World\'s Largest Retailer, Wal-Mart Runs and Operates

¶ … world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart runs and operates numerous retail stores around the globe. Founded in the year 1962 by Sam Walton, the company has continued to grow to assume its current position as one of America's biggest corporations. In this text, I discuss the retailer's future prospects, financial performance as well as top management team amongst other things.

Wal-Mart: Discussion

One of the most interesting facts about Wal-Mart is how the firm has maintained its competitiveness in an otherwise highly competitive marketplace through the application of a variety of competitive strategies. One of the strategies the company has consistently applied over time is cost leadership. Basically, cost leadership has got to do with a firm's move to offer its products for sale at prices that are essentially below the industry average. According to Hoskisson, Hitt and Ireland (2008), "Wal-Mart is known for its ability to both control and reduce costs, making it difficult for firms to compete against it on the basis of price." In my opinion, the retailer will have a successful future largely because of its ability to reduce as well as control costs. As the cost leader, it will be hard for competitors to replicate the retailer's strategy or compete effectively with Wal-Mart especially on the basis of price.

Based on the company's 2011 annual report accessed from its website, Wal-Mart's net sales were reported as $419 billion. This represents a 3.5% increase in net sales in comparison to the previous financial year. On the other hand, the company's operating expenses decreased by 2.0% to stand at $19.3 billion from $19.7 billion in the previous financial year. It is also important to note that the company's return on investment which in the year under consideration stood at 19.2% has been largely stable over time. Currently, the retailer is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Holding Period Return according to Moyer, McGuigan and Kretlow (2008) is essentially "the return from holding an investment…" This measure basically helps in the computation of returns an investor receives over a given period of time from his investments. Moyer, McGuigan and Kretlow (2008) give the formula for the computation of the same as:

(Ending price -- Beginning Price + Distributions Received / Beginning Price) * 100

In the case of Wal-Mart, the company's share price on March 16th 2011 and March 16th 2012 was $51.38 and $60.84 respectively (Yahoo Finance, 2012). The company has not issued any dividends within the time period under consideration. Therefore, the 12-month rate of return for investors who purchased the Wal-Mart stock twelve months ago shall be given by:

= (60.84 -- 51.38 + $0/51.38) * 100 = 18.41%

As I have already stated above, Wal-Mart's most recent share price according to yahoo Finance (2012) is $60.84 (as at March 16th 2012).

When it comes to the top management of Wal-Mart, it can be noted that Michael T. Duke is the company's serving President and Chief Executive Officer. He joined the retailer in the year 1995. Charles M. Holley Jr. On the other hand is the entity's Chief Financial Officer.