Walmart stock prices today are doing something weird. Usually, this is the "boring" stock your grandpa holds for the dividends. But right now? It's hitting all-time highs and acting more like a Silicon Valley darling than a grocery chain from Arkansas.
As of January 13, 2026, Walmart (WMT) shares are trading around $120.38. That is a massive jump. To put that in perspective, the stock opened the day at $117.89 and has been climbing steadily, hitting a 52-week high of $120.51 during intraday trading. People are starting to notice. The market cap is now closing in on a trillion dollars—sitting at roughly **$959.3 billion**.
It’s a retail fortress.
Honestly, the energy around the ticker right now is intense. Yesterday, January 12, the stock closed at a historic $117.97. Today’s rally just piles on. If you’ve been watching the charts, you’ll see the "Retail – Wholesale" sector is generally up, but Walmart is outperforming almost everyone. Why? Because they just got the nod to join the Nasdaq-100 Index.
The Nasdaq-100 Shakeup: Bye AstraZeneca, Hello Blue Vest
This is a big deal. On January 20, Walmart officially replaces AstraZeneca in the Nasdaq-100. It's a symbolic move. It basically tells the world that the market no longer views Walmart as just a place to buy cheap socks and milk.
They are being priced like a tech company.
Investors are currently paying a premium for Walmart’s earnings. We're talking about a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of nearly 39x. For a grocer? That’s wild. Target and Kroger usually trade at a fraction of that. But the market isn't looking at the bananas. It’s looking at Walmart Connect—their advertising arm—and their insane automated supply chain.
Why the Price is Moving Right Now
- The Gemini Connection: Walmart recently teamed up with Google’s Gemini AI to revamp how people shop. It’s personalized, it’s fast, and it’s driving conversion rates higher.
- Automation Wins: About 60% of their stores are now serviced by automated distribution centers. This isn't just "cool tech"; it slashes the cost of getting a bag of chips to your door.
- E-commerce Growth: Their digital sales grew 27% in the most recent quarter. In the world of retail, that is a sprint, not a jog.
Walmart Stock Prices Today: Is it Overvalued?
If you talk to the folks at Simply Wall St, they’ll tell you the "Fair Value" of the stock is closer to $121.38. So, at $120.38, we’re knocking on the door of being fully priced. Some analysts are even more bullish, with Sanford C. Bernstein recently setting a target of **$129.00**.
But there’s a flip side.
The RSI (Relative Strength Index) is hovering around 73. In trader-speak, that means the stock is "overbought." Usually, when a stock gets this hot, a "pullback" or a "correction" is right around the corner. If you’re looking to jump in today, you’re buying at the top of a very steep hill.
Inflation still lingers. Consumer spending on "fun stuff"—non-discretionary items—is still a bit shaky. If the economy takes a sudden dip, that 39x P/E ratio is going to look very heavy, very fast.
Dividends and the Long Game
Even with the tech-style growth, Walmart hasn't abandoned its roots. They just paid out a dividend of $0.235 per share on January 5, 2026. They’ve increased that dividend for 51 consecutive years. It’s a "Dividend King."
The yield is low—about 0.8%—mainly because the stock price has shot up so fast that the math makes the percentage look small. But for long-term holders, that consistency is the bedrock.
What Investors Are Getting Wrong
Most people think Walmart is winning because they are the cheapest. That’s only half the story. They are winning because they are the fastest.
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In the last quarter, 35% of their store-fulfilled orders were delivered in under three hours. You can’t do that without a massive, tech-heavy logistics web. They aren't just competing with Target anymore; they are coming for Amazon’s lunch.
Practical Next Steps for Your Portfolio
If you’re holding WMT, the trend is clearly your friend. The inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 often leads to "forced buying" from index funds, which could provide a nice tailwind through the end of January.
For those looking to buy:
Wait for the "gap fill." Stocks that rally this hard often return to test their previous support levels. Keep an eye on the $112 to $114 range. If the price dips back there, it might offer a much better entry point than chasing the $120 all-time high.
For the dividend seekers:
The next ex-dividend date is expected in March 2026. If you want that next check, you'll need to own the shares before the mid-March cutoff.
Check the charts again at the closing bell. The volume today is already over 31 million shares, which shows institutional money is moving. This isn't just retail "meme" hype; it's a fundamental shift in how the world's largest retailer is valued. Watch the $121 level closely—if it breaks that with high volume, the next stop could be $130 before the spring thaw.