Wal-Mart Stores Inc

After an unsuccessful international expansion, Groupon (GRPN) has pulled out of overseas markets to pursue a narrowed strategic focus on North America.

Developed by Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter, Porter’s Five Forces Model is used for assessing the nature of competition and attractiveness of an industry.

Walmart (WMT) is editing its corporate name. The retailer wants to be known simply as Walmart Inc., not Wal-Mart Store Inc. as it is currently legally known.

The growth in ODP and OMX’s combined sales fell—compared to Staples. They were ~143% of SPLS’s sales in 2007. This is just over $8 billion. That fell to $7.3 billion in 2013.

Stock selection, a cornerstone of the moat investment philosophy, has driven much of the recent success of the Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus Index.

Of the 32 analysts covering Costco (COST), 69.0% have rated the stock as a “buy” as of April 5. The stock has been rated as a “hold” by 31% of these analysts.

Competitive rivalry is extremely strong in the organic and natural food industry. More companies are entering and expanding their presence in the industry.

Casey’s, as per the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), falls under the sub-category of gas stations with convenience stores.

There aren’t many large brick-and-mortar players left in the market. The industry faced stiff competition from online retailers like Amazon (AMZN).

The key to unlocking success is for Blue Apron to convince consumers that the food items the company delivers are just as fresh as items bought in person from a supermarket.

Amazon (AMZN) has a brand new Echo smart speaker called Echo Show. Including Echo Show, there are now five variants of Echo-branded products.

The stock price of retail giant Walmart (WMT) has risen by 20.1% on a YTD (year-to-date) basis to $73.84, as of July 18. Walmart’s stock has outperformed the S&P 500 Index, which has risen 7.7% on a YTD basis.

The Nike+ Training Club clocked ~17 million downloads by 1Q15. The app is now available in 18 languages, creating the framework for a global community.

Despite the revenue headwinds we discussed in the previous part of this series, Walmart (WMT) expanded its gross margin by 21 basis points to 24.6% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016.

Despite some impressive signs of Kroger’s (K) success, Walmart stock (WMT) is the better pick for the grocery sector. Here’s why. 

While Whole Foods Market is struggling at the hands of giants like Kroger and Wal-Mart, Sprouts has been growing steadily in same-store sales and margins.

eBay’s profit margins, operating margins, and gross margins are higher than its peers.

Walmart’s international segment posted sales of $123.4 billion in fiscal 2016, down 9.4% YoY. In constant currency terms, the segment’s sales were up 3.2%.

Costco’s suppliers include companies like PepsiCo (PEP), Procter & Gamble (PG), and the Kraft Heinz Company (KHC). No single supplier accounts for over 5% of revenue.

Walmart’s strategic priorities include building omni-channel capabilities, growing its top line faster, focusing on core assets and capital discipline, and generating stronger shareholder returns.

The NLRB filed a complaint last January. It accused Walmart of violating labor laws. The NLRB claims that the retailer acted against workers who joined unions.

Valuation price multiples are used in the relative valuation technique. This is the most common method used by Wall Street to value stocks.

Lowe’s is also experimenting with the idea of rolling out other smaller format stores like City Center stores in other under-penetrated and high-density urban areas in the US.

The Porter’s Five Forces model is extensively used for assessing the nature of competition and attractiveness in an industry.

According to eMarketer, Walmart.com is the preferred platform for most vendors looking to expand their online channels.

Berkshire Hathaway added to its position in Liberty Global PLC (LBTYK) last quarter. The position now accounts for 0.57% of Berkshire’s 1Q 2014 portfolio, up from 0.25% last quarter.

In Alibaba’s (BABA) e-commerce industry, metrics such as active shoppers and average revenue per user (or ARPU) are closely watched.

As of September 19, 2016, Walmart (WMT) was trading at a 12-month forward PE multiple of 16.6x, which is slightly above its YTD average forward PE of 16.4x.

Walmart has updated its capital expenditure projections for fiscal 2016. It expects to spend $12.4 billion in fiscal 2016, in the middle of the $11.6–$12.9 billion guidance range provided earlier.

The average store-only shopper spends ~$1,400 per year at Walmart, while the online-only shopper spends ~$200.

On May 12, 2017, Walmart (WMT) was trading at a 12-month forward PE multiple of 17.5x.

A strategic focus and balanced strategy for restaurant include a present in grocery chains to help diversify risks associated with a bad economic cycle.

Amazon’s revenue growth at its Media segment has declined dramatically over the last few quarters. Its international business growth has also disappointed.

The majority of analysts covering Target (TGT) remain neutral on the stock.

The Walton family is known for creating the Walmart empire. However, one of the richest families in the world started from one man's ambition.

Consumers can now join Walmart+, which offers unlimited delivery and a range of other benefits.

Costco (COST) continues to generate an industry-leading comparable-store sales growth rate despite increased competition and rivals ramping up their digital platforms.

Target (TGT) sustained its sales momentum in the fiscal first quarter. The company’s growth measures have started to hold ground.

If you’re an income investor, I’ve got a strategy for you. Dividend investing is a time-tested way to grow your account over the long haul.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has raised its funding in India’s e-commerce firm Flipkart Group. The company wants to compete with Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN).

Today, CNBC reported that Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has acquired prescription management technology from CareZone to boost its pharmacy space.

Mass merchandiser Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is scheduled to declare its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 on May 19. What can investors expect?

Domino’s Pizza (NYSE:DPZ) stock fell in the pre-market session on March 31. The restaurant chain pulled its guidance due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The defensive nature of Procter & Gamble stock and its strong dividends make it a good buy in a challenging market environment.

Analysts are optimistic about Walmart (NYSE:WMT) even though the US stock market crashed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

While TSLA stock bulls see the rise as fundamental, bears and many observers are calling it a “speculative bubble.” So, where do we draw the line?

Walmart (WMT) has a long history and strong brand name recognition. But is there reason to believe WMT stock could actually withstand an economic meltdown?

Kroger’s performance in recent quarters compared to its peers has left its investors unimpressed. In 2019, Kroger stock rose 5.4%.

Costco Wholesale (COST) has been growing its top line consistently, thanks to its impressive comparable sales growth. Let’s take a closer look.

FedEx stock fell 1% yesterday on reports that Amazon is blocking third-party merchants from using FedEx’s Ground delivery services for Prime shipments.