Company Overview Walmart stock earned an Outperform rating from TipRanks’ A.I. Stock Analysis tool yesterday, with the A.I. analyst assigning a price target of $114, implying 10.89% upside from current levels—a significant jump from a target of $106 just two months ago. The timing couldn’t be better, as this week marks the unofficial start of holiday shopping with Walmart launching its deals blitz to compete with Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days.
Walmart’s Q2 fiscal 2026 results showed comparable sales climbing 4.6% in the U.S., exceeding the 4% analysts expected, with e-commerce sales jumping 26% as store-fulfilled delivery grew nearly 50% year-over-year. What’s particularly compelling is Walmart’s positioning heading into the holidays: overall retail sales are forecasted to increase 3.6% year-over-year for the November-December period, and Walmart’s reputation for value is attracting higher-income households even as tariff concerns pressure margins.
Key Technical and Fundamental Drivers
Fresh AI Upgrade → Yesterday’s Catalyst
TipRanks’ A.I. analyst upgraded Walmart to an Outperform score of 75, up from 74 in August, with a new price target of $114 representing significant upside potential.
Holiday Season Kickoff → This Week
Retail analysts consider this week the unofficial start of holiday shopping, with Walmart launching competitive deals to capture early consumer spending ahead of the crucial November-December season.
Strong Buy Consensus → 29 Analyst Support
Walmart has a Strong Buy consensus based on 29 Buy ratings, with the highest price target reaching $129, reflecting broad Wall Street confidence in the company’s execution.
E-commerce Momentum → 26% Growth
U.S. e-commerce sales jumped 26% with store-fulfilled delivery growing nearly 50% year-over-year, demonstrating successful omnichannel strategy execution as online shopping accelerates.
Advertising Business Surge → 46% Growth
Walmart’s global advertising business grew 46% year-over-year, providing high-margin revenue diversification that’s boosting profitability alongside traditional retail operations.
Market Takeaway Walmart enters the critical holiday shopping season with multiple tailwinds converging at exactly the right moment. Yesterday’s fresh AI upgrade validates what the fundamentals have been showing: the company is successfully transforming from a traditional retailer into a technology-powered omnichannel leader. With this week marking the unofficial start to holiday shopping, Walmart’s aggressive deals blitz positions it to capture early consumer spending while its reputation for value becomes increasingly important as households navigate tariff-related price pressures.
The 26% e-commerce growth and 46% advertising business expansion demonstrate that Walmart is winning in the highest-margin, fastest-growing segments of retail. While consumer sentiment has softened and spending forecasts suggest a modest holiday season, Walmart is gaining market share by attracting higher-income households seeking value—a demographic shift that could prove lasting. With 29 analysts backing the stock with Buy ratings and price targets as high as $129, Wall Street clearly believes Walmart is positioned to outperform through the holidays and beyond. Traders should watch for any updates on early holiday sales performance or promotional strategy, as strong execution through this crucial period could drive the stock toward those elevated analyst targets.