Investment Opportunities in Dividend Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy WMT?
Source: Fool
- Walmart's Strong Performance: Walmart (WMT) is projected to achieve $713.2 billion in sales by 2025, with Q4 sales reaching $190.7 billion, a 5.6% increase year-over-year, showcasing its robust competitive edge in retail, while a 24% growth in e-commerce further solidifies its market position.
- American Tower's Growth Potential: American Tower (AMT), as a REIT, reported $2.73 billion in revenue for Q4, up 7.5% year-over-year, and offers a 3.7% dividend yield, highlighting its strategic importance in the 5G and cloud computing sectors.
- Realty Income's Stability: Realty Income (O) owns over 15,500 properties and has paid monthly dividends for over 50 years, currently yielding 5.16%, with its diversified client base effectively mitigating risks from market fluctuations.
- Schwab ETF's Diversification Advantage: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) tracks high-dividend stocks with an annual fee of just 0.06% and a yield of 3.3%, providing investors with solid risk protection and stable income sources.
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Analyst Views on WMT
Wall Street analysts forecast WMT stock price to rise
26 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 123.500
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
Current: 123.500
Low
119.00
Averages
125.75
High
136.00
About WMT
Walmart Inc. is a technology-powered omnichannel retailer. The Company is engaged in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, as well as eCommerce Websites and mobile applications, located throughout the United States (U.S.), Africa, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India and Mexico. It operates in three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club U.S. The Walmart U.S. segment includes the Company's mass merchandising concept in the U.S., as well as eCommerce, which includes omni-channel initiatives and certain other business offerings such as advertising services. The Walmart International segment consists of the Company's operations outside of the U.S. through its subsidiaries, as well as eCommerce and omni-channel initiatives. The Sam's Club U.S. segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the U.S., as well as samsclub.com and omni-channel initiatives.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Walmart's Economic Indicator Signals Downturn Ahead
- Walmart Recession Signal: Walmart's stock has risen 10.9% YTD, contrasting with a 14.8% decline in the S&P Global Luxury Index, indicating a divergence that suggests potential economic downturn risks.
- Historical Warning Signs: The WRS is nearing its highest recorded level, similar to the pre-2008-09 financial crisis, indicating that signs of economic slowdown may be intensifying, particularly among lower- and middle-income consumers.
- Policy Expectations: While Paulsen anticipates no recession this year, he believes a significant economic slowdown is unfolding, which may necessitate additional economic policy accommodation and lower interest rates to mitigate emerging pressures.
- Labor Market Implications: Paulsen highlights that the WRS rose significantly before unemployment rates surged in the late 1990s, suggesting that current economic stresses may not yet be reflected in unemployment figures, indicating potential future labor market turbulence.
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Dow Jones Index Approaches Correction Territory
- Dow Jones Volatility: The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly slipped into correction territory, down 10% from its previous high, but slightly rebounded on March 30, 2026, indicating market uncertainty that could lead to another drop.
- Chevron's Strong Performance: Chevron (CVX) has been the best-performing stock year-to-date, benefiting from skyrocketing oil and gas prices due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with a market cap of $420 billion and projected annual EPS and free cash flow growth exceeding 10%, making it a solid hedge for investors.
- Challenges for JPMorgan Chase: JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has struggled in 2026 as rising oil prices raise inflation concerns, yet it maintains a strong balance sheet with a market cap of $765 billion, positioning it well for potential economic downturns.
- Walmart as a Safe Haven: Walmart (WMT) has attracted investors during market volatility, with its stock rising year-to-date and a market cap of $985 billion, leveraging its low-price leadership and robust e-commerce platform to potentially outperform most stocks in a significant market pullback.
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Chevron Thrives Amid Soaring Oil Prices, Walmart and JPMorgan Chase Remain Strong Picks
- Chevron's Strong Performance: Chevron (NYSE: CVX) has emerged as the best-performing stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average due to Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with significant year-to-date gains and projected average annual earnings per share and free cash flow growth exceeding 10%, making it a top choice for investors.
- JPMorgan Chase's Resilience: Although JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) has underperformed in 2026, it has been named the best private bank globally, boasting a robust balance sheet that should provide resilience during a potential economic downturn, with a current price-to-earnings ratio of only 13.4, indicating undervaluation.
- Walmart as a Safe Haven: Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) remains a favorite among investors during market volatility, with its stock rising year-to-date; its position as a low-price leader and strong e-commerce platform suggest it will outperform most stocks in a significant market pullback.
- Long-Term Investor Appeal: Despite not being recommended by The Motley Fool Stock Advisor, Chevron's strong performance and stable dividend yield of approximately 3.4% continue to make it attractive for long-term investors in an uncertain market environment.
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Nebius Signs $27 Billion AI Deal with Meta Platforms
- Major Partnership Agreement: Nebius has signed a $27 billion AI infrastructure deal with Meta Platforms, ensuring that Meta secures sufficient computing power over the next five years to support its AI model development, showcasing Nebius's strong competitive position in the AI cloud computing sector.
- Market Validation: The deal's value exceeds Nebius's previous company valuation, marking a significant recognition of its status as an emerging cloud provider and proving the viability of its business model, which attracts increased investor interest.
- Technological Investment: Nebius will provide Meta with $12 billion worth of computing capacity using Nvidia's latest Vera Rubin chips, a technological choice that will significantly enhance Meta's competitiveness in the AI space, ensuring it stays ahead in technological advancements.
- Strategic Expansion: This agreement not only deepens the collaboration between Nebius and Meta but also complements other significant investments from Nvidia and Microsoft, further solidifying Nebius's critical role in the global AI infrastructure market.
See More
Nebius Signs Major AI Deal with Meta Platforms
- AI Infrastructure Partnership: Dutch company Nebius has signed a significant AI infrastructure deal worth up to $27 billion with Meta Platforms, ensuring Meta has sufficient computing power for its AI model development over the next five years, highlighting Meta's ambitions in the AI space.
- Market Validation: The contract's value exceeds Nebius's valuation from the previous day, solidifying its position as an emerging cloud service provider and demonstrating the viability of its business model, attracting more investor interest.
- Technological Investment: Meta will utilize Nvidia's latest Vera Rubin chips, expected to provide $12 billion worth of computing capacity starting in 2027, which not only enhances Meta's technological capabilities but also presents significant revenue growth potential for Nebius.
- Retail Performance Highlights: Dollar Tree reported $5.5 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, a 9% year-over-year increase, successfully attracting more consumers by introducing higher-priced items (such as $3, $5, and $7), demonstrating its resilience during economic uncertainty.
See More
Target Soars in 2026—Wall Street Might Be Poised to Take a Break
Target's Stock Performance: Target's stock has seen a significant rise of over 20% in 2026 as investor confidence grows in the retailer's turnaround plan under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, despite previous struggles following a sharp decline after the pandemic peak.
Challenges and Competition: The company has faced challenges from competitors like Walmart, which has gained market share, while Target's stock fell more than 50% during a rough period, highlighting the volatility and pressures from inflation and changing consumer behavior.
Future Growth Expectations: Target's recent earnings report showed mixed results, with earnings per share exceeding expectations but revenue declining slightly. The company anticipates modest sales growth of about 2% year-over-year and plans to invest over $5 billion in improvements across its business.
Analyst Sentiment: Following the earnings report, analysts have raised their price targets for Target's stock, indicating a cautious optimism about the company's potential for recovery, although many remain cautious and are waiting for clearer evidence of a successful turnaround strategy.
See More
Walmart's Economic Indicator Signals Downturn Ahead
- Walmart Recession Signal: Walmart's stock has risen 10.9% YTD, contrasting with a 14.8% decline in the S&P Global Luxury Index, indicating a divergence that suggests potential economic downturn risks.
- Historical Warning Signs: The WRS is nearing its highest recorded level, similar to the pre-2008-09 financial crisis, indicating that signs of economic slowdown may be intensifying, particularly among lower- and middle-income consumers.
- Policy Expectations: While Paulsen anticipates no recession this year, he believes a significant economic slowdown is unfolding, which may necessitate additional economic policy accommodation and lower interest rates to mitigate emerging pressures.
- Labor Market Implications: Paulsen highlights that the WRS rose significantly before unemployment rates surged in the late 1990s, suggesting that current economic stresses may not yet be reflected in unemployment figures, indicating potential future labor market turbulence.
See More
Dow Jones Index Approaches Correction Territory
- Dow Jones Volatility: The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly slipped into correction territory, down 10% from its previous high, but slightly rebounded on March 30, 2026, indicating market uncertainty that could lead to another drop.
- Chevron's Strong Performance: Chevron (CVX) has been the best-performing stock year-to-date, benefiting from skyrocketing oil and gas prices due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with a market cap of $420 billion and projected annual EPS and free cash flow growth exceeding 10%, making it a solid hedge for investors.
- Challenges for JPMorgan Chase: JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has struggled in 2026 as rising oil prices raise inflation concerns, yet it maintains a strong balance sheet with a market cap of $765 billion, positioning it well for potential economic downturns.
- Walmart as a Safe Haven: Walmart (WMT) has attracted investors during market volatility, with its stock rising year-to-date and a market cap of $985 billion, leveraging its low-price leadership and robust e-commerce platform to potentially outperform most stocks in a significant market pullback.
See More
Chevron Thrives Amid Soaring Oil Prices, Walmart and JPMorgan Chase Remain Strong Picks
- Chevron's Strong Performance: Chevron (NYSE: CVX) has emerged as the best-performing stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average due to Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with significant year-to-date gains and projected average annual earnings per share and free cash flow growth exceeding 10%, making it a top choice for investors.
- JPMorgan Chase's Resilience: Although JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) has underperformed in 2026, it has been named the best private bank globally, boasting a robust balance sheet that should provide resilience during a potential economic downturn, with a current price-to-earnings ratio of only 13.4, indicating undervaluation.
- Walmart as a Safe Haven: Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) remains a favorite among investors during market volatility, with its stock rising year-to-date; its position as a low-price leader and strong e-commerce platform suggest it will outperform most stocks in a significant market pullback.
- Long-Term Investor Appeal: Despite not being recommended by The Motley Fool Stock Advisor, Chevron's strong performance and stable dividend yield of approximately 3.4% continue to make it attractive for long-term investors in an uncertain market environment.
See More
Nebius Signs $27 Billion AI Deal with Meta Platforms
- Major Partnership Agreement: Nebius has signed a $27 billion AI infrastructure deal with Meta Platforms, ensuring that Meta secures sufficient computing power over the next five years to support its AI model development, showcasing Nebius's strong competitive position in the AI cloud computing sector.
- Market Validation: The deal's value exceeds Nebius's previous company valuation, marking a significant recognition of its status as an emerging cloud provider and proving the viability of its business model, which attracts increased investor interest.
- Technological Investment: Nebius will provide Meta with $12 billion worth of computing capacity using Nvidia's latest Vera Rubin chips, a technological choice that will significantly enhance Meta's competitiveness in the AI space, ensuring it stays ahead in technological advancements.
- Strategic Expansion: This agreement not only deepens the collaboration between Nebius and Meta but also complements other significant investments from Nvidia and Microsoft, further solidifying Nebius's critical role in the global AI infrastructure market.
See More
Nebius Signs Major AI Deal with Meta Platforms
- AI Infrastructure Partnership: Dutch company Nebius has signed a significant AI infrastructure deal worth up to $27 billion with Meta Platforms, ensuring Meta has sufficient computing power for its AI model development over the next five years, highlighting Meta's ambitions in the AI space.
- Market Validation: The contract's value exceeds Nebius's valuation from the previous day, solidifying its position as an emerging cloud service provider and demonstrating the viability of its business model, attracting more investor interest.
- Technological Investment: Meta will utilize Nvidia's latest Vera Rubin chips, expected to provide $12 billion worth of computing capacity starting in 2027, which not only enhances Meta's technological capabilities but also presents significant revenue growth potential for Nebius.
- Retail Performance Highlights: Dollar Tree reported $5.5 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, a 9% year-over-year increase, successfully attracting more consumers by introducing higher-priced items (such as $3, $5, and $7), demonstrating its resilience during economic uncertainty.
See More
Target Soars in 2026—Wall Street Might Be Poised to Take a Break
Target's Stock Performance: Target's stock has seen a significant rise of over 20% in 2026 as investor confidence grows in the retailer's turnaround plan under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, despite previous struggles following a sharp decline after the pandemic peak.
Challenges and Competition: The company has faced challenges from competitors like Walmart, which has gained market share, while Target's stock fell more than 50% during a rough period, highlighting the volatility and pressures from inflation and changing consumer behavior.
Future Growth Expectations: Target's recent earnings report showed mixed results, with earnings per share exceeding expectations but revenue declining slightly. The company anticipates modest sales growth of about 2% year-over-year and plans to invest over $5 billion in improvements across its business.
Analyst Sentiment: Following the earnings report, analysts have raised their price targets for Target's stock, indicating a cautious optimism about the company's potential for recovery, although many remain cautious and are waiting for clearer evidence of a successful turnaround strategy.
See More
