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Walmart’s Dominance in Retail
Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is the largest retailer globally, operating over 5,200 stores in the U.S. and nearly 5,600 internationally, generating $681 billion in revenue last year, significantly surpassing Costco’s $254 billion and even Amazon’s projected figures for 2025. As of July, Walmart reported $35.6 billion in long-term obligations, with a net income around $11 billion and a market cap of $800 billion.
Stability and Adaptation
Walmart continues to thrive amidst economic cycles, achieving quarterly sales growth since at least 2010, notably gaining market share among households earning over $100,000. The company’s total number of shares has nearly halved since 1995, enhancing shareholder value through stock buybacks, while online sales account for nearly 20% of total revenues, contributing to $4.4 billion in advertising revenue last year.
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