You’re staring at your screen, watching the numbers tick. If you're checking to see how much is the walmart stock right this second, the ticker is showing roughly $119.20 as of the market close on January 15, 2026.
It’s been a wild ride lately. Just a few days ago, on January 13, the stock hit an all-time closing high of $120.36. It actually poked its head up to an intraday peak of $121.23 recently. Honestly, if you bought in a year ago when it was languishing in the $80s, you’re feeling pretty smart right now. We’re talking about a 30% jump in twelve months.
But here’s the thing: price is just a number on a dashboard. To really get what's happening with WMT, you've gotta look under the hood.
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The Reality of the $120 Ceiling
Walmart isn't just a place where you buy bulk toilet paper and mediocre bananas anymore. It’s basically a tech company with a massive real estate footprint. Investors are currently paying a premium for that. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is sitting around 41.7x to 42.1x.
Compare that to the broader retail industry average, which usually hangs out around 21x. Yeah, Walmart is expensive.
Some analysts, like the team over at Deutsche Bank, recently got a bit nervous about this valuation, moving their rating to a "hold" with a target of $119. They’re basically saying the easy money has been made. Meanwhile, the bulls at Telsey Advisory Group are still shouting from the rooftops with a **$135 price target**.
Who's right? Well, that depends on whether you believe Walmart can keep growing its high-margin advertising business—Walmart Connect—which surged over 50% last year.
Breaking Down the Dividend King Status
People love Walmart because it’s a "Dividend King." They’ve hiked that payout for 52 years straight. If you hold the stock today, you’re looking at an annual dividend of $0.94 per share.
The yield is about 0.78%.
Now, that might sound tiny. 0.78% won't buy you a private island. But for a retiree or a long-term compounder, that consistency is like a warm blanket. They just paid out $0.24 per share on January 5, 2026. If you're looking for the next payday, the next earnings report is slated for February 19, 2026. That's when we'll see if the holiday season was as blockbuster as the stock price suggests.
Why the Stock Price Moved Like It Did
The 2024 stock split—that 3-for-1 move—really changed the accessibility. Before that, shares were trading north of $175, which felt "heavy" for a lot of retail investors. Now, at roughly $120, it’s psychologically easier to buy a few shares.
But it’s not just the split. It’s the automation.
By now, in early 2026, roughly 65% of Walmart stores are using automated fulfillment. This isn't just cool robot stuff; it’s literally shaving 20% off the cost of getting a bag of groceries to your front door. When you’re doing $700 billion in revenue, a 20% cost reduction in logistics is a massive deal.
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Recent Performance Snapshots
- 52-Week High: $121.235
- 52-Week Low: $79.81
- Year-to-Date Return: Approximately 6.5% (and we’re only two weeks into January!)
- Market Cap: Closing in on a trillion dollars ($950B - $960B range)
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest mistake is thinking Walmart is a "safe, boring" stock. While it definitely has defensive qualities—people still need to eat during a recession—the current valuation is priced for growth.
If they miss their e-commerce targets or if those automation gains don't hit the bottom line, that $120 price tag could face a "valuation reset." We saw a little bit of that volatility today with the stock slipping about 0.70%.
Also, watch the tariffs. With about 20% of their stuff coming from China, any trade war noise in 2026 is going to shake the tree. They’re trying to move more production to India and Southeast Asia, but that’s a slow, expensive boat to turn.
Actionable Steps for Investors
If you're looking at how much is the walmart stock because you're considering buying, keep these points in mind:
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- Check the P/E Ratio: If it climbs toward 45x, it’s getting historically "frothy." You might want to wait for a dip back toward the $110 support level.
- Watch the February 19 Earnings: This will be the first big "tell" for 2026. Look at the "Walmart Connect" ad revenue specifically.
- Mind the "Death of the Middle": Walmart is winning because consumers are fleeing mid-tier stores for extreme value. As long as inflation feels sticky, Walmart wins.
- Set a Limit Order: Don't chase the all-time high. The $110 to $115 range has shown strong support in the past month.
Walmart is currently a beast that’s half-retail, half-tech. It’s trading near its ceiling, but with the way they’re eating market share, that ceiling keeps moving higher.