Currently, Walmart has over 2.2 million associates working at their stores. These employees span over many departments and positions all throughout the world.
As a large company, Walmart offers a fair amount of benefits to its employees. And one of the major benefits employees can receive are Walmart stocks, which are available to most associates under their Associate Stock Purchase Program.
But what exactly is this program? How does it work? And do I get to keep my stock at Walmart if I leave the company?
These are all common questions associates have before enrolling and participating in the program, and all these questions can be pretty tough to answer.
That’s where we come in.
In this guide, we’ll be explaining all the details of the Walmart Associate Stock Purchase Plan, your options as an associate, and what happens to your Walmart stocks if your quit.
Read on to learn more.
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What Is The Walmart Associate Stock Purchase Plan?
The Walmart Associate Stock Purchase Program is a part of their employee benefits program that is available as an employee option. Through the program, Walmart employees who purchase at least $1,800 worth of Walmart stock every year can receive a bunch of different benefits such as a 15% match with a $270 maximum.
This isn’t a compulsory plan, but employees who enroll in it may reap great benefits. For their first $1,800 worth of stocks, Walmart employees will be matched up to 15% by the company, which could amount to a total of $270 in stocks.
However, this is only guaranteed if you hit $1,800 worth of stocks in a year. If you buy less stock than that, the limit may be lower.
This program can be seen as an alternative to the Employee Stock Discount Program, which is what other companies offer associates. When enrolling in this program, employees have to pay $20 as a one-time enrollment fee on top of an initial $250 investment. Alternatively, employees can also commit to 10, $25 deductions from their monthly payments that will go to stocks.
Through the program, Walmart associates and employees can purchase up to $125,000 annually in stocks. However, keep in mind that Walmart only matches this up to $1,800 with a $270 limit.
Additionally, if they wish to sell, Walmart associates may sell their stock at any time. However, as one employee reported, there is a $25.50 fee for selling as well as 5 cents per share hold.
How To Buy Walmart Stock As An Employee
To be able to purchase Walmart stock, employees need to make a Computershare account on their laptops or computers, which is what you will use to purchase stocks. This is the first step of the enrollment process since you won’t be able to buy stocks without the program.
While Computershare offers an easy and convenient way to buy stocks, you should note that you can only purchase stocks at the price the program gives you. Traders and employees don’t have the freedom to bargain and negotiate stock prices on Computershare.
And if you choose to liquidate your stocks and sell, you have to agree with the price Computershare gives you for the stocks. With that said, this isn’t a big deal for most newbie traders anyway.
Once you sign up for Computershare, you will be shown detailed instructions on how to purchase stock. And if you are enrolled in the Stock Purchase Program, then Walmart will match your investments with a maximum of $270 for $1,800 worth of stocks.
Do Employees Get Discounts On Walmart Stocks?
No, Walmart employees and associates do not get a discount on stocks. Instead, Walmart offers the Stock Purchase Plan, which gives employees different benefits. Under this plan, employees who invest in Walmart stock will be matched up to 15% for $1,800 worth of stock yearly.
Employees can purchase up to $125,000 annually in Walmart stocks, however, Walmart will only match up to 15% of $1,800 worth of stock.
Will Walmart Match Employee Stock Purchases?
Yes, but only up to a certain extent. If you’re enrolled in the Walmart Stock Purchase Program, then the company will match your stock purchase for up to $1,800 worth of stocks every year. Walmart matches employees up to 15%, which amounts to $270 if you max out at $1,800.
While there is a limit to how much Walmart will match employees’ investments, the maximum amount of stocks employees can buy at Walmart is much greater at $125,000.
Do I Keep My Walmart Stock If I Quit?
Yes, if you quit working at Walmart, you can keep the stock you purchased. When you quit, you have to pay a maintenance fee of $35 a year, but you have the freedom to keep the account on Computershare for as long as you’d like.
Another alternative is to cash out and liquidate your stocks. When doing this, you have to wait for the check and deposit to arrive after selling.
It may be faster for employees if they wait until they receive their final paycheck before completing the transaction. This is what it says on the OneWalmart website, which is the portal for most Walmart employees.
Conclusion
As a big corporation, Walmart offers a range of benefits to employees, which includes the Walmart Stock Purchase Program. Through this program, employees and associates can build a proper investment portfolio with Walmart stocks.
Through the program, employees can buy a maximum of $125,000 per year in stocks. On top of that, Walmart will match you up to 15% for $1,800 worth of stocks. So, if you buy $1,800 per year of Walmart stocks, the company will match you up to $270.
You can liquidate your stocks at any time for a fee and if you quit or leave the company, you still get to keep your stocks and choose when to sell it.
