Walmart (WMT) continues to demonstrate relative strength in the retail sector, maintaining a consensus Buy rating and significantly outpacing the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector with a 17.9% rally over the past year.
- WMT's resilience is attributed to its value-focused positioning, strong omnichannel integration, and diversified growth engines, including Walmart Connect advertising and Sam's Club membership programs.
- The stock trades at a premium valuation (forward P/E of 39.46) reflecting its defensive profile, contrasting sharply with competitor Target's 13.17 multiple.
- Analysts maintain a 2026 price target of $122.71, and the stock closed on January 29, 2026, at $116.72 (+0.13%).