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Filed under: Good news, Wal-Mart (WMT), Target Corp. (TGT), Costco Wholesale (COST), Technical Analysis, Stocks to Buy

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) is the world's largest retailer, offering a vast array of general merchandise through some 7,350 stores. That total includes nearly 1,000 discount stores, over 2,800 combination discount and grocery stores and about 600 warehouse outlets. More than half of Wal-Mart's stores are in the United States, but the firm has a widespread and growing international presence. It is the biggest retailer in Canada and Mexico, has a 95% stake in Japan's Seiyu an

Now that more than half the year is behind us, I thought it would be interesting to look at my top 5 performers through July 31, 2008. As dismal as the stock market has been this year, there are still some bright spots. My top five performers have all achieved double-digit positive total returns since I owned them and positive returns in 2008. Here they are with comments:

#5 - McDonald's (MCD) + 4.4% Total 2008 Return
Last November, I bought this burger maker for $57 in spite of only paying one dividend per year. I was rewarded by MCD moving to quarterly dividends and a 2008 total return of 4

Filed under: Rants and raves, Competitive strategy, Wal-Mart (WMT), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Anheuser-Busch Cos (BUD), Procter and Gamble (PG), United Parcel'B' (UPS), Washington Mutual (WM), PetroChina Co Ltd ADR (PTR), Comfort Zone Investing, Serious Money, S and P 500, Stocks to Buy, Southern Company (SO)

The stock market was down yesterday and it is down again today. Bearish sentiment is roaming through Wall Street right now, so I thought I would look back on another occasion when the market was going through similar turmoil and I wrote about the following eight stocks, which I though

It now appears after gloomy reports from Target (TGT), JC Penny (JCP), and Macy's (M) that Wal-Mart (WMT) may just be the only large retailer actually growing.

Wal-Mart (WMT) reported its sales and earnings yesterday, for the quarter ended July 31, 2008. Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 were approximately $101.6 billion, an increase of 10.4 percent from $92.0 billion in the second quarter last year. (Call Transcript)

Filed under: Earnings reports, Wal-Mart (WMT), Stocks to Buy, Recession

Filed under: Competitive strategy, Wal-Mart (WMT), Amazon.com (AMZN), Stocks to Sell

Filed under: Industry, Wal-Mart (WMT), Market matters, Safeway Inc (SWY), Costco Wholesale (COST), Stocks to Buy, Cramer on BloggingStocks

BusinessWeek Rankings

It is no secret that the American consumer is pinched for cash in light of inflationary pressures, leaving them frustrated and even angry whenever they need to go to the store to purchase a good or service, or even just fill up their tank. It remains true, though, that consumers still have their needs and are very much still purchasing products and services, albeit in a thriftier manner.

Wal-Mart <st1:stockticker> WMT </st1:stockticker> is one of the few companies that cannot be hurt by high energy cost. Because they are, and will remain, the low cost sales leader they can pass on higher energy cost to their shoppers. If energy prices drop they will immediately obtain more efficiency. The parking lots are full of people trying to beat the high cost of food. The reputation of Wal-Mart as having the lowest prices will drive higher numbers of consumers to shop there during the downturn. Super Models do not shop at Wal-Mart, but if you shop there, then you know th

Stocks discussed in the lightning round session of Jim Cramer’s Mad Money TV program, Friday June 20. <!----> <!---->

Bullish calls:

John Deere (DE):“I have to tell you, I think DE down 18 straight points is a buy, not a sell.”
Williams (WMB): “I like WMB... I'll give you a two-fer... I like Willbros Group…it ain't ending with this natural gas situation.”
Willbros Group (WG)
Frontline (FRO): “I have been recommending and recommending and recommending it, and what happened today? 52-week high. What's the yield?... 15%.”
Wal-Mart (WMT): “WMT is a buy, buy, buy. A house of pleasure, and I lov

Filed under: Good news, Wal-Mart (WMT), Target Corp. (TGT), Costco Wholesale (COST), Technical Analysis, Stocks to Buy

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) is the world's largest retailer, offering a vast array of general merchandise through some 7,350 stores. That total includes nearly 1,000 discount stores, over 2,800 combination discount and grocery stores and about 600 warehouse outlets. More than half of Wal-Mart's facilities are in the United States, but the firm has a widespread and growing international presence. It is the biggest retailer in Canada and Mexico, has a 95% stake in Japan's Seiy

One has to wonder what execs at Target (TGT) were thinking when they did nothing to try to draw those with rebate checks to their stores like Wal-Mart (WMT) did.

As far back as January Wal-Mart began courting shoppers who were receiving rebate checks from the US government. In the middle of April I pondered the "deafening silence" from the likes of Target and JC Penny (JCP) in regards to the payments.

All this against the background of questionable customer service tactics at the chain.

Well, the first monthly results since the stimulus check mailings began are in and Wal-Mart is the clear wi