Walmart beats estimates. What it means for Target?

Walmart (WMT) earnings took the markets by surprise today as the Big Box retailer reported earnings of $1.77 per share vs $1.62 per share estimated. In addition, WMT said its revenue grew by 8.4% to $152.9 billion vs estimated growth of only 7% to $150.9 billion. Recall that on July 26^th, WMT said that operating profit could slump as much as 13% in 2022 as big-ticket items sat in inventory for longer than expected. (This was after the previous warning on May 17^th.) The company said they now have a handle on inventory as it “canceled billions of dollars in orders to help align inventory levels with expected demand”. The company also reaffirmed its guidance for the remained of 2022. See our complete preview of earnings releases this week here.

Everything you need to know about earnings season

Walmart’s stock price hit an all-time high on April 21^st at 160.77. However, after the profit warning on May 17^th, the bottom fell out of the stock price and it dropped all the way down to 117.27. After attempting to rebound to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level from the highs of April 21^st to the low of May 20^th near 133.89, the second profit warned was released and price gapped lower again. However, with today’s news that seemed to say that “the worst is over”, the stock price gapped nearly 5% higher to the 50% retracement from the same timeframe and the 200 Day Moving Average near 138.75/139.00. Above there, price can rise to the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement at 144.15, then the gap fill from mid-May near 146.14. First support below is the gap fill from today near 134.23, then the low from August 5^th at 125.12.

Source: Tradingivew, Stone X

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Target (TGT) is due to report earnings tomorrow. Like that of Walmart, Target has had inventory problems of its own, as consumers sat on the sidelines and inventories built. Target released a similar warning for Q2, mainly that its operating margin would be around 2% for Q2 vs 2.4% estimated. Analysts are expecting adjusted EPS to fall over 80% to $0.72, while the company has estimated low to mid-single digit revenue growth in 2022. However, with today’s earnings beat by Walmart, traders are hoping for a similar outcome tomorrow for Target’s earnings.

Target made an all-time high on November 15^th, 2021 at 268.98. Price then pulled back and made a lower high on April 21^st at 254.87 (the same date that WMT made its all-time high). After Walmart’s profit warning on May 17^th, Target fell to a low of 137.16. The stock then began trending higher and after Walmart’s earnings release, it gapped to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level from the highs of April 21^st to the lows of June 30^th, near 182.11. The stock price is up over 5.25% today! If earnings beat estimates, will the stock continue higher, or will it sell off on a “buy the rumor, sell the fact” type of trade. The first resistance level is at the 50% retracement from the previously mentioned timeframe near 196.02. Above there is a strong band of resistance, comprised of the 200 Day Moving Average, the gap fill from May 17^th, and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level, between 205.32 and 209.90. However, notice the RSI is in overbought territory, indicating the stock price may be ready to pull back. First support is at today’s gap fill near 174.16. Below there, price can fall to horizontal support at 160.79, then the lows from July 26^th at 149.50.

Source: Tradingivew, Stone X

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Walmart earnings beat estimates that had been revised lower throughout Q2. As a result, the price of the stock gapped 5% higher. Target reports tomorrow, and traders are hoping for the same type of outcome as Walmart. As a result, Target’s stock price is also up over 5%. However, keep an eye on tomorrow’s earnings release! Be on the lookout for a “buy the rumor, sell the fact” trade!

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