Should I sell Walmart shares after Q1 results?

Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) shares have weakened more than 15% after the company reported worse than expected first-quarter results.

Walmart missed estimates with Q1 EPS and also gave a cautious forecast for the full year and reported it now sees EPS down about 1%.

Are you looking for fast-news, hot-tips and market analysis?

Sign-up for the Invezz newsletter, today.

Bank of America has a positive view of Walmart

Walmart reported worse than expected first-quarter results this Tuesday; total revenue has increased by 2.4% Y/Y to $141.6 billion, while the non- GAAP earnings per share were $1.30 (missed by $0.18).

Operating income fell to $4.5 billion from $5.5 billion for Walmart U.S., while operating income for Walmart International dropped to $0.8 billion from $1.2 billion. Walmart also gave a cautious forecast for the full year and reported it now sees EPS down about 1%.

The company’s management said that it is not happy with the profit performance for the quarter and it will take action, especially in the part of the cost negotiations, staffing levels, and pricing. Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, said:

The bottom line results were unexpected and reflected the unusual environment. U.S. inflation levels, particularly in food and fuel, created more pressure on margin mix and operating costs than expected. We’re adjusting and will balance the needs of our customers for value with the need to deliver profit growth for our future.

During the quarter, Walmart experienced high levels of inflation, while international pressure points related to the COVID lockdowns in China also created operational and financial pressure.

Brett Biggs, CFO of Walmart, said that the first quarter was one of the most challenging periods in the last several years and warned that the costs related to inventory and fuel prices in the U.S. would also impact the second fiscal quarter.

Brett Biggs also said that position of Walmart remains strong, and its business model was built to weather times like this when customers are making more real-time choices.

The company’s management will continue to manage pricing to preserve competitive price gaps and continue to make progress in executing a long-term strategy.

According to Bank of America, Walmart can mitigate cost pressure vs. smaller peers, and because of this, Bank of America has a buy rating on Walmart.

Bank of America has a price objective of $190 on Walmart shares and expects improving results in the upcoming quarters.

Technical analysis

Walmart’s stock price has fallen more than 15% after the company reported first-quarter results this Tuesday.

The strong support level stands at $120, and if the price falls below it, the next target could be $100. On the other side, if the price jumps above $150 resistance, it would signal trading shares, and the next target could be at $160 or even above.

Summary

Walmart shares have weakened more than 15% after the company reported first-quarter results and gave a cautious forecast for the full year. Bank of America has a buy rating on Walmart shares and a price objective of $190 per share despite the fact that Q1 EPS missed the estimate.

Where to buy right now

To invest simply and easily, users need a low-fee broker with a track record of reliability. The following brokers are highly rated, recognised worldwide, and safe to use:

1. Etoro, trusted by over 13m users worldwide. Register here >
2. Capital.com, simple, easy to use and regulated. Register here >

*Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in some EU countries and the UK. No consumer protection. Your capital is at risk.