Assenagon Asset Management S.A. 13F: Adds $778M to WMT Stake

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. substantially increased its investment in Walmart Inc. (NasdaqGS: WMT), according to a Form 13F filing disclosed on October 15, 2026. Institutional 13F filings provide a snapshot of holdings at the end of a reporting period and may not represent the investor's current positions today.

What Changed in Assenagon Asset Management's Walmart Position

The firm grew its stake in the discount retail leader by 185.7%, purchasing an additional 7,489,227 shares during the quarter. That expansion lifted Assenagon Asset Management's total ownership to 11,522,667 shares. The reported value of the holding reached $1,197,435,555, marking a major expansion compared to its prior position of 4,033,440 shares.

Other Institutional Activity in Walmart

Other major institutional investors also adjusted their positions in the retail titan. Blackrock Inc. grew its holdings by 1,094,615 shares, ending with 354,196,208 shares worth about $42,082,050,607. Vanguard Capital Management LLC lifted its stake by 1,509,656 shares to finish with 286,350,346 shares valued at roughly $34,021,283,909. State Street Corporation added 2,101,072 shares, bringing its total to 188,036,646 shares worth about $22,340,633,452. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings by 2,352,323 shares, ending with 148,459,333 shares valued at approximately $17,638,452,991. Finally, Geode Capital Management, LLC raised its stake by 592,799 shares, closing the period with 106,449,749 shares worth about $12,647,294,418.

Walmart Inc. Stock Up 2.1%

Walmart shares recently traded around $118.63 as of October 16, 2026. The stock sits 0.3% above its 200-day moving average of $118.23 and 9.1% above its 50-day moving average of $108.78. The company carries a market capitalization of roughly $935.15 billion and a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 42.71.

Recent Earnings

Walmart reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $735,839,977,472 and earnings of $2.76 per share. The company posted a net profit margin of 3.0% alongside a return on equity of 22.3% and year-over-year revenue growth of 5.9%. The retailer's next quarterly financial update is scheduled for November 19, 2026.

Dividend

Walmart rewards shareholders with an annual dividend supported by a payout ratio of 35.0% and a dividend yield of 0.84%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart Inc.

Company insiders executed several transactions prior to the filing. On August 3, 2026, Officer Daniel J Bartlett sold 3,710 shares at an average price of $113.10 for a total value of $419,601. On August 20, 2026, Officer Christopher James Nicholas disposed of 2,900 shares at an average price of $106.34, totaling $308,383. Later, on August 26, 2026, Officer Daniel Danker sold 50,644 shares at $105.35 per share for a total value of $5,335,345. On September 1, 2026, Daniel J Bartlett executed another sale of 3,950 shares at an average price of $105.14, amounting to $415,298.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street analysts updated their views on the stock ahead of the filing. On August 31, 2026, Tigress Financial maintained its Buy rating with a $155.00 price target. On September 10, 2026, DA Davidson maintained a Buy rating with a target of $132.00, while BTIG reiterated a Buy rating and a $140.00 price target. Mizuho maintained its Outperform rating on September 29, 2026, while lowering its price target from $130.00 to $125.00. On October 15, 2026, Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to a Buy rating and raised its price target from $113.00 to $136.00. Overall, Walmart holds a consensus Buy rating from 40 analysts, with a mean price target of $127.35.

About Walmart Inc.

Walmart operates a massive network of retail discount stores, wholesale clubs, and ecommerce platforms globally. The company serves millions of customers through its three primary divisions: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club U.S., providing everyday groceries, household goods, and consumer products.

Bottom Line

Assenagon Asset Management's large position increase shows strong institutional commitment to the retailer. Investors will want to follow Walmart's upcoming earnings report on November 19, 2026, to monitor operational performance and future guidance, keeping in mind that 13F filings capture past portfolio allocations. Keep in mind that 13F filings are backward-looking: they show holdings as of the end of the reporting quarter and may not represent the fund's current position.