We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Fast Money Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) stands against the other fast money stocks.

As the financial world grapples with shifting economic indicators and political uncertainty, insights from leading experts offer a crucial perspective on what lies ahead. With inflation showing signs of easing and the Federal Reserve signaling a likely rate cut, the focus now shifts to earnings performance and broader economic trends. Adding to this complexity are political developments, such as the possibility of a Republican sweep.

The latest June 2024 inflation report revealed a softer-than-expected outcome, causing varied reactions across major stock indices. Initially, futures surged in response, but have since fluctuated. Currently, the Dow is showing gains, the S&P is up slightly, and the NASDAQ is just below the flatline. Inflation dropped by a tenth of a percent month-over-month, contrary to economists’ forecasts of a rise.

Chris Harvey, Head of Equity Strategy at Wells Fargo Securities, and Mike Feroli, Chief U.S. Economist at JPMorgan, shared their perspectives on the current financial situation in an episode of CNBC’s Fast Money. Chris Harvey is cautious about the concept of market rotation due to ongoing uncertainties about earnings. While he doesn’t oppose rotation, he pointed out that investor confidence is still shaky.

“That’s right. We’re not against rotation; we’re just waiting for more clarity. Many investors are uncertain about earnings. Until we see a situation where companies don’t go down on bad news, we won’t be fully convinced about the rotation. We want people to believe that numbers will improve and that things will get better. However, right now, bad news is bad news, and that suggests the rotation may not be sustainable.”

In contrast, Mike Feroli discussed the anticipated rate cuts. He believes that the Fed is likely to lower rates soon due to its more aggressive stance. Feroli suggests that the economy is weaker than some might think, which supports the expectation of rate cuts. He noted that we have probably reached the peak for interest rates and that future attention will shift to earnings performance.

Feroli also explained why he updated his forecast to September. This change is based on recent CPI data showing significant inflation drops over the past year and a rise in unemployment. He expects the Fed to begin cutting rates in September, with additional cuts likely on a quarterly basis.

“Yes, the rate cuts are coming. The Fed has signaled their intention to cut rates more aggressively than they have in the past. We also believe the economy isn’t as strong as some might think, so we expect rates to come down. I think we’ve already hit the peak for rates. Right now, it’s really about earnings.”

However, if the labor market weakens further, the pace of these cuts could accelerate. Regarding the potential impact of a Donald Trump presidency and a possible Republican sweep, Feroli highlighted the uncertainties. A Republican sweep could lead to more tax cuts, possibly extending or expanding those from 2017, which might boost growth but also increase deficits.

Additionally, trade and immigration policies remain unpredictable. While deregulation might mitigate some negative effects, the overall policy environment is still uncertain. Finally, when asked about the implications of a Republican sweep for bond markets, Feroli expressed concern about the deficit trajectory. Extending all tax cuts, particularly in a more Republican-leaning scenario, could exacerbate the deficit problem.

In another episode of Fast Money, Chris Mman, Chief Investment Officer at Lafayette College, discussed the potential timing for Federal Reserve rate cuts, emphasizing that September appears to be a strong possibility. He notes, however, that the Fed will be influenced by upcoming economic reports. Mman also highlights concerns over equity valuations and the potential impact of delayed rate cuts on the labor market.

“I believe July should have been on the table based on today’s report. However, the Fed usually prefers to signal their plans in advance. My expectation was that they probably wouldn’t preemptively set up for September, but given today’s report, it seems quite likely they will. The Fed might use upcoming meetings and communications to guide the market’s expectations.”

As political uncertainties, including the Democratic ticket’s spotlight, add to the mix, Mman reassures that the Fed is likely to focus on economic data rather than political pressures. He stresses that while inflation remains a critical issue, the Fed’s priority will be managing employment trends to avoid a deeper economic downturn.

“Even if inflation accelerates temporarily, it’s unlikely to concern the Fed greatly. Currently, the focus has shifted more to employment reports rather than inflation. If employment were to unexpectedly strengthen, it could reduce the Fed’s incentive to cut rates. Ultimately, the goal is to avoid a severe economic slowdown that would force them into aggressive rate cuts.”

Our Methodology

In this article, we review recent episodes of CNBC’s Fast Money, where Fast Money traders highlighted stocks with high growth potential. We tracked each stock mentioned and ranked them based on frequency. From this, we identified the top 7 stocks that were mentioned a lot by Fast Money traders and were widely held by hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q2 2024.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 95

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is a compelling investment opportunity thanks to its extensive retail network and effective omnichannel strategy, which boosts its market reach and customer engagement. By integrating a broad array of physical stores with a strong e-commerce presence, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) meets diverse shopping preferences and captures a wide consumer base.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)’s continuous upgrades in digital infrastructure, including improved delivery options and smooth integration of online and offline services, are key to its growth. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)’s leadership in the grocery sector further drives its growth. As a major U.S. grocer, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) benefits from high-margin sales and draws in customers with its low prices and wide product range. Its emphasis on expanding grocery delivery and pickup services caters to growing consumer demand for convenience, enhancing its market position.

By adopting advanced technologies like AI and automation, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is streamlining its operations, optimizing its supply chain, and enhancing customer experiences, which is expected to drive long-term profitability and reinforce its market dominance.

Overall WMT ranks 6th on our list of the best fast money stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of WMT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that under the radar AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WMT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.