How to Invest in Walmart

By Keith Speights – Updated Nov 18, 2025 at 10:16 AM | Fact-checked by Margo Winton Parodi

Key Points

Walmart stock is stable with 52 years of dividend growth, suiting conservative, long-term investors.
Invest in Walmart through direct stock purchase or ETFs like SPY that include it.
Walmart's profitability continues with net income of $19.4 billion last fiscal year.

Walmart (WMT -0.77%) stock has been a massive winner for investors since its initial public offering in 1970. That's not surprising, considering the company's business success. Walmart started out with one store in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. Today, it operates more than 10,750 stores and clubs in 19 countries and ranks as the world's largest retailer.

In this article, we'll address how to buy Walmart stock and whether or not it's a good investment, and discuss Walmart's profitability, dividend program, and more.

NYSE: WMT

Walmart

Today's Change

(-0.77%) $-0.78

Current Price

$100.61

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$802B

Day's Range

$99.68 - $101.71

52wk Range

$79.81 - $109.58

Volume

22M

Avg Vol

17M

Gross Margin

24.39%

Dividend Yield

0.01%

How to buy Walmart stock

There are four key steps involved in buying a stock -- and they are as applicable to Walmart as they are to any other stock.

Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Should I invest in Walmart?

Perhaps the best way to answer this question is to ask another question: What type of investor are you? Walmart stock could be a good pick for some investors but not for others.

If you're an aggressive investor focused on growth stocks, Walmart might not be ideal for you. The company's fastest growth is probably in its past.

Value investors might not like Walmart all that much, either. Its shares trade at a relatively high valuation compared to other discount retail stocks.

Income investors, on the other hand, could prize the dependability of Walmart's dividend payments. Conservative investors should also like the resilience of the company's business. For example, Walmart's stock tends to perform better than most during economic downturns and is widely viewed as a recession-proof stock.

Is Walmart profitable?

Yes, Walmart is profitable and has been for a long time. In its fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2025, the company posted a net income of $19.4 billion.

However, discount retailers typically have relatively low profit margins. Walmart is no exception, with a net profit margin of around 2.9% in its most recent fiscal year.

Does Walmart pay a dividend?

Walmart does pay a dividend. The company initiated its dividend program in 1974 and has increased its dividend for 52 consecutive years. That track record makes Walmart a member of the elite group of stocks known as Dividend Kings.

ETFs with exposure to Walmart

Hundreds of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) own shares of Walmart. That's not surprising, considering that the retailer ranks among the biggest companies in the world. Major ETFs that are heavily invested in Walmart include:

Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (DIVO -0.23%)
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP -0.77%)
Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA -0.64%)
iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (KXI -0.50%)
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC -0.48%)
iShares U.S. Consumer Focused ETF (IEDI -0.03%)
VanEck Retail ETF (RTH -0.32%)
Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC -0.59%)

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.

Because Walmart is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500, it is also a holding of all ETFs that track these indexes. They include:

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA +0.10%)
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY +0.38%)
Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF (VOO +0.36%)

Will Walmart stock split?

Walmart has conducted 12 stock splits in its history. Eleven were 2-for-1 stock splits. Walmart's most recent stock split was a 3-for-1 split in February 2024. Since the last split happened so recently, Walmart stock seems unlikely to split again in the immediate future.

The bottom line on Walmart

Walmart stands out as one of the most successful retail stocks ever. Its stability, competitive advantages, and impressive dividend track record should make it an attractive pick for many investors.

FAQ

About the Author

Keith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.

TMFFishBiz

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.