Prices Aren’t The Only Things Low At Walmart

In February 2013, President Obama had proposed an increase in the minimum federal wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour to address the problem of widening income inequality in the country. His proposal was echoed in nationwide demonstrations for higher wages, following which the ‘living wage’ bill was passed by the D.C. Council in July 2013 with the support of eight of the 13 council members.

The $8.25 minimum wage in D.C. is already a dollar higher compared to the federal minimum wage, but the D.C. bill required all large retailers with revenues above $1 billion to pay non-union workers at least $12.50 an hour.

For a while, things seemed to be looking up for minimum wagers, but Corporate America was having none of it. Walmart (WMT) and other large retailers pressured policymakers to make sure the bill wasn’t passed. They wrote to the D.C. mayor, pressuring him to abandon the bill… ‘or else’. He eventually caved in to the pressure, dealing the first blow to the legislation. Laborers’ hopes of better compensation were finally dashed completely when the D.C. Council failed to overturn the veto on September 18.

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Hypermarkets And Super Centers: Walmart No Longer The Dominant Force It Once Was

Hypermarkets and super centers, a sub-industry within the food and staples retailing industry, comprises large retailers that buy food and staples from manufacturers around the world and sell them to end consumers. They are one-stop shops, and house everything from grocery to apparel under a single roof, which ranges in size from approximately 71,000-219,000 square feet.

The total size of the US hypermarkets and super centers industry by revenues is $644 billion, 99% of which is controlled by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT), The Target Corporation (TGT) and the Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST). Costco is the youngest company among the three. It opened its first store in 1983, nearly 21 years after Target and Walmart opened their first stores in 1962.

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Eight Great WalMart Tech Deals on Black Friday

With Black Friday just around the corner, the competition to get the largest number of consumers has gained serious momentum. For now, with bigger discounts and more product offerings, Walmart (WMT) is the clear leader of the pack. Check out these eight great WalMart tech deals that you can grab—we promise, they are going to make you whistle out loud!

If you are on the hunt for the best iPhone deal this black Friday, you should check out what Walmart has to offer. The retailer has announced that the iPhone 5s will be marked down to $189 as long as users are willing to sign a two-year contract. A $75 Walmart gift card, which can be applied to future purchases, only adds more icing to the cake!

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Walmart – Earnings Continue to Disappoint

Walmart (WMT) beat consensus estimates for earnings when it announced results for 3QFY13 but growth prospects are still doubtful. Comparable store sales for Walmart US fell following a decline in customer traffic while Sam’s Club was able to grow its comparable store sales. The company’s e-commerce initiatives have been successful so far, contributing to strong double digit growth in online sales, but the category is still too small to have a significant impact on the company’s growth. The stock is a hold, considering the company’s efforts to keep creating shareholder value through share repurchases and payouts.

Introduction

Walmart beat analysts’ estimates for earnings by over 1% in 3QFY14. Its stock price however, hasn’t shown any significant change following the release of quarterly results because investors continue to worry about declining comparable store sales (comps) despite an improvement in earnings. Comparable store sales (comps) in the US were down 0.1% excluding fuel and 0.2% including fuel.

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Walmart vs. Target – Discount Heaven

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Walmart and Target Eager to Greet Customers; Costco Says Thanks but No Thanks

According to the National Retail Federation, approximately 35 million Americans visited stores or retail websites on Thanksgiving Day in 2012, making the day a key sales driver for the retailers. Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) are once again vying to gain the attention of shoppers through steep discounts, while Costco (COST) is committed to its employees and plans to stay closed on the day. Nonetheless, in the spirit of the holiday season Costco has inevitably started offering seasonal discounts since November 24 and plans to introduce more deals as Black Friday approaches.

Where to Shop for Turkeys and Turkey Fryers

The two items most likely to be bought on Thanksgiving are of course turkeys and turkey fryers. Walmart seems to be a better option to shop for these two products, as the retailer provides a wider range of turkeys, including brands such as Butterball, Dak, and Jennie-O.

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Walmart Announces Change at the Helm, Gears up for Changing Trends

Forty-seven year old Douglas McMillon is set to take over the helm of the company upon the retirement of the current CEO, Michael Duke in February, 2014. This announcement was made by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) on November 25, 2013, and makes McMillon the youngest CEO in the history of the company.

Walmart’s new CEO is currently the head of Wal-Mart International where he is responsible for overseeing the company’s operations in over twenty-six countries. His appointment as the fifth CEO of the company is indicative of the company’s acceptance of the fact that it is now experiencing a phase with ‘changing customer demographics’, one that is increasingly international and increasingly online as well.

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