Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

This is the greatest retail company on the planet. Shares currently retail for near what they retailed for in 1999, eleven years ago. While that testifies to the insanity of that era, WMT has essentially spent the last ten years "growing into" that valuation, which is in my view why its share price has not risen since then. God love the technical traders, the guy people, the true believers, but a stock price can only rise so far above a 15 P/E before it either drops or stops rising. The latter is what happened here. In the meantime, dividends are up about 500%, growth internationally continues, market share in the US is being maintained or grown, the valuation is an attractive 15 P/E, the dividend is 2% (with a very low payout ratio), tangible book value has about tripled, revenue has more than doubled, long term debt to equity has shrunk by nearly a quarter to 30%. On the negative side, the current ratio is low, labor pressure will increase in the US over the next few decades in my view, WMT has not competed as well internationally as it should, and it continues to get significant bad press in the US, and the stock is "out of style" among people who think Amazon will rule the world, and who consequently think that it would be a good idea to buy Amazon now at nosebleed 50+ P/E levels, at or near its all-time high. Please. Unlike so many stocks/companies, WMT never fell in price after the dot-com bust, because it was actually a good company. It has finally grown to the point where its valuation is such that it has a shot at real, SUSTAINABLE share price appreciation over the coming decade. As a bonis, if fuel costs rise (which I anticipate they will, secularly, over the next decade or two), that will put pressure on Amazon, which has to ship everything by a highly inefficient individual item method, and shopers will return to stores like Walmart in even greater numbers. This company is a great deal at a finally decent price. It will continue to expand internationally, albeit at a slower pace. I bought last year at around $50/share, and bought more when it dropped to around $48. I'll look for more buying opportunities in the future.

888,840 owned
- Q409 13F - Soros Fund Management LLC

Americans are learning that short term gain is long term pain and will avoid the ultimate in cheap-for-a-weak dowdy shopping that this place represents.

miserable company, continues to get negative reviews on almost everything they do. They keep importing cheap plastic crap or things that poison people in this country and selling them until they have been discovered and heavily publicized. Since I own a few shares in my index funds I hope they will open many new stores in China, Iran, Mongolia, Venezuela, Cuba, and all of the Bezerkistan, Whackistans and Crapistans where they might appreciate their shoddy merchandise, and close all their stores on the North American continent.

I really liked the article about how this stock made it through the rough times but has still lagged behind the s&p. Its just a solid company with a good business model and this may be the time to get with it.

This stock will go up based on the new and improved stimulus package.

Look for 25% YTD.

Absolutely dominant. Unparalleled leverage with product manufacturers. Some place product with WMT at margins that are barely break-even, because they can't bear to lose the market-share they would concede by just not going with Wal-Mart.

Walmart is the ultimate disruptive technology. Their business practices and efficencies drive their competitors crazy. The low-price option will always win out in business and Walmart will always push for the lowest price. I like it long-term.

How can you bet against Sam? PE of 15 and decades of proven success.

Walmart is getting really sloppy with their customer satisfaction. I normally have to wait 15-20 minutes to get through a checkout line, but I always figured it was just because the place is a zoo during Saturday & Sunday afternoons. I just tried going Saturday night at 10PM, and waited in line for 50 freakin' minutes! That is BS and its going to eat into their customer base if they keep it up.

Low, far too low prices during the season just past killed any chances of profitability with Wal-Mart. Low prices made WMT huge, but there needs to be limitations. You can't cut into profits just to beat out someone else, to the point that noting is gained. Wal-Mart Stores will lose $10 per share by July 2010. Just maybe the management will not repeat their mistakes next December.

Bad idea to red thumb Walmart.

But......I hate going there SO much I just wanted to do it, I cannot bring my self to go there anymore, if I have to pay .40 cents more for dish soap some where else so be it.

Doesn't matter which one you go to, doesn't matter what state.

It feels like you have walked into the same bad dream everytime.

This is my hope!! When people become more concerned about the enviroment (which is happening) Walmart wil suffer...

I hate parking there, I hate shopping there b/c they never have what you want plus most people their are chuckleheads!!

This stock has not done crap and really want them to start caring about people, the enviroment, and small companies.

Sure, they make $$ but at what cost??!

AVOID WALMART!!!

Price wars will eat into margins.

Defensive, good for long term

The trend has gone from upscale to scaling back. Walmart isn't good at upscale. But they dominate at low prices as people look to scale back their spending.

good store in a bad economy

Walmart is a company that has not been impacted by the global economic recession like many of its competitors due to its ability to keep prices low and to sell a variety of consumer products (grocery items has greatly helped). Walmart has huge amounts of available capital and has expanded their reach globally. While Walmart will continue to grow in the US, they will see great growth in other countries as they expand and take ownership of retail companies outside the US.

Will benfit from the poor recovery, but will suffer when it does