Key Takeaways

• Walmart shares plummeted more than 5% Wednesday, reaching their lowest point in eight months following a six-session losing streak
• Cleveland Research identified a deceleration in U.S. comparable store sales that may threaten analyst consensus figures, especially in July
• Shares began trading at $113.26, significantly beneath the 50-day moving average of $123.25
• Company insiders offloaded more than $1.06 billion worth of shares during the previous three months without any reported purchases
• Wall Street maintains a Moderate Buy rating with a consensus price target of $138.85, though valuation concerns have emerged

Shares of Walmart began Wednesday’s session at $113.26, representing a decline exceeding 5% and positioning the stock for its weakest closing price in eight months. This marked the sixth straight trading day of declines for WMT.

Walmart Inc., WMT

The catalyst behind the selloff was research from Cleveland Research, which identified signs of decelerating U.S. comparable store sales. The research firm cautioned that this trajectory may negatively impact consensus forecasts, with July’s performance being particularly critical.

In response to inventory challenges, Walmart has implemented price reductions and leveraged tariff refunds to cushion margin pressure. While this represents a strategic response, it underscores the genuine cost and demand challenges confronting the retailer.

The share price deterioration persists even after a robust first-quarter performance. The company delivered earnings of $0.66 per share in May, aligning with analyst projections, while revenue of $177.75 billion surpassed the anticipated $174.84 billion — representing a 7.4% year-over-year gain. Management also maintained its fiscal 2027 guidance of $2.75–$2.85 in earnings per share.

However, investors appear focused on future challenges rather than recent accomplishments.

Significant Insider Transactions Draw Attention

Insider trading patterns have been notably lopsided. Throughout the past quarter, company insiders divested more than $1.06 billion in WMT shares. No insider purchases were documented during this timeframe.

Executive Vice President Christopher Nicholas disposed of 2,900 shares at $123.92 on May 21st. Fellow EVP Latriece Watkins subsequently sold 11,000 shares at $118.97 on May 28th. Both transactions occurred through pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements.

Although scheduled sales are standard practice, the substantial magnitude of insider selling has attracted investor scrutiny.

The stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 39.74 — representing a premium valuation that several analysts question in light of potential growth deceleration. While its GF Score of 86/100 indicates strong long-term fundamentals, near-term momentum has turned decidedly negative.

Analyst Community Maintains Optimistic Stance

Notwithstanding the downturn, Wall Street analysts haven’t abandoned Walmart. The stock maintains a Moderate Buy consensus rating with an average price objective of $138.85 — substantially above present trading levels.

Recent analyst ratings feature a $145 Buy target from BTIG, $140 from Truist, and $137 Outperform ratings from both Wolfe Research and Royal Bank of Canada. Among 36 tracked analysts, 31 maintain Buy ratings and four recommend Hold. A single analyst assigns a Strong Buy rating.

Several institutional investors expanded positions during the first quarter. Littlejohn Financial Services established a fresh $2.81 million position, while Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA increased its holdings by 253.3%.

Walmart’s 52-week high stands at $135.15. The stock’s 200-day moving average rests at $122.22, a threshold now breached to the downside.

With a 1-year low of $94.23, there’s context for evaluating potential downside if selling momentum persists.

Cryptocurrency ATMs are fast disappearing from the American landscape as kiosk operators in two US states face bans and restrictions as new laws go into effect.

Crypto ATM laws passed by Tennessee and Georgia went into effect on Wednesday, imposing a complete ban in the former and requiring transaction limits and reporting in the latter. The measures by the two states followed bans in Indiana, which went into effect in March, and Minnesota, set to enforce an ATM ban on Aug. 1.

The Tennessee law, signed by Governor Bill Lee in April, bans the use and installation of cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks, while the Georgia law requires that ATM operators cap money sent for new and existing users, issue warnings to customers and in some cases refund those who may have been the victim of fraud.

There were 185 crypto ATMs and kiosks operating in Tennessee before the statewide ban took effect on July 1. Source: CoinATMRadar

Many US state governments and municipalities have individually begun cracking down on crypto ATM operators in response to incidents of residents, particularly senior citizens, being conned into sending funds to scammers. Delaware and New Jersey lawmakers have proposed similar measures completely banning the machines.

Related: Massachusetts city to weigh crypto ATM ban, citing financial risks

The restrictions may have already contributed to at least one ATM operator going under. In May, Bitcoin Depot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company had disclosed just days before that it had “substantial doubts” about its future amid a challenging regulatory environment and lawsuits.

“Bitcoin Depot’s bankruptcy is likely a preview of what the broader crypto ATM industry will face in the US over the next several years,” Roshan Dharia, CEO of Echo Base and a restructuring adviser, told Cointelegraph following the Chapter 11 filing. “The traditional model depended on high transaction spreads and limited regulatory scrutiny to offset unusually high compliance, cash logistics, fraud remediation, and retail revenue sharing costs. That equation is breaking down as states increasingly impose consumer protection standards that compress fees, expand operator liability for scam related activity, and raise expectations around transaction monitoring and reimbursement.”

Canada weighs countrywide ATM ban

Although not in effect yet, federal policymakers in Canada proposed a total ban on crypto ATMs across the country. The proposed policy, which would still allow Canadians to buy digital assets from brick-and-mortar money services businesses, was in response to what officials called the ATMs being the “primary method for scammers to defraud victims and for criminals to place their cash proceeds of crime.”

Magazine: Bitcoin slides to $58K, XRP hits $1 but onchain data promising: Market Moves

Strategy has received another Wall Street price target cut after Canaccord lowered its valuation on the company while maintaining that Bitcoin’s long-term investment case remains intact.

Bitcoin outlook remains intact despite lower valuation

According to a research note from Canaccord, the brokerage reduced its price target for Strategy to $130 from $163, citing the company’s prolonged share price decline rather than any change in its long-term view on Bitcoin. The revision comes as Strategy stock has struggled for months, even though the firm said its underlying investment thesis for the cryptocurrency remains unchanged.

Strategy shares closed the previous trading session at $86.93, only slightly above their 52-week low of $81.81 and roughly 77% below where they traded a year ago. The stock later rebounded 8.12% to $93.96 after the company introduced its new Digital Credit Capital Framework.

Canaccord said Bitcoin continues to benefit from limited supply and growing adoption of blockchain technology. The brokerage added that the cryptocurrency has become more established within financial markets and is no longer facing the same uncertainty over whether it should be viewed primarily as a speculative asset or a long-term store of value.

The firm also maintained that Strategy’s Bitcoin-focused corporate model remains workable as long as Bitcoin delivers moderate annual appreciation. At the same time, Canaccord acknowledged that recent market performance has fallen short of those expectations.

“We think there is nothing broken here, either in the company’s model or in bitcoin, which suggests a pendulum swing back makes sense sometime over the medium term.”

Separately, data cited in the report showed Strategy’s Relative Strength Index has moved into oversold territory, while Fair Value analysis suggested the shares could be trading below their estimated intrinsic value.

Capital strategy continues to receive support from analysts

The latest revision follows another recent target cut from TD Cowen, which, as previously reported by crypto.news, lowered its price target on Strategy to $260 from $400 while keeping a “buy” rating. According to TD Cowen, the lower valuation was driven by a more conservative long-term Bitcoin price forecast rather than concerns about Strategy’s newly introduced Digital Credit Capital Framework.

TD Cowen said its revised target still implies roughly 200% upside from current trading levels. The brokerage also described the new capital framework as a constructive step that could improve Strategy’s financial flexibility, even after the stock surrendered part of its initial gains following the announcement.

In a regulatory filing dated June 29, Strategy disclosed that its Digital Credit Capital Framework allows the company to raise up to $1.25 billion through Bitcoin sales if needed. According to the filing, those proceeds may be used to maintain U.S. dollar reserves, fund preferred dividend payments, meet interest obligations, strengthen cash balances, and finance future share repurchases.

The same filing also authorized up to $1 billion in repurchases of the company’s Digital Credit Securities, including STRC, STRF, STRD, and STRK, when management determines buybacks would improve the firm’s capital structure. Strategy further disclosed that it has paused additional Bitcoin purchases while selling about $1.15 billion worth of MSTR shares as part of its capital management plan.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed its Overweight rating and $212 price target, citing confidence in Strategy’s liquidity plans. Benchmark also reiterated its Buy rating and maintained its $570 price target, noting that although the company’s preferred shares have weakened in recent months, Strategy has continued adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet.

Ark Invest has a tendency to load up on shares in cryptocurrency companies when their prices are depressed, and June was no exception.

Bitcoin BTC$60,113.53, the largest cryptocurrency, recorded its worst month in four years, and digital asset firms’ share prices suffered accordingly, which Ark read as a buying opportunity.

The St. Petersburg, Florida-based investment manager bought $44 million worth of shares in crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN), based on the closing prices of the days on which purchases were made. It purchased $25.25 million worth of equity in Circle Internet (CRCL), issuer of the world’s second-largest stablecoin USDC, and $8.2 million worth of crypto exchange Bullish (BLSH), the parent company of CoinDesk, according to emailed disclosures.

Shares of Circle slumped 40% in June, ending the month at $62.63. The decline included an 18% drop on June 30 following the debut of rival stablecoin Open USD, which is backed by more than 140 companies, including Coinbase, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard and BlackRock.

COIN ended June just under 20% lower at $146.19, while BLSH fell 27% to $23.43.

The Winklevoss twins have transferred about $67 million worth of Bitcoin and Ethereum to Gemini wallets, with Arkham Intelligence identifying the transactions as matching their usual selling pattern.

According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss moved roughly $60 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and another $7 million in Ethereum (ETH) from custody to hot wallets linked to the Gemini crypto exchange on July 1. Arkham characterized the transfers as consistent with the twins’ previous selloff behavior, although the firm did not confirm that the assets had already been sold.

The latest transfers come as Bitcoin and Ethereum continue trading under pressure following quarter-end selling and persistent weakness in investor sentiment. Recent price declines have also coincided with reduced expectations that the CLARITY Act will pass this year after U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed a $1.4 billion crypto-related windfall, a development some market participants have linked to shifting legislative expectations.

Since accumulating Bitcoin in 2015, the Winklevoss twins have realized about $1.7 billion in profit, according to Arkham Intelligence. Despite the latest transfers, they still control more than $300 million worth of Bitcoin. The July movement also follows earlier transfers to Gemini, including about $67.5 million in Bitcoin during June and another $130 million moved in March.

Bitcoin continues to face selling pressure

Citigroup has turned more cautious on the two largest cryptocurrencies, lowering its 12-month Bitcoin price target to $82,000 from $112,000 while reducing its Ethereum forecast to $2,240 from $3,175.

Bitcoin fell as low as $57,747 over the past 24 hours before recovering to trade near $58,600. Trading volume rose about 9% during the same period, while June recorded roughly $4.5 billion in net outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, adding to the pressure on market sentiment.

Commenting on current market conditions, crypto analyst Ted Pillows wrote, “Sellers are still dominating, while Coinbase Bitcoin Premium is at its lowest level this cycle.” He added that losing the $57,000-$58,000 support region could expose Bitcoin to a deeper decline toward the $50,000 level.

Ethereum buyers continue accumulating despite weakness

Ethereum has also remained under pressure even as several companies continue adding the asset to their corporate treasuries. As previously reported by crypto.news, quarter-end selling, whale distribution, and weak institutional flows have kept Ether pinned near the $1,500 support area despite ongoing buying from public companies.

Corporate accumulation has nevertheless continued. SharpLink recently disclosed the purchase of another 10,000 ETH at an average price of $1,611, spending about $16.1 million to expand its treasury.

Separately, Bitmine acquired 27,084 ETH over the past week, increasing its holdings to more than 5.7 million ETH. According to crypto.news, those purchases have so far failed to offset continued selling by whales and institutional investors.

Ether was trading around $1,572 at the time of writing, down about 1% over the past 24 hours after moving between an intraday low of $1,549 and a high of $1,600. Trading volume also declined during the session.

Crypto.news reported earlier today that the $1,500-$1,510 region remains Ethereum’s most important support zone. A break below that level would invalidate the current consolidation structure and could open the door to declines toward $1,400 before attention turns to the $1,200 area identified by several market participants.