Walmart Inc (WMT)

Over the last few years, with the recession and slow recovery, customers were trading down to Dollar stores. This stock; however, continued to lag the traditional pace because it had really been hurt by lower wage income earners and the slow pace of job recovery. However, this company has staying power. Biggest retailer globally and continues to have low costs. With economies picking up this company will benefit. He is waiting for same-store sales to be more positive.

A good high quality name and has global exposure. If she is right and the US economy is improving, this company will benefit. Very competitive space but they hold their own with their good locations. (See Top Picks.)

(Top Pick Mar 7/13, Up 10.14%) This is where you want to be right now. It is cheap still. Very cheap. International Growth. Management has done a fantastic job of returning capital to shareholders.

(Top Pick March 14/13, Up 9.11%) Likes the international exposure. The valuation is starting to look a little stretched here.

(A Top Pick March 7/13. Up 8.11%.) Cheap stock. Likes this because it has actually underperformed. Just starting to break out of its 200 day with volume which is a very important indicator. Feels the smart money is gravitating towards it as they want to get into it before the analysts upgrade on the earnings.

Doesn’t like the market they sell into. This seems to be a market that is completely dominated by price. It is a volume purchaser. Likes the Costco Wholesale (COST-Q) model much better where it is a membership-based business. Has been stuck in the $73-$75 range for a while, because there is not a lot of top line growth. They’ll have to do acquisitions.

Closing unprofitable stores in emerging markets and opening more super stores in Canada. The real trouble is that they are getting squeezed by dollar stores. Amazon is impacting them also. They are struggling to grow and maintain margins.

An under performer. She really struggles with their top line. To move the needle on this is really tough. Doesn’t see a ton of expansion in the margins. Can’t see a catalyst to get the stock moving.

Suspects it will be a little higher between now and January. He likes to cut his position when it is getting like this.

Has the most revenue of all the companies in the US. They obviously do a good job and maintain their margins. It is stable and valuation is at a historical norm. If market continues to roll along it will probably do well and if it sells off, this one could hold its value better than others.

A fantastic company. Came out with earnings that were not that great a while ago. In the soft economy of the US, earnings are suffering a little bit. He still likes the company. If you are looking for this kind of stock, he would go for Dollarama (DOL-T).

Problem with Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, is that their main target customer is the most US vulnerable consumer. Other retailers cater to other parts of the retail market such as dollar stores and those above Wal-Mart.

The downturn in the stock price is simply to do with economic issues and the economic outlook. Earnings and revenue growth are slowing down. They are suffering because the demo graphic of their largest customer is not doing as well.

It was just announced that the company is cutting orders as unsold merchandise piles up in the US. US economy is not exactly swimming along at a good pace. This company is probably the premier company globally at managing inventory. If they have made a bad bet on inventory, there are others who are even worse.

The consumer has been challenged. Valuation is neither super high, nor super low. The stock could do well going forward but not necessarily so.