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¶ … 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...
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…
References
Hoskisson, R.E., Hitt, MA. & Ireland, R.D. (2008). Competing for Advantage (2nd ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
Moyer, R.C., McGuigan, J.R. & Kretlow, W.J (2008). Contemporary Financial Management. (11th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
Yahoo Finance (2012, March 18). Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Common St. (WMT) -- NYSE. Retrieved March 18th 2012, from Yahoo Finance Website: http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=WMT+Interactive#symbol=WMT;range=
Another advantage for Wal-Mart is their brand. They have a reputation for industry leadership, and are widely considered by the public to offer the lowest prices. This message has been consistently reinforced in Wal-Mart's promotions. Of these advantages, buying power is truly sustainable. Wal-Mart's size gives them this advantage, and there are no serious threats to their size at this time. They were able to achieve their size in an era
Wal-Mart uses this technique extensively, since not only does it help to guarantee that its suppliers will be able to meet Wal-Mart's demand, but Wal-Mart wants to help its suppliers manage their supply chains better. If a supply managers its own supply chain more efficiently, it can supply the good to Wal-Mart at a lower price. 3. Wal-Mart's forecasting techniques have impacted its master schedules and production plans. The company
Wal-Mart and Employee Rights Labor cost is always considered as the main issue, mostly in case of employees' unionization at Wal-Mart. This was noticed when Wal-Mart showed a remarkable earning at the rate of 44% per annum for its labor working on hourly basis. Another point which brought this issue ahead was when the sales clerk of Wal-Mart in 2001 earned wages below Federal Poverty Scale. According to an issue of
Wal Mart Over the last several years, Wal Mart has been a story that is focused on continuing successes and challenges. This is because the company was impacted by issues such as employee rights, costs and fierce competition. Yet, at the same time, they were able to experience continuing increases in their bottom line results. This is despite the fact that consumer spending has remained stagnant in the aftermath of the
Corporate Mission As the largest mass merchandiser in the world, Wal-Mart's work in supply chain execution, research, and policies defines best practices for the broader high volume retailing industry worldwide. Wal-Mart is comprised of three operating segments including the Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Club and the International Stores. The typical Wal-Mart discount store as 50 departments or more and a few are offering groceries in addition to apparel, fabrics, stationery and books,
Wal-Mart is also deemed to be a company that greatly mistreats and discriminates against its employees but there has apparently been no reliable empirical data to back that up (Van Riper, 2008). The article concludes by conceding to some Wal-Mart critics. First, Wal-Mart cites Ohio University professor Richard Vedder, who points out that Bureau of Labor Statistics Data holds that Wal-Mart's wage structure lags behind the retail sector as a