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Walmart Stock Beat the Market in 2024. Can It Repeat in 2025?
Shares of retail giant Walmart (WMT -0.16%) were up a whopping 72% in 2024. To put the magnitude of this move in perspective, this was the best year for Walmart stock since 1998 — you read that right. And its 72% return handily outperformed the S&P 500‘s otherwise stellar gain of 23%.
It’s been 25 years since Walmart’s shareholders had this good of a time. And that statement should have investors asking why.
I believe there’s an undeniable relationship between Walmart’s stock price and its surging operating income. Since the start of 2023, operating income has dramatically improved, as the chart below shows.
WMT revenue (TTM) data by YCharts; TTM = trailing 12 months.
What’s causing this? In the earnings call to discuss financial results for the third quarter of 2024, CEO Doug McMillon had this to say:
Globally, we drove strong growth in e-commerce, up 27%. Advertising grew 28%, and membership income was up 22%. This helped us grow profits faster than sales.
McMillon says that Walmart’s profits are surging because of growth in e-commerce, advertising, and membership income. These (related) things are the key to understanding the recently skyrocketing stock price and the key to understanding whether the good times for investors can continue.
How are these three things helping Walmart?
Management launched its membership program Walmart+ in 2020, and it has seen tremendous growth since. According to financial media outlet PYMNTS, Walmart+ already had over 60 million subscribers in September 2022. And according to the company, it’s continued on a double-digit growth rate since then. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if it’s already knocking on the door of 100 million subscribers.
If people buy online and pick up at the store, the company counts it toward its e-commerce sales. Walmart+ subscribers have an incentive to use this service or to have items delivered to their homes. In other words, e-commerce growth has been boosted by growth in the membership program.
Getting more people transacting with Walmart digitally has been a boom for the company. The retailer opens up its e-commerce platform to third-party sellers, just like rival Amazon. Moreover, it’s able to generate advertising revenue unlike ever before.
In summary, Walmart is growing its digital business. People are paying membership fees, third-party merchants pay a cut of their own online sales, and advertisers pay to get in front of the company’s customers. This digital growth is higher-margin and is consequently driving rapid growth for operating income, lifting the stock price to its biggest gain since 1998.
Can these things keep helping Walmart?
Given its incredible performance in 2024, it would be tempting to assume that Walmart stock is now overvalued. But that assumption would be premature. Looking at the 10-year chart, the shares have averaged a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 28, which is the P/E valuation for the S&P 500 right now, according to YCharts.
As the chart below shows, Walmart stock is more expensive than its own average or the average for the S&P 500. But it’s also enjoying better-than-average profit growth right now, which justifies a higher valuation.
WMT PE ratio data by YCharts.
In light of this, I’d say that Walmart’s valuation, though higher than usual, isn’t necessarily a concern. The bigger question is whether profit growth will continue to outpace revenue growth in 2025 and beyond.
I believe that this will indeed continue for the next year, at least. Investors should consider that the catalysts for 2024 — e-commerce, advertising, and membership income — are still growing at a strong pace.
Circling back to McMillon, third-quarter revenue for advertising, e-commerce, and membership income were all up more than 20%. Growth rates such as this usually don’t abruptly hit a wall. Rather, if there’s a slowdown, growth tends to taper off gradually.
Because of this, it’s reasonable to expect at least an ongoing double-digit growth rate in the three aforementioned areas, which will keep boosting profits. And this is assuming its digital growth has already peaked.
But keep in mind that the company is still early in its digital journey. Therefore, it’s possible that growth in some of these areas could actually hold steady, if not accelerate further.
To be clear, I don’t think that Walmart will come close to posting another 72% gain in 2025. That said, growth in the digital component of its business is strong, and that will be positive for profits in 2025. For this reason, I believe the stock could indeed outperform the S&P 500 again in 2025.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Jon Quast has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
In 2024, Walmart’s stock outperformed the overall market, showcasing strong growth and impressive returns for investors. With a combination of strategic initiatives, solid financial performance, and market-leading position, Walmart was able to beat the market and deliver impressive value to shareholders.But the question now is, can Walmart repeat this success in 2025? With a proven track record of success and a strong foundation, Walmart is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years. The company’s focus on e-commerce, innovation, and customer experience, combined with its strong financial position and market dominance, bodes well for its future performance.
As Walmart continues to adapt to changing consumer preferences and market dynamics, it is likely to sustain its growth and outperform the market in 2025. Investors can expect Walmart to deliver strong returns and remain a top performer in the retail sector.
Overall, Walmart’s stock has shown resilience and strength in the face of market challenges, and with its solid fundamentals and growth prospects, it is poised to continue its outperformance in the years to come.
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Walmart, stock market, market performance, Walmart stock, 2024, 2025, stock analysis, investing, market trends, market predictions, financial news
#Walmart #Stock #Beat #Market #RepeatWhy GEV Stock Is Dropping Sharply Today
GE Vernova (GEV) is sinking 22% today after Chinese start-up DeepSeek reportedly unveiled AI models that were produced using old chips and much less computing power than the AI offerings of OpenAI and Meta (META). However, DeepSeek’s models are at least as proficient as those of OpenAI and Meta, according to multiple reports.
GEV provides electrical equipment used by power plants and wind turbines.
Why DeepSeek’s News Is Pulling Down GEV
The Chinese tech firm reportedly used about 50,000 of Nvidia’s (NVDA) H100 chips, unveiled back in 2022, to develop its AI models. This news is leading to speculation that fewer of Nvidia’s latest, power-hungry chips will be utilized to create AI in the future, while U.S. data centers may not expand as rapidly as previously thought.
It was previously believed that electricity production had to climb a great deal to power both chip manufacturing and data centers. But given the doubts that have now arisen about the demand for chips and the proliferation of data centers going forward, the Street is worried that there will be much less need than previously expected for electricity over the long term. As a result, GEV is tumbling today.
While we acknowledge the potential of GEV, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GEV but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ ALSO 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
There are several possible reasons why GEV stock is dropping sharply today:1. Poor earnings report: If General Electric (GEV) recently released a disappointing earnings report, investors may be selling off their shares in response to the company’s underperformance.
2. Economic downturn: If there is a broader economic downturn or market correction, GEV stock may be dropping along with other companies in the same industry or sector.
3. Negative news: If there is negative news surrounding GEV, such as a scandal, lawsuit, or regulatory investigation, investors may be selling off their shares in response to the uncertainty.
4. Analyst downgrades: If analysts have recently downgraded their ratings on GEV stock, this could be causing a drop in the stock price as investors follow their recommendations.
It is important to conduct further research and analysis to determine the specific reason for the drop in GEV stock and to make informed decisions about whether to buy, hold, or sell shares in the company.
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Lockheed Martin (LMT) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: Here’s Why
Lockheed Martin (LMT) closed the most recent trading day at $497.28, moving -0.41% from the previous trading session. The stock’s change was less than the S&P 500’s daily gain of 0.53%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.93%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.22%.
Shares of the aerospace and defense company witnessed a gain of 2.3% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Aerospace sector with its gain of 4.46% and the S&P 500’s gain of 2.69%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Lockheed Martin in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on January 28, 2025. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $6.60, marking a 16.46% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $18.85 billion, indicating a 0.1% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Lockheed Martin. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the company’s business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 1.03% lower within the past month. As of now, Lockheed Martin holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In terms of valuation, Lockheed Martin is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 17.98. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 20.33, so one might conclude that Lockheed Martin is trading at a discount comparatively.
It is also worth noting that LMT currently has a PEG ratio of 4.05. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock’s expected earnings growth rate. LMT’s industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.43 as of yesterday’s close.
The Aerospace – Defense industry is part of the Aerospace sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 180, positioning it in the bottom 29% of all 250+ industries.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) stock experienced a slight dip today, while the overall market saw gains. This drop comes as a surprise to some investors, as Lockheed Martin is a well-established aerospace and defense company known for its strong performance.One possible reason for the dip in Lockheed Martin’s stock could be related to concerns about government spending on defense contracts. With changing political landscapes and budget priorities, investors may be wary of potential cuts to defense spending that could impact Lockheed Martin’s bottom line.
Another factor that could be influencing the stock’s performance is competition from other defense contractors. As the industry becomes more competitive, Lockheed Martin may face challenges in securing new contracts and retaining market share.
Despite the recent dip in stock price, many analysts remain bullish on Lockheed Martin’s long-term prospects. The company has a strong track record of innovation and a diverse portfolio of products and services that position it well for future growth.
Investors should carefully monitor developments in the defense industry and keep an eye on Lockheed Martin’s financial performance to make informed decisions about their investments in the company.
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Lockheed Martin stock, LMT, market gains, stock market news, market analysis, stock performance, investing, defense industry, aerospace industry, stock market trends, stock price analysis.
#Lockheed #Martin #LMT #Stock #Sinks #Market #Gains #HeresIs Boeing Stock a Buy Before Jan. 28?
Boeing (BA -0.51%) will release its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings on Jan. 28. Naturally, investors will eagerly await the company’s outlook from CEO Kelly Ortberg (appointed in August). There’s plenty of potential for improvement at Boeing.
Boeing in 2025
It’s not difficult to see what Boeing needs to do operationally in 2025, but it’s much harder for the company to actually do.
The Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) segment must first achieve a consistent monthly output of 38 737 MAX jets before planning any production expansion. This is not only a critical event to restore confidence in its ability to deliver airplanes and keep airlines happy, but it’s also important from a profitability and cash flow perspective. Volume ramps have always been the key lever to ramp profit margins at BCA. Furthermore, investors will want to hear that the 777X is still on track for its first delivery in 2026.
In Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), investors want to hear that Boeing has passed key milestones on the way to reducing risk on the fixed-price development programs that have caused multibillion-dollar charges and losses at BDS, as well as some color on when the BDS segment can return to consistent profitability.
Boeing’s upcoming earnings
Unfortunately, investors are unlikely to hear everything they want from management on the earnings report and earnings call. Boeing’s cultural transformation, as Ortberg consistently highlights, demands a sustained effort and won’t happen overnight. Small variations in quarterly earnings are unlikely to make a huge difference.
Still, aside from outlining operational objectives and administrative changes (BDS still doesn’t have a permanent CEO after former BDS president and CEO Ted Colbert left in September), there’s also the question of restoring investor confidence in Boeing’s guidance.
Image source: Getty Images.
Restoring investor confidence
There’s an unfortunate tradition of prominent industrial company CEOs leaving office while stubbornly clinging to guidance that the investment community had no faith in. For example, former General Electric (now GE Aerospace) CEOs Jeff Immelt and John Flannery ended their tenures without formally taking down guidance that would never be met.
Boeing’s former CEO, Dave Calhoun, arguably did the same thing by not taking down the $10 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in 2025/2026 aim. As late as April 2024, Boeing’s CFO Brian West told investors: “We remain confident in our ability to achieve $10 billion of free cash flow. However, given our continued focus on safety, quality, stability, we continue to expect that this goal will take us longer than we originally planned and later in the ’25, ’26 window.”
For reference, the current Wall Street analyst consensus calls for an outflow of $2.8 billion in 2025 (management has already told investors it expects a cash outflow in 2025), and just $5.4 billion in FCF in 2026.
As such, Ortberg has an opportunity to reset investor expectations, starting with 2025 guidance.
BDS adjustments
Furthermore, on BDS, Ortberg has been clear that Boeing can’t “walk away” from its problematic fixed-price programs. However, he also said BDS has “to work with the customers and see if there’s areas where we can trade things off with them and help us and help them too.
Image source: Getty Images.
Is Boeing stock a buy before it gives results?
There’s potential at Boeing. It has a half-trillion-dollar backlog and continues to win orders from airlines at BCA, and the potential turnaround at BDS boils down to internal execution. Moreover, Ortberg has an opportunity to perform a fundamental reset of investor expectations.
As such, there’s a lot to look forward to in Boeing’s earnings report, but it makes sense to wait and see what he has in store for Boeing in 2025 and whether there’s any likely progress in ramping 737 MAX production and derisking BDS fixed-price development programs while working toward returning the segment to profitability.
Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends GE Aerospace. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
As the aerospace industry continues to face challenges due to the ongoing pandemic, investors are wondering if now is the right time to buy Boeing stock before their upcoming earnings report on January 28th. With the company’s stock price fluctuating in recent months, many are looking for insight into whether Boeing is a good investment opportunity at this time.Stay tuned for a detailed analysis of Boeing’s current financial health, market projections, and potential risks and rewards of investing in the company before their earnings report later this month. Don’t miss out on this important information for potential investors in Boeing stock.
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Nintendo Joy-Con (L) Pastel / (R) Pastel Japan Stock
Price: $83.98
(as of Jan 28,2025 11:05:51 UTC – Details)
Introducing Joy-Con, controllers that make new kinds of gaming possible, for use with the Nintendo Switch system. The versatile Joy-Con offer multiple surprising new ways for players to have fun. Two Joy-Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as one game controller when attached to the Joy-Con grip. They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two-player action in supported games. Each Joy-Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro-sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible. 【set content】 ・Joy-Con(L) : 1 piece ・Joy-Con(R) : 1 piece ・Joy-Con strap : 2 pieces Model number: HAC-A-JAFAA
Two Joy Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as 1 game controller when attached to the Joy Con grip
They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two player action in supported games
Each Joy Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible
Are you a fan of all things pastel and Nintendo? Then you’re in luck, because the Nintendo Joy-Con (L) Pastel / (R) Pastel Japan Stock is here! These adorable pastel-colored Joy-Cons are the perfect way to add a pop of color to your gaming setup.Not only do these Joy-Cons look great, but they also offer the same high-quality gaming experience that you’ve come to expect from Nintendo. With their sleek design and comfortable grip, you’ll be able to game for hours on end without any discomfort.
These Joy-Cons are currently available in Japan, so if you’re looking to add them to your collection, be sure to act fast before they sell out. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just enjoy playing casually, the Nintendo Joy-Con (L) Pastel / (R) Pastel Japan Stock is sure to bring a touch of whimsy to your gaming experience.
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MOTU Origins 2023 LOT of 4 Kobra Khan He-Man Bolt-Man Rattlor READY STOCK
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Are you a fan of Masters of the Universe? Well, we’ve got some exciting news for you! Introducing the MOTU Origins 2023 LOT of 4 featuring Kobra Khan, He-Man, Bolt-Man, and Rattlor. These classic action figures are now in READY STOCK and ready to join your collection.Whether you’re a long-time collector or just getting into the world of MOTU, these figures are sure to impress with their detailed designs and nostalgic charm. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add these iconic characters to your display shelf.
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Elon Musk is not convinced with China’s DeepSeek that has wiped billions from the US stock market; this ‘one-word’ reply is the Reason
Elon Musk is not convinced with all the claims and ‘noise’ about China’s AI startup DeepSeek’s claims. To add context: US chip-maker Nvidia saw its market cap get wiped by over $500 billion on Monday, January 27, after the emergence of a low-cost Chinese generative AI model that could threaten US dominance in the fast-growing industry. The AI chatbot developed by DeepSeek has apparently shown the ability to match the capacity of US AI pace-setters for a fraction of the investments made by American companies.
Responding to all the hype and chatter on the same, Elon Musk suggested that DeepSeek may possess around 50,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs.This is opposed to the 10,000 A100s that DeepSeek claims to have. Musk shared his opinion in reply to recent comments by Alexandr Wang, the billionaire CEO of Scale AI, who also stated that DeepSeek likely has about 50,000 NVIDIA H100s.
Musk and Wang both believe that DeepSeek is unable to disclose the true number of GPUs due to US export controls currently in place. Speaking to media on US-China AI Arms race, Wang said that DeepSeek has about 50,000 NVIDIA H100s that they can’t talk about because of the US export controls that are in place. The interview has been shared on Twitter by a user named Chubby. Responding to Wang’s interview clip; Elon Musk wrote: “Obviously”, affirming his agreement with Wang’s observation.In response to another post, Elon Musk called it ‘DeeperSeek’.
Musk also responded to a post from Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who had written: “Deepseek is now #1 on the AppStore, surpassing ChatGPT—no NVIDIA supercomputers or $100M needed. The real treasure of AI isn’t the UI or the model—they’ve become commodities. The true value lies in data and metadata, the oxygen fueling AI’s potential. The future’s fortune? It’s in our data. Deepgold.”
To this, Musk replied, “Lmao no.” (here LMAO stands for Laughing My Ass Off).Musk also made fun of the startup being a product of China’s lab; jokingly linking it to Coronavirus that too originated from a Lab in China. “R1 was leaked from a lab in China,” posted a user. Elon Musk replied with ‘Face with tears of Joy’ emoji.
Elon Musk is not convinced with China’s DeepSeek that has wiped billions from the US stock market; this ‘one-word’ reply is the ReasonElon Musk’s one-word reply to China’s DeepSeek technology that has caused chaos in the US stock market: “Skeptical.”
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Elon Musk, China’s DeepSeek, US stock market, market crash, technology, artificial intelligence, Elon Musk response, DeepSeek controversy, stock market impact, tech industry, market volatility
#Elon #Musk #convinced #Chinas #DeepSeek #wiped #billions #stock #market #oneword #reply #ReasonPower Rangers Prime #3J Stock Image
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Introducing the newest addition to the Power Rangers Prime series – #3J! Check out this exclusive stock image featuring the latest member of the team in action. Get ready for more epic battles and exciting adventures with Power Rangers Prime #3J coming soon! #PowerRangersPrime #NewMember #StockImage
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