June 25 - Walmart (WMT, Financial) shares edged higher on Wednesday after the retailer detailed tech-led initiatives at its recent Associates Week.
The company is erecting a 350-acre Bentonville campus with amenities such as a hotel, amphitheater, fitness and childcare centers. Staff will navigate via electric bikes, and robots may handle maintenance tasks, reflecting a push for a modern workplace.
Walmart aims to lure tech talent as it rolls out a GenAI shopping assistant, Sparky, in its app. The feature helps shoppers locate items, digest reviews and plan purchases more intuitively, potentially lifting engagement.
On the logistics front, Walmart and drone partner Wing, owned by Alphabet (GOOGL, Financial), plan to expand delivery from over 100 stores in cities like Atlanta and Houston. Faster fulfillment and automation could sharpen Walmart's competitive stance against online rivals.
The stock has climbed about 45% over the past year, driven by confidence in blending retail scale with innovation. Execution risks remain, and consumer uptake of new tools will be critical.
Overall, Walmart seems poised to modernize operations and culture while preserving its core value focus. The real test will be how smoothly these technologies roll out and resonate with employees and shoppers.
Is WMT Stock a Buy?
Based on the one year price targets offered by 38 analysts, the average target price for Walmart Inc is $110.03 with a high estimate of $120.00 and a low estimate of $94.00. The average target implies a upside of +12.27% from the current price of $98.00.
Based on GuruFocus estimates, the estimated GF Value for Walmart Inc in one year is $63.04, suggesting a downside of -35.67% from the current price of $98.00.
