Walmart family cashes out $1.5B of walmart stocks .

Walmart's stock underwent a 3-for-1 split on Monday, the first since 1999.

Existing shares tripled, with the price per share dropping to $58.52 (from $175.56) to maintain total shareholder equity.

Shares rose nearly 2% to $59.59, close to its split-adjusted record high.

Sold a small portion of their shares (worth $1.5 billion) before the split. They still hold over 40% ownership.

Primarily to make share ownership easier for employees, but also benefits other investors.

Major stock indexes and other retail stocks were mostly flat during Monday's trading.

Largest U.S. company by revenue and 14th most valuable by market cap ($480 billion).

Federal government intends to block Kroger-Albertsons merger, impacting Kroger's stock price.