This “Boring” Stock Just Quietly Beat Earnings Again - 8/7

Why Walmart Remains a Strong Buy in Any Market

In a market full of uncertainty, there are still a few rock-solid names investors can count on. Walmart (SYM: WMT) remains one of them.

Despite rising interest rates, inflationary pressure, and tariff concerns, the retail giant continues to show strength in its core business, while rewarding long-term shareholders with dividend consistency and growth. In fact, it’s quietly outperforming the broader market — and analysts are taking notice.

Whether you're a dividend investor, a long-term growth holder, or just looking for some stability in a volatile market, Walmart remains a smart, high-conviction buy for the rest of 2025 and beyond.

A True Dividend King: 52 Years of Consistent Increases

Walmart just increased its dividend for the 52nd consecutive year — reinforcing its elite status as a Dividend King.

“Walmart has increased its annual cash dividend every year since first declaring a $0.05 per share annual dividend in March 1974,” the company recently stated.

The latest dividend of $0.94 per share will be paid:

On September 2, 2025 to shareholders of record as of August 15, 2025

Again on January 5, 2026 to shareholders of record as of December 12, 2025

While the yield sits at a modest 0.94%, the consistency and growth of Walmart’s dividend is a major draw for income-focused investors — especially when paired with its capital appreciation and rock-solid fundamentals.

Analysts Are Getting Even More Bullish

Wall Street is catching up to the long-term value in Walmart. Here’s a look at recent analyst upgrades and price target hikes:

Oppenheimer raised its target to $110 with an Outperform rating.

Tigress Financial boosted its target from $115 to $120 and maintained a Buy rating.

JPMorgan reiterated its Overweight rating and raised EPS forecasts to $3.75 for the fiscal year. Their price target: $130 — nearly 30% above current levels.

Analysts are also encouraged by improving profit margins, the company’s massive scale in both physical and digital retail, and its ability to operate efficiently even in difficult macroeconomic conditions.

Weiss Ratings

Trump’s tariffs are working …

Thanks to President Trump's tariff push …

Factories are being built all over America.

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In fact, I think this is the #1 America First stock.

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Back-to-School Season: A Historical Tailwind

Don’t underestimate the impact of back-to-school shopping on Walmart’s stock price.

Year after year, the company sees a notable seasonal lift as families shop for clothing, electronics, food, and supplies ahead of the fall semester. Take a look at how WMT has historically performed from August to December:

In 2024, shares jumped from $70 to $95.47

In 2023, WMT rose from $52 to $55.21

In 2022, it moved from $42 to just over $49

With the 2025 back-to-school season now in full swing, history suggests we could be on the verge of another strong seasonal rally.

Strong Earnings Reflect Operational Excellence

In its most recent quarter, Walmart posted another solid beat across multiple metrics:

EPS: $0.61 vs. $0.58 expected

Revenue: $165.6 billion (up 2.5% YoY), beating by $1.7 billion

U.S. comparable sales: +4.5%, topping estimates of 3.9%

E-commerce sales: +21%

Sam’s Club comparable sales: +6.7%

International sales: Slight dip of 0.3% YoY to $29.8 billion

The company also maintained a cautious but optimistic outlook for the full fiscal year:

Expected EPS: $2.50 to $2.60 (midpoint of $2.55) vs. $2.60 consensus

CEO Doug McMillon emphasized Walmart's resilience and focus on the long term:

“We delivered a solid first quarter in a dynamic operating environment. We’re serving customers and members in more ways, which is fueling our growth. We’re well positioned, maintaining flexibility to navigate the near term while continuing to invest to create value for the long-term.”

While some tariff concerns were acknowledged, management has proven its ability to manage through such headwinds before — and often turns those moments into opportunities to gain market share.

Bonus Chart of the Day: D-Wave Quantum (SYM: QBTS)

While Walmart is a safe haven, some investors are looking for explosive upside elsewhere — and D-Wave Quantum (SYM: QBTS) has caught analysts’ attention in the quantum computing space.

Here’s what’s driving the buzz:

Stifel initiated a Buy rating with a $26 price target

Needham raised its target from $13 to $20

B. Riley set a target of $22

Canaccord initiated coverage with a Buy and a $20 target

Analysts note that both public and private quantum computing companies are aggressively raising capital — and that D-Wave’s technology and partnerships make it a serious contender in the space.

If quantum computing proves even half as revolutionary as expected, early-stage companies like D-Wave could offer 10x or greater returns over time.