Retail giant Walmart Inc WMT opened its first store in 1962 in Arkansas and has since expanded to have more than 10,500 stores across the U.S. and around the world.
The company is one of the largest retailers and companies in the world today, a move that may have been helped by going public in 1970.
Here's a look at how much an investment in Walmart at the time of its IPO could be worth today.
What Happened: Walmart opened its first store in July 1962 and in five years had 24 stores doing $12 million in annual sales. Today, the company is one of the largest retailers and constantly expanding into new areas and evolving its technology.
Incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores in 1969, the company laid out a plan to expand nationally in the 1970s. To help with expansion and financials, the company decided to publicly list its shares.
"We wanted to expand, and we realized we weren't generating enough profits both to expand and to pay off our debts …. (Bud and I) agreed to seriously explore the possibilities of going public. It was a huge step for us," Walmart co-founderSamWaltonsaid.
Walmart held its initial price offering Oct.1, 1970 with shares priced at $16.50 and traded over-the-counter. Shares quadrupled in two years and were later uplisted to the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 25, 1972.
The rest, as they say, is history, with Walmart shares enjoying a strong return over the years and the company expanding nationally and internationally to become a top global brand, even topping the Fortune 500 list for many years as the top revenue generating public company.
Related Link: Walmart’s Store Managers Stand To Gain $20K In Stock Annually, Exceeding $525K In Total Compensation
Investing $1,000 In Walmart IPO:Walmart offered shares for $16.50 on Oct. 1, 1970 for its IPO. A $1,000 investment could have purchased 60.61 shares of Walmart stock.
Over the years, Walmart had had 11 2-for-1 stock splits, doubling the number of shares on each occasion. The 60.61 shares would have turned into 124,129.28 shares after the stock splits.
The $1,000 investment in Walmart stock at IPO would be worth $20,785,447.94 today based on a price of $167.45 for Walmart at the time of writing.
This represents a strong hypothetical return and doesn't take into account the quarterly dividend payments that Walmart has paid out since 1974 that would add to the overall return.
Walmart recently announced it would be splitting shares again. While a stock split doesn't mean the valuation will go up, it could continue a tradition of the company growing its stock price and valuation over time.
Read Next: Analysts Adjust Walmart Estimates: Mixed Responses To Q3 Results with Focus On Sales Growth & Expense Concerns
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FAQs
The first offering, on October 1, 1970, was $16.50 per share.
How much was $1000 in Walmart stock in 1970? ›
Investing $1,000 In Walmart IPO: Walmart offered shares for $16.50 on Oct. 1, 1970 for its IPO. A $1,000 investment could have purchased 60.61 shares of Walmart stock. Over the years, Walmart had had 11 2-for-1 stock splits, doubling the number of shares on each occasion.
What will Walmart stock be worth in 5 years? ›
Walmart stock price stood at $59.35
According to the latest long-term forecast, Walmart price will hit $75 by the end of 2024 and then $80 by the middle of 2025. Walmart will rise to $85 within the year of 2026, $100 in 2027, $110 in 2028, $125 in 2030 and $150 in 2034.
How do I cash out my Walmart stock? ›
When you want to sell or transfer shares, update your mailing address or replace a lost stock certificate contact Computershare at 800-438-6278 or log in to your account at www.computershare.com/walmart.
Who owns the biggest stock in Walmart? ›
What percentage of Walmart (WMT) stock is held by institutional investors? Jim Walton owns the most shares of Walmart (WMT).
Who owns the most stock in Walmart? ›
There are about 10,500 Walmart locations across 20 different countries. Jim Walton, Alice Walton, and Rob Walton are the top three individual shareholders of Walmart. Walmart's largest institutional investors include the John T. Walton Estate Trust, Vanguard Group, and BlackRock.
How much is 5 in the 70s worth today? ›
£5 in 1970 is worth approximately £75 in today's money. So, yes you can but more with it than you can with £5 now. Generally, clothing inflation is lower than for other things, meaning that did in the UK is generally cheaper note than it was then, as is also the case with consumer items, but housing has risen faster.
How much money is Walmart worth in dollars? ›
Market cap: $484.77 Billion
As of April 2024 Walmart has a market cap of $484.77 Billion. This makes Walmart the world's 16th most valuable company by market cap according to our data.
How many times has Walmart stock split since 1970? ›
The world's largest private employer has split its stock 11 times since it went public in 1970, but this is its first since 1999. Walmart is the most recent of a group of Fortune 50 companies, including Apple and Tesla, to split their stock in recent years.
What is the 10 year return on Walmart stock? ›
Ten Year Stock Price Total Return for Walmart is calculated as follows: Last Close Price [ 60.21 ] / Adj Prior Close Price [ 21.25 ] (-) 1 (=) Total Return [ 183.4% ] Prior price dividend adjustment factor is 0.81.
The highest analyst price target is $75.99 ,the lowest forecast is $58.99. The average price target represents 9.51% Increase from the current price of $60.24. Walmart's analyst rating consensus is a Strong Buy.
Is Walmart a good investment in 2024? ›
The company's resilience, innovative strategies and steady expansion make it a brilliant investment in the long term. Perfect for those who want growth and stability in times of high inflation and expensive prices. Walmart stock could be a valuable addition to your 2024 portfolio.
Do I have to pay taxes when I sell my Walmart stock? ›
Short-term and long-term capital gains taxes
Generally speaking, if you held your shares for one year or less, then profits from the sale will be taxed as short-term capital gains. If you held your shares for more than one year before selling them, the profits will be taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate.
Will Walmart stock split in 2024? ›
30, 2024 — Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announced that it will conduct a split of its outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio of 3:1. The stock split is part of Walmart's ongoing review of optimal trading and spread levels and its desire for its associates to feel that purchasing shares is easily within reach.
What happens to Walmart stock when you quit? ›
If you choose to close your account, you'll receive a check for your shares. You can avoid additional fees if you wait to complete the transaction until you receive your final paycheck and your last stock purchase has been posted. You'll stop accruing PTO at the end of your last day of employment.
What was Walmart stock highest? ›
The all-time high Walmart stock closing price was 61.45 on March 21, 2024. The Walmart 52-week high stock price is 61.66, which is 2.4% above the current share price. The Walmart 52-week low stock price is 48.34, which is 19.8% below the current share price.
How much was a share of Walmart stock in 1980? ›
The closing price for Walmart (WMT) in 1980 was $0.05, on December 31, 1980. It was up 82.8% for the year. The latest price is $59.53.
How much was Walmart stock in 1999? ›
Walmart Inc. (WMT)
| Date | Open | Close Close price adjusted for splits. |
|---|
| Aug 1, 1999 | 14.10 | 14.77 |
| Jul 1, 1999 | 15.98 | 14.08 |
| Jun 16, 1999 | 0.02 Dividend |
| Jun 1, 1999 | 14.23 | 16.08 |
61 more rowsIn fiscal year 2010, Wal-Mart stock sold for a 52-week high of $55.01 and a 52-week low of $46.42. Stock in the company was regularly recommended as a “buy” or a “hold” by analysts, according to Bloomberg L. P.
