• Discounts and special offers
  • Subscriber-only articles and interviews
  • Breaking news and trending topics

Already a subscriber?

By signing up, you accept Moneywise's Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.

Not interested ?

Homepage
Investing
How to buy Walmart stock

How to buy Walmart stock (WMT) — 6 steps to invest

Eric Esposito

By Eric Esposito

Fact Checked: Bronwyn Petry

🗓️

Updated: January 10, 2025

Partners on this page provide us earnings.

From a single store in Arkansas to over 10,500 locations1 in 19 countries, Walmart is one of the major success stories in retail history. With such a dominant position and global brand power, it's no surprise Walmart also turns up on many stock investors' watchlists. Fans of Walmart's famously low prices often wonder whether owning shares could provide massive gains.

While Walmart isn't expanding as much as in its early days, it still holds a prominent position in many long-term portfolios. Why?

Find out the benefits and drawbacks of investing in this retail king and learn how to buy Walmart stock. 

How to buy Walmart stock

Walmart is one of the biggest American brands, and it's included in major indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. If a brokerage site offers US-based stocks, it's likely to have Walmart as an option. 

  1. 1.

    Choose a stock brokerage site. Many brokerages and stock trading platforms provide easy access to Walmart shares, but always double-check the available stocks on different sites. Also, consider the unique features and fees of a few brokerages to decide which one works best for your investment preferences. 

  2. 2.

    Fund your account. When you have a brokerage profile, you'll need to link a bank account or use another form of payment to transfer cash. Automated Clearing House (ACH) and wire transfers are common on many brokerage platforms, but you may also have the option to use more convenient methods like debit cards or PayPal. Just keep in mind that ACH is usually the cheapest option in terms of transfer fees.

  3. 3.

    Search for Walmart stock. Walmart's ticker is "WMT," so enter these three letters into your brokerage's search tab. You should see Walmart's stock chart and the option to "buy" or "sell" shares. 

  4. 4.

    Enter your number of shares. If you feel OK buying Walmart at the current price, you can enter how many shares of the company you want. Some brokers make you purchase at least one share, while others might allow fractional shares. 

  5. 5.

    Choose an order type. For the quickest settlement, choose a "market buy" order to immediately confirm your payment at the current rate. If you want greater control over your purchase, choose a "limit order" and enter the specific price you want to buy WMT. 

  6. 6.

    Review trading fees. Many brokerages have commission-free trades nowadays, but never assume there aren't extra fees for submitting a buy order. Take a look at your WMT order summary before confirming your buy request.

Top Brokers for Stock Investing

About Walmart, Inc.

Walmart's history goes back to the 1960s when Sam Walton opened the first location focusing on offering "Everyday Low Prices." Today, Walmart ranks as America’s largest retailer and private employer2, and it continues to grow its massive brick-and-mortar presence around the globe. In addition to the signature Walmart brand, this company owns a membership-based warehouse chain called Sam's Club and is a majority stakeholder in the eCommerce platform Flipkart3. Walmart also continues to adapt to changing consumer demands with features like its Walmart+ subscription service and home delivery.

Is Walmart a good stock to buy?

Walmart is a textbook example of a "blue-chip" stock.

Over the decades, Walmart's stock price has grown steadily, increasing by about 280% from approximately $25 per share in 2014 to $95 in 2024 (not including stock splits or dividends). That's better than the S&P 500's 10-year return of 191%4, but it's not as remarkable as a riskier high-growth stock. However, with a stock like Walmart, you don't have to worry as much about volatility, which makes it more attractive for risk-averse investors. Add a reliable dividend payment for compounding returns, and it's clear why Walmart is an appealing idea for conservative long-term investors. 

Pros and cons of buying Walmart stocks

  • Walmart stock pros

    +

    Established global brand. Few retailers have the name recognition Walmart enjoys. Around the world, millions of shoppers rely on Walmart for their shopping needs, and this brand frequently ranks high in customer loyalty5.

    Reliable financials. Revenues and profits at Walmart consistently tick upward, with the most recent 2024 fiscal year's revenue at $648 billion6 (up from $611 billion in the previous year). This company also has manageable debt plus $76.9 billion7 in current assets.

    Dividend payments. At the time of writing, Walmart rewards shareholders with a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share, and it has a history of raising its dividend every year8. Couple that with this stock's solid fundamentals, it's a safe bet that investors can look forward to collecting passive income or compounding their WMT shares.

    eCommerce expansion. Although sites like Amazon threaten Walmart's business, this retailer has nimbly adapted to the digital age with investments in online grocery delivery, curbside pickup, and Flipkart. Walmart.com also often ranks as one of the most widely used eCommerce platforms9.

  • Walmart stock cons

    +

    Lack of growth potential. Walmart's massive scale gives it a high degree of safety, but this comes at the expense of growth prospects. Unlike an up-in-coming tech stock or biopharma company, Walmart's stock isn't likely to post explosive gains or double-digit quarterly growth.

    Retail competition. Although Walmart has managed to maintain its edge both at brick-and-mortar locations and online, there are plenty of other companies that can steal market share. Amazon, Costco, and Target are just a few names that could capture some of Walmart's customer base if they offer better products, services, or savings.

    Sensitive to economic forces. Walmart is vulnerable to macroeconomic pressures, including inflation, rising operational costs, and wage increases. These factors — combined with supply chain disruptions — can sometimes squeeze profit margins and hurt Walmart's ability to offer those low prices.

    Low margin business. The retail industry operates on infamously thin profit margins. Walmart's business model relies on high volume and low pricing, which means even small increases in operational costs can hurt profitability.

FAQs

  • Is Walmart stock a good buy?

    +

    Walmart could be a good buy if investors prioritize stability and passive income over stocks that offer potentially higher gains with less predictability.

  • Can you buy Walmart stock directly?

    +

    You can't purchase Walmart stock directly through the company. Instead, you have to buy Walmart shares through a third-party brokerage platform.

  • How much does it cost to buy a Walmart stock?

    +

    Walmart's stock price fluctuates every trading day depending on supply and demand. To see the latest price per share, follow the ticker WMT on a financial news outlet or brokerage site.

  • What is the 10-year return on Walmart stock?

    +

    Between 2014 and 2024, Walmart's stock rose from around $25 to $95, implying a 280% 10-year return. Keep in mind this doesn't factor in stock splits or dividend payments.

Eric Esposito Freelance Contributo

Eric Esposito is a freelance contributor on MoneyWise with an interest in financial markets, investing, and trading. In addition to MoneyWise, Eric’s work can be found on financial publications such as WallStreetZen and CoinDesk. When not researching the latest stock market trends, Eric enjoys biking, walking his dog, and spending time with family in Central Florida. Eric holds a BA in English from Quinnipiac University.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.

†Terms and Conditions apply.