Should I buy Walmart stock in 2025? A guide for investors in Ireland

What is Walmart?

How much is the Walmart stock?

The price of Walmart stock is falling this week. As of now, the share trades at $97.10, showing a daily decrease of $0.14 (-0.14%) and a gain of 0.69% over the past week.

Walmart commands a market capitalization of $776.89 billion, with an average three-month trading volume of 22.63 million shares. The current P/E ratio stands at 41.50, while its dividend yield is 0.97% and the stock’s beta is 0.70.

With relatively low volatility, Walmart remains a stable choice for IE investors seeking resilience in their portfolio.

Our full analysis of Walmart stock

After a rigorous review of Walmart Inc.’s most recent financial disclosures and an in-depth assessment of the stock’s evolution across the last three years, our algorithms have consolidated financial metrics, technical signals, macro-sector data, and comparative benchmarks. The outcome reveals a compelling case for Walmart’s positioning within the consumer defensive sector. So, why might Walmart stock once again become a strategic entry point into the global retail and e-commerce arena in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Walmart’s share price reflects sustained confidence and renewed investor interest. As of 30 May 2025, WMT trades at $97.10—well within sight of its all-time high of $105.30 and up a robust 49.57% over the past twelve months. Year-to-date, the stock has appreciated by 7.47%, handily outperforming major consumer staples index peers.

Recent quarters have been defined by strong top-line and earnings momentum—factors recognized by both buy-side analysts and institutional investors. The market enthusiastically embraced Walmart’s Q1 FY2026 results: revenue outpaced consensus at $165.61 billion (+2.35% YoY), and EPS of $0.61 exceeded the $0.58 forecast, underlining the strength and resilience of its omni-channel model. A notable 3:1 stock split in February 2024 has further broadened investor access, contributing to heightened liquidity and marketability.

Sector dynamics remain favourable—consumer defensive stocks have benefited amid macro volatility, as persistently high inflation and interest rates increase the appeal of reliable, scale-driven franchises such as Walmart. Notably, the “everyday low price” positioning and enhanced digital offerings resonate with cost-conscious consumers worldwide.

Key Positive Developments

• E-commerce acceleration: Transaction growth and online volume expansion.
• International market momentum: Consistent growth across emerging and established regions.
• Stock split impact: Enhanced market depth and broadened shareholder base.

Technical Analysis

The technical configuration for Walmart stock continues to support a bullish narrative. Momentum indicators present a stable foundation from which to anticipate further advances:

• RSI (14-day): 55.64—a healthy, neutral zone, not restricted by overbought or oversold signals, suggesting adequate headroom for new bullish flows.
• MACD: At 0.95, remains convincingly positive, underlining constructive medium-term sentiment.
• Moving averages: The 50-day SMA at $92.88 and the 200-day SMA at $88.71 are both trending upward, placing current price action above key averages and reinforcing the bullish structure.

From a market structure perspective, support at $95.31 has repeatedly been validated, providing a buffer for accumulation strategies, while resistance is clustered near $97.69. The recent trading pattern—marked by higher lows and resilient closes above key supports—suggests the stock is well-positioned for a retest of prior highs.

Summary of Technical Positioning

• Sustained move above major SMAs.
• Robust support base near $95, adding conviction to medium-term strategies.
• Absence of technical excess, offering scope for price appreciation on favorable catalysts.

Fundamental Analysis

Walmart’s growth credentials are robust, as demonstrated by a five-year performance that has cemented its global leadership in the retail sector. Fiscal 2025 revenues stood at $681 billion, a 5.1% uplift year-on-year, with Q1 FY2026 representing another above-expectation print. Net profit margins and EPS continue to show incremental progress despite competitive and cost pressures, reflecting operational discipline and economies of scale.

Valuation remains attractive in the context of Walmart’s quality and growth profile:

• Market Cap: $776.9 billion.
• P/E (TTM): 41.5.
• PEG: Implied mid-term earnings expansion (analyst consensus for $700.03bn revenue in 2025) offers a justified premium to peers, especially when considering dependable EPS delivery and best-in-class operational efficiency.
• Dividend Yield: 0.97%—modest, but backed by decades of uninterrupted payouts and reliable payout growth.

Structurally, Walmart’s strategic investments in digital transformation, supply chain automation, and omnichannel integration have sharpened its competitive edge. Its powerful vendor relationships, global diversification, and scalable brand echo defensive strength and adaptability across cycles.

Core Structural Strengths

• Innovation: Steady investment in AI, supply chain automation, and consumer experience.
• Global Presence: Leadership in North America, with high-growth exposure to India, China, and Latam.
• Brand and Negotiation Power: Best-in-sector purchasing leverage and supplier partnerships.

Volume and Liquidity

Walmart’s liquidity profile is a testament to its status as a global blue-chip stock. The average daily trading volume is 22.63 million shares—among the highest in the consumer staples sector—reflecting vibrant two-way flows and market depth. The February 2024 stock split has further widened the investor base and optimized trading spreads, making WMT both accessible and resilient.

With a float of 4.36 billion shares (54.5% of shares outstanding), valuation remains highly dynamic and responsive to new capital, supporting active accumulation phases without liquidity risks.

Volume-Driven Confidence

• High, consistent trading volume signals ongoing institutional and retail conviction.
• Ample float and diversified ownership underpin dynamic, market-responsive price movements.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

A series of near- and medium-term catalysts lay the groundwork for further outperformance:

• Digital transformation: Anticipated new e-commerce rollouts and investments in logistics AI are poised to drive incremental share gains in online grocery and general merchandise—segments outpacing headline retail market growth rates.
• International momentum: Targeted expansion in key emerging markets and early-mover advantages in digital supply chains position Walmart for outsized incremental gains.
• Operational efficiency: Ongoing initiatives to enhance supply chain velocity and cost efficiency are expected to reinforce margins into FY2026 and beyond.
• ESG leadership: Walmart remains at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, which are increasingly material to institutional mandates and responsible investing trends.

Sector-wide, persistent consumer belt-tightening, coupled with the continued rise of hybrid shopping (in-store + digital), plays directly to Walmart’s formidable omnichannel ecosystem and pricing power.

Upward Catalysts for 2025 and Beyond

• Rollout of advanced e-commerce technologies.
• Possible accretive M&A or market entries.
• Strength in digital advertising and private label expansion.
• Regulatory tailwinds in core markets.
• Further operational cost takeouts and capital discipline.

Investment Strategies

For investors seeking strategic exposure to the global retail and e-commerce space, Walmart appears to present multiple attractive entry scenarios:

• Short-term: With the share price consolidating just above the $95 technical support and exhibiting upward momentum into Q2 earnings (scheduled for August 21, 2025), tactical entry ahead of potential positive surprises could be well-timed.
• Medium-term: The current setup reveals a compelling medium-term risk/reward. Target revisions upwards (analyst consensus at $108.26, internal calculation at $126.23) point to headroom should market conviction persist, while the ongoing capital optimization from the stock split suggests sustained liquidity.
• Long-term: Walmart’s demonstrated capacity to grow both organically and via digital expansion, combined with its defensive characteristics, supports multi-year accumulation. The business model’s flexibility, global reach, and resilience create a strong case for patient, conviction-led positioning.

Ideal Positioning Tactics

• Accumulate on minor dips toward $95—leveraging support zones.
• Initiate positions ahead of technology investments, digital rollouts, or major macro announcements.
• Rely on omnichannel and international growth developments as secondary buying signals.

Is it the Right Time to Buy Walmart?

In summary, Walmart’s current financial, strategic, and technical trajectory collectively signal an alignment of positive factors rarely seen in a defensive giant of this scale:

• Outperformance versus sector and index benchmarks over 12 months.
• Resilient consumer demand, underpinned by strong e-commerce and international momentum.
• Constructive valuation relative to best-in-class profitability and growth outlook.
• Abundant liquidity and market confidence, following the recent stock split.
• Visible, actionable catalysts in digital transformation and global expansion.

As we look ahead to the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, the risk/reward profile for Walmart stock appears exceptionally well-balanced in favour of further appreciation. With compelling technical underpinnings, robust earnings momentum, and sector leadership, Walmart seems to represent an excellent opportunity for investors seeking both defensive solidity and exposure to dynamic retail innovation.

The coming quarters are poised to be transformative, providing a rare window to consider a globally diversified leader whose growth narrative continues to surprise on the upside—making Walmart one of the most interesting stocks to watch, and potentially to accumulate, as it enters a new, promising era for both traditional and digital retail.

How to buy Walmart stock in Ireland?

Buying Walmart stock online is both simple and secure for investors in Ireland when using a regulated broker. You can choose between two main approaches: the classic method—spot (cash) buying, where you own the shares, or trading via CFDs (contracts for difference), which lets you speculate on price movements with leverage. Each method has its own advantages, fees, and risk profile. To help you make an informed decision, we provide a comparison of leading brokers and their conditions further down the page.

Spot Buying

A cash purchase of Walmart stock means you are directly buying and owning real shares, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in US dollars. Regulated brokers typically charge a fixed commission per order—this may range from €5 to €15 for Irish investors, but some platforms offer even lower fees for US stocks.

Example of buying Walmart shares

With Walmart’s current share price at $97.10, a $1,000 investment (around €920) would allow you to buy approximately 10 shares, after including a standard brokerage fee of $5.
Gain scenario:
If the share price rises by 10%, your holding is now worth $1,100.
Result: A gross gain of $100, or +10% on your original investment.

Trading via CFD

CFD trading on Walmart allows you to speculate on the price movements of the stock without actually owning the underlying shares. CFDs work on margin: you only deposit a fraction of the total value, while the broker lends you the rest, applying leverage. Typical fees include the spread (the difference between buying and selling prices) and overnight financing costs if you hold positions for more than a day.

Example of CFD trading on Walmart

With a $1,000 deposit and 5x leverage, you gain $5,000 exposure to Walmart shares.
Gain scenario:
If Walmart’s share price increases by 8%, the total position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: That’s a $400 gain (excluding fees) on your $1,000 stake.

Final Advice

Whichever method you choose, it’s essential to compare brokers’ fees, commissions, and account conditions before investing, as costs and features can vary significantly. Your choice should match your investment goals: spot buying suits those seeking long-term ownership and dividends, while CFDs cater to those comfortable with higher risk and short-term trading. For a detailed broker comparison that matches your preferences and budget, see the section provided further down the page.

Our 7 tips for buying Walmart stock

The latest news about Walmart

Walmart stock demonstrates resilient weekly performance, up 0.69%, buoyed by robust Q1 results and global leadership. Over the last seven days, Walmart has maintained strong momentum, closing at $97.10 after a week marked by a solid performance relative to major indices and outperforming several retail peers. The recently published Q1 FY2026 results surpassed analyst expectations, with revenues of $165.61 billion (+2.35% YoY) and EPS of $0.61, reflecting the company’s continued operational resilience and ability to weather macroeconomic headwinds. Such performance continues to reinforce analyst consensus recommendations, which favour a “Moderate Buy,” and support a positive market outlook—signals that are relevant for Irish investors seeking stable, large-cap retail exposure with global reach.

Technical indicators highlight a neutral-to-bullish momentum, supporting further stock appreciation potential for the coming months. Recent technical analysis shows Walmart in a structurally positive setup: its 50-day and 200-day moving averages remain in an upward trajectory, with the current price above both key supports. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 55.64, not indicating overbought or oversold conditions, while Medium-Term MACD remains positive at 0.95. These signals suggest Walmart is neither under undue buying pressure nor at risk of imminent correction, providing confidence to European and Irish technical investors evaluating optimal entry points.

Walmart's strategic focus on digital, e-commerce, and supply chain digitisation sustains growth and strengthens its omnichannel ecosystem. Latest disclosures confirm Walmart’s continued investment in digital transformation, notably in strengthening its e-commerce capabilities and logistics technology. The company has reported accelerated online transaction volumes and cross-border commerce, underpinned by a robust omnichannel offering. This strategic direction is of particular relevance to Ireland, where consumer expectations increasingly favour efficient online retail and where Walmart-supplied branded goods are present in the market via third-party distributors. The digitally enabled supply chain also links to local retail sector interests, highlighting the relevance of Walmart’s innovation for investors tracking US retail giants influencing Irish market standards.

International growth remains a significant catalyst, with Walmart’s presence and partnerships reinforcing its status as a global retail powerhouse. Walmart is expanding across key international markets, leveraging both organic growth and strategic partnerships. While the company does not operate its own stores in Ireland, its international supply chain and brand presence influence the Irish market through wholesale and global third-party retail agreements, making its performance a relevant bellwether for Irish-focused funds and institutional investors with cross-Atlantic exposure. Additionally, Walmart’s continued expansion in markets with high Irish trade and investment ties further anchors the company’s strategic relevance for Ireland-based decision makers.

Dividend stability, upcoming ex-dividend date, and favourable consensus targets offer attractive signals for income-oriented Irish investors. Walmart continues to deliver stable shareholder returns, maintaining a $0.94 annual dividend with a 0.97% yield. The next ex-dividend date is confirmed as 15 August 2025, signalling ongoing dividend reliability for international shareholders, including residents of Ireland. The stock trades well below the current consensus price target of $108.26, presenting upside potential near +11% from present levels. Given the 30% US dividend withholding tax applicable to Irish investors (subject to Ireland-US treaty reductions), Walmart remains an attractive blue-chip candidate for those prioritising a blend of growth, stability, and recurring income.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.