What Is Walmart Doing About Virus?

Walmart: A defensive stock

The big-box retailer is benefiting from the millions of Americans stocking up on products for the unknown future. Lower gas prices are helping Walmart by giving it more money in the hands of consumers, and by helping the coronaviruses job losses be contained. The stock market dropped in the past month on fears of the economic consequences of the coronaviruses.

The major averages are more than 20% off their recent high, which was on Feb. 19 Walmart's stock is in the green, gaining 2%, while the S&P 500 has cratered 25%. Walmart, which has a market value of $348 billion, is a beneficiary of consumers flooding its stores and stocking up on household items.

Millions of Americans are left in their homes for the foreseeable future because of the government's "social distancing" policy. Credit Suisse expected Walmart to be busy for a year because most restaurants, hotels and movie theaters are closed. Walmart is a classic defensive stock because it is less tied to the economic cycle.

People will still pay for basic products even in times of economic uncertainty, that's theory behind defensive stocks. Walmart is a defensive stock. Walmart has a low beta of 0.69 and will only fall 0.69% on a day the S&P 500 falls 1%.

The price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia is causing oil prices to plunge. Since February, the price of U.S. crude has lost more than $60 a barrel, as the commodity gets hit on both the supply and demand side. The average price of a gallon of gas is 26 cents lower than a month ago.

Walmart and Sam's Club are Providing Covid-19 Vaccinos to Healthcare Workers

Public health authorities are encouraging people who are at high risk for Covid-19 to get the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine was approved by the FDA. The vaccine can be given to people who are older than 18.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses in order to be effective. The Pfizer vaccine needs to be given in two parts, one 21 days apart and the other 28 days apart. People are advised to avoid any other vaccines within 14 days of getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

Most people with health insurance should not have to pay for a vaccine. The Commonwealth Fund says that the federal government has bought millions of doses for people who are uninsured. Walmart is helping to give the vaccine to healthcare workers.

It will offer vaccines at more than 5,000 Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacy locations. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has designated essential workers, first responders, and older Americans as priority 1B and priority 1C. Walmart and Sam's Club will be able to give Covid-19 vaccines to all Americans in the summer, according to Walmart.

freezers and other equipment are needed to store and administer the doses. It's not clear if appointments will be required. The chain is making sure that people are notified when they need to get their second dose.

How should private businesses get Covid-19?

In a recent survey, Just Capital and the Harris Poll found that Americans are more likely to agree with employers requiring workers to be vaccine free. There are differences between the number of people who want worker vaccine mandates and the number who agree with them. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that vaccine-vaccinated adults are more likely to say the government should recommend vaccine mandates than unvaccinated adults.

Private businesses should approach the matter of getting people to get the Covid-19 vaccine, as the conversation about how to compel people to get it is constantly evolving. Not all worker groups and unions are in agreement. The situation is getting more urgent as the clock ticks.

Retail Locations in the Context of Competition and Social Distance

Retail locations have had to change their ways in the midst of two competing circumstances. The first is the fact that consumers are suddenly searching for high-demand products like toilet paper, sanitization products, over-the-counter medications, and non-perishable food. The second is the move towards social distance, where people are encouraged not to gather in groups but to stay at least six feet away from each other.

The challenge for grocery stores is to meet needs while protecting the health of their employees and customers. Every business should be considering how to balance two needs, those of their customers and their employees. In some cases, like Apple, that may mean closing retail locations.

Walmart+: A Big Bad Buy

Walmart has a lot of money. In the fiscal year of 2021, it came in at $559 billion. Its size is a weakness, as sales growth was a tad slow.

It is difficult for a large retail company to grow. Moody's analyst Charlie O'Shea told IBD that Walmart's Walmart+ program will help retain new customers and deepen relationships with long-standing customers, as well as being a positive for the company. Walmart+ costs a yearly fee of $98 or $12 a month with a 15-day free trial.

The program's benefits can be used at more than 4,700 stores. The service will offer free delivery on items at in-store prices, with 2,700 stores capable offering same-day delivery. Walmart is trying to do an IPO of its own.

The e-commerce giant could be valued at up to $50 billion, more than double Walmart's investment, according to sources. It had been speculated that the offering would take place in the early to mid-twenties. The process was pulled forward by covid-related acceleration.

Walmart is looking at selling 25% of its stake, according to Mint. The second most populous country is important to the stock of the company. Walmart is going to triple its exports to India by the year 2027.