share, with a total value of $584,600.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 25,374 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,483,364.04. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is engaged in the operation of retail, wholesale and other units in various formats around the world. The Company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices (NYSE:WMT). The Company’s operations are conducted in three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam’s Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates retail stores in all 50 states in the United States, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, with three primary store formats, as well as digital retail. The Walmart International segment consists of operations in 26 countries outside of the United States and includes numerous formats divided into three main categories: retail, wholesale and other. The Sam’s Club consists of membership-only warehouse clubs and operates in 48 states in the United States and in Puerto Rico, as well as digital retail.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:WMT

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