BUZZ — Walmart rises as Deutsche upgrades to 'buy'

* Shares of retail giant Walmart up ~3% at $119.30 * Deutsche Bank upgrades Walmart to "buy" from "hold", says retailer well-positioned to gain market share in current inflationary environment as consumers seek value; PT of $136 * Brokerage says consumer trends have improved from three months ago, with lower-income shoppers stabilizing since July and higher-income spending remaining healthy * Expects profit margins to improve as higher-margin businesses continue to outgrow core retail and automation benefits increasingly flow through results * Co "remains highly confident," brokerage says, adding that consumer spending trends are "stable to improving" compared with three months ago * 40 of 44 brokerages rate stock "buy" or "higher", four "hold"; their median PT is $130 - LSEG data * Up to last close, stock up about 4% YTD (Reporting by Shania S Thomas in Bengaluru) ((shanias.thomas@thomsonreuters.com)