What’s Next for Walmart Stock After Recent Slide? Monitor These Key Levels.

Walmart (WMT) shares fell Friday after recording their largest one-day loss in more than a year yesterday following the release of a disappointing outlook from the retail giant.

The company, which typically issues conservative guidance, kept to form, saying that its measured outlook reflects some unpredictability in the economic environment, implying worries over a slowdown in consumer spending and the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Despite their recent decline, Walmart shares have gained 64% over the past 12 months, boosted in part by the retailer’s ability to attract higher-income consumers seeking value on essential items. The stock fell 2.5% to $94.78 on Friday amid a broad sell-off for U.S. stocks.

Below, we break down the technicals on Walmart’s chart and identify crucial post-earnings price levels worth watching out for.

Ascending Channel Remains in Play

Walmart shares have trended higher in an orderly ascending channel since March last year. However, more recently, the price ran into selling pressure near the pattern’s upper trendline after setting a record high, with selling accelerating after the retailer’s disappointing outlook.

It’s also worth pointing out that Thursday’s earnings-driven drop occurred on the highest daily volume since May, indicating conviction behind the selling.

Let’s use technical analysis to locate crucial price levels where Walmart shares could encounter support and also identify a key overhead area to watch during potential upswings.

Crucial Support Levels to Monitor

Heading into Friday’s session, $96 was a key level to watch as it sat near the prominent December peak and the 50-day moving average, an indicator that has provided support on several occasions within the ascending channel.

With shares closing below this important technical level, the shares may drop to the $90 mark, a location on the chart where they may find support near the early-January trough.

The next lower level of interest lies around $86. Buyers could seek entry points in this region near the top of a narrow consolidation period that formed on the chart during the first half of November last year.

A more significant correction in the stock opens the door for a fall to the $81 level. Investors who favor buy-and-hold strategies could look to accumulate shares in this area near the rising 200-day MA, which currently aligns with a range of comparable trading levels between late September and early November.

Key Overhead Area to Watch

During potential upswings, investors should keep track of the $105 area. Those who have bought shares at lower levels may look for exit points near the record high, which also sits in close proximity to the ascending channel’s upper trendline.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.