Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with WMT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did?
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 16 uncommon options trades for Walmart.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 31% bullish and 68%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 7 are puts, for a total amount of $367,254, and 9 are calls, for a total amount of $449,055.
Predicted Price Range
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $83.33 to $140.0 for Walmart over the recent three months.
Analyzing Volume & Open Interest
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Walmart's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Walmart's whale trades within a strike price range from $83.33 to $140.0 in the last 30 days.
Walmart Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days
Significant Options Trades Detected:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 01/21/28 | $12.05 | $12.0 | $12.05 | $110.00 | $101.1K | 160 | 84 |
| WMT | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 06/18/26 | $16.25 | $16.1 | $16.1 | $105.00 | $96.6K | 5.7K | 93 |
| WMT | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 02/20/26 | $9.3 | $9.15 | $9.14 | $110.00 | $63.0K | 5.1K | 76 |
| WMT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 01/16/26 | $2.16 | $2.15 | $2.16 | $115.00 | $61.9K | 4.8K | 1.0K |
| WMT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 01/16/26 | $2.16 | $2.08 | $2.16 | $115.00 | $59.6K | 4.8K | 1.5K |
About Walmart
Since its founding in 1962, Walmart has become the world's largest retailer, operating over 10,700 stores globally (including 4,600 namesake locations on its home turf and another 600 Sam's Club outlets) and growing its e-commerce presence, attracting 270 million customers weekly. In aggregate, the firm posted more than $680 billion in fiscal 2025 sales. Its core operations span three reporting segments: Walmart US (68% of fiscal 2025 sales), Walmart International (18%), and Sam's Club (14%). Within the US, nearly 60% of its $465 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue came from its grocery offerings, with another quarter from general merchandise. Internationally, Walmart's operations are concentrated in Mexico, though it also has budding exposure to India.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Walmart, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
Walmart's Current Market Status
- With a trading volume of 3,947,102, the price of WMT is down by -0.8%, reaching $115.86.
- Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.
- Next earnings report is scheduled for 65 days from now.
What Analysts Are Saying About Walmart
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $120.8.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access. * An analyst from RBC Capital downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $116. * An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Walmart, which currently sits at a price target of $120. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on Walmart with a target price of $120. * An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on Walmart, maintaining a target price of $125. * An analyst from Piper Sandler has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $123.
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Walmart options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.
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