The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months

17. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Upside Potential: 13.8%

Market Cap: $761 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 116

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is the world’s largest retailer by revenue. It operates a global network of hypermarkets, discount stores, and e-commerce platforms. The company focuses on improving customer experience by integrating e-commerce and retail stores with technology.

Walmart operates in the defensive consumer staples space and, rightly so, has had a very stable share price performance so far in the year. The company generated around $675 billion in revenue in FY 2025, and even at that scale, it continues to expect revenue to grow around 3%-4% in FY 2026, which reflects the strength of its business model.

Mizuho analyst David Bellinger recently initiated coverage on Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) with an Outperform rating and assigned a $105 price target. The analyst views the stock as a dominant name in the consumer space and advises it as a must-own name in the current market and economic volatility. He also believes that the company’s shift from a legacy retail model to a tech-oriented one has reached a crucial juncture where its delivery and convenience rival any other player in the industry. The company’s resilient growth and high-margin profile also underpin his favourable opinion.