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2. Wal-Mart Stores
Wal-Mart Stores
Financials: Latest Results
Rank: 2 (Previous rank: 1)
CEO: Michael T. Duke
Was this company a 2011 top stock?

Wal-Mart slipped to No. 2 in the Fortune 500 in 2011 after holding onto the top spot for two years in a row. The retailer was forced to aggressively cut prices to reverse its declining same store sales in the U.S. That helped push revenues up by 6% during 2011, to $447 billion, but it hurt Wal-Mart's bottom line -- profits declined by 4.6% during the year, to $15.7 billion.

The world's largest retailer has struggled to maintain growth at its U.S. stores, even as the economy has shown signs of recovery. Although the unemployment rate has fallen, the housing market remains unstable and consumer spending hasn't reflected a new attitude for many Americans.

Wal-Mart's international business continues to be a source of growth for the company -- revenues outside the U.S. rose by 13.1% last year, to $35.5 billion. But one key growth market for Wal-Mart, Mexico, recently hit a major roadblock after a sweeping New York Times story reported bribery allegations by the retailer there.

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Key financials $ millions % change
from 2010
Revenues 446,950.0 6.0
Profits 15,699.0 -4.2
Assets 193,406.0
Stockholders' equity 71,315.0
Market value (3/29/2012) 207,064.0
Profits as % of  
Revenues 3.5
Assets 8.1
Stockholders' equity 22.0
Earnings per share  
2011 $ 4.52
% change from 2010 1.1
2001-2011 annual growth rate % 11.7
Total return to investors %
2011 13.8
2001-2011 annual rate 1.9
Rank Company 500
rank
Revenues
($ millions)
1 Wal-Mart Stores 2 446,950.0
2 Target 38 69,865.0
3 Sears Holdings 65 41,567.0
4 Macy's 110 26,405.0
5 Kohl's 146 18,804.0
6 J.C. Penney 153 17,260.0
7 Dollar General 183 14,807.2
8 Nordstrom 242 10,877.0
9 Family Dollar Stores 301 8,547.8
10 Dillard's 383 6,399.8
Issue date: May 21, 2012
Figures are for fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2012.
Galleries and more
Headquarters
MAPS
Wal-Mart Stores
702 S.W. Eighth St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
479-273-4000
www.walmartstores.com
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Fortune 500+
Want more on America's top companies? Get data on the full Fortune 1,000 list here. Fortune 500+

Rank # of Fortune 500 Companies
California 53
Texas 52
New York 50
Company Rank
Google 73
NetApp 474
NuStar Energy 377
Company 2011 $ (millions)
Exxon $41,060.0
Chevron $26,895.0
Apple $25,922.0
FAQ and methodology
Included in the survey are U.S. incorporated companies filing financial statements with a government agency. This includes private companies... More
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