Walmart (WMT) often invites criticism for its poor treatment of employees, low salaries, foreign product sourcing, anti-competitive practices, and racial and gender discrimination. And yet, with all its questionable policies and business practices, there is no denying that Walmart is the largest retailer in the world after Amazon. In June of 2022, Walmart claimed a 6.3% market share in the US, which amounts to $572 billion in sales. Walmart’s only powerful rival to date is the titan Amazon. Amazon’s 37.8% market share and faster-growing year-over-year revenue indicate that Walmart might not return to the leading position it had long enjoyed. But Walmart might continue retaining the second place of honor among large retailers. Even Apple has a smaller percentage of the market share – 3.9% – than Walmart. Other powerful companies – Costco, Kroger, and Walgreens – also do not hold a candle to Walmart, while smaller retail firms go out of business altogether once Walmart opens in their territories.
Walmart established its predominance in the retail industry by taking several smart, timely steps. Since its inception in 1962, Walmart’s key focus has been keeping prices low. The company’s famous motto: “We save people money so they can live better,” has remained unchanged for over five decades, helping Walmart build a strong and loyal customer base. In the early ‘80s, Walmart was one of the first stores to capitalize on barcode technology to improve efficiency at the checkout. By adopting the barcode, Walmart immediately got an edge over its competitors. It could better track the movement of its goods, receive point-of-sale information in real time, and determine the right number of products for each store. Walmart also pioneered the supply chain strategy of cross-docking. It started moving products directly from a supplier or manufacturer to the retail chain, almost without storage or handling. This strategy has significantly reduced the company’s transportation, storage, and labor costs. More recently, Walmart has gone online, investing in e-commerce and digital marketing, thus becoming competitive with Amazon. By making this clever move, Walmart was able to continue prospering in the digital age. At the same time, other retailers, such as J.C. Penney and Macy’s, could not survive the rivalry with the e-commerce giant and weakened.
Despite its humble beginning, Walmart has long become a major player in the retail industry. Continue reading the statistical data presented in the article to see how Walmart has blossomed over the years.
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Fascinating Facts about Walmart
- Founded in 1962, Walmart was opened in Rogers, Arkansas. Its early growth was focused on rural areas to avoid competition with the retailer titans like Sears.
- Within a decade of opening grocery and merchandise supercenters, Walmart was on par with the largest American grocers.
- In August 1972, Walmart started trading on the New York Stock Exchange. When the company declared a dividend in 1974, it began providing an annual cash dividend and paid shareholders quarterly.
- In 1983, the first Sam’s Club opened with the idea to help small businesses save money on merchandise bought in bulk. Over the years, the branches of Sam’s Club mushroomed over the world: 600 of them opened in the United States and 200 in other countries. Sam’s Club can also be accessed online at samsclub.com.
- The company completed its private satellite network in 1987. Its purpose was to build a connection between each store and Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville. Walmart’s satellite network is now worth $24 million.
- By the last year of the twentieth century, Walmart became the largest private employer in the world.
- In 2001, Walmart’s total sales dwarfed those of Exxon Mobil.
- Walmart dished out about $1 billion in cash bonuses to its employees in 2009. The company also provides profit sharing, merchandise discounts, and employer-matched 401(k) contributions.
- To reduce its impact on the environment, Walmart started using oil in 2015 to heat stores. Later, the company acquired Texas Retail Energy to buy electricity for stores at lower prices and, in doing so, saved $15 million a year.
- In 2016, Walmart bought Jet.com and Hayneedle.com and thus ventured into the field of e-commerce.
- In 2017 and 2018, Walmart acquired several apparel brands, among which were Shoes.com, Moosejaw, Bonobos, ModCloth, Art.com, Bare Necessities, and ELOQUII.
- In 2018, Walmart hired its first chief customer officer.
- Walmart donated over $20 million to victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, donating has become an annual event totaling $1 billion.
- In addition to money, Walmart also gave away 100,000 meals and 1,500 truckloads of merchandise to people affected by Katrina.
- In the USA, Walmart’s Black Friday begins in stores at 6 pm on Thanksgiving Day. But most of the deals are available from noon time.
- In 2009, Walmart Cyber Monday turned into Walmart Cyber Week.
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Walmart Statistics in 2022
- In 2022, Walmart’s brand value amounts to $111.9 billion.
- Walmart’s current revenue worldwide is $573 billion.
- In 2021, the company generated global net sales of over $555 billion, showing an increase of 6.8% from the previous year.
- Walmart’s gross profit margin has remained consistent at about 25% over the last several years.
- Last year, Walmart operated more than 11,000 stores worldwide.
- In 2021, the US segment of Walmart generated about $370 billion, which amounted to 67% of total sales.
- Another large market for Walmart is Mexico, with 2,634 locations.
- In 2021, about 240 million customers visited Walmart per week.
- So far this year, 230 million have shopped in Walmart per week.
- In 2022, American Walmart has had net sales of $393.3 billion.
- This year, grocery sales accounted for 55.7% of Walmart’s net sales in the US.
- There are 4,743 Walmart stores in the United States.
- Walmart.com boasts 14.3 billion net sales in 2022.
- Market share of Walmart.com in the US is 6.3%.
- Online sales of Walmart International amount to $18.5 billion.
- There are 34.27 million Walmart fans on Facebook.
Source: Statista
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What You Need to Know about Sam Walton
Sam Walton was an American businessman known for founding the retail chains Walmart and Sam’s Club. At the time of his death in 1992, Walton’s net worth was $8.6 billion, or about $15 billion in today’s money. He is considered one of the most influential people of the 20th century: Walmart has grown to be a corporation with extraordinary revenues and millions of employees. Other curious facts about Sam Walton are listed below:
- Walton served as a captain in the U.S. Military Intelligence Corps Unit at the time of World War II.
- After coming from the battlefield in 1945, Walton took a loan of $20,000 from his father-in-law and purchased a Ben Franklin variety store.
- Later, Walton sold the store and all its inventory to his landlord for $50,000.
- He opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962.
- In 1983, Walton launched the first Sam’s Club, whose goal was to help businessmen wishing to buy merchandise in bulk.
- Walton stepped down as Walmart’s CEO in 1988 but remained its chairman.
- During his lifetime, Walton opened 1,735 Walmart stores, 212 Sam’s Clubs, and 13 Supercenters.
- Walton was included in Time’s list of 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century in 1998.
- Walton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H.W. Bush in March 1992.
- Forbes ranked Sam Walton as the wealthiest person in the USA from 1982 to 1988.
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After holding first place among large retailers in terms of market share for decades, Walmart has lately been surpassed by Amazon. As of June 2022, Amazon accounted for 37.8% of the U.S. e-commerce market. And yet, Walmart remains the second leading retailer in the country, leaving behind giants like Apple, eBay, Target, and Home Depot. The table below shows the percentage distribution of market share among titan retailers in the United States:
Market Share of Leading Retail Companies in the U.S.
| Company | Market Share |
| Amazon | 37.8% |
| Walmart | 6.3% |
| Apple | 3.9% |
| eBay | 3.5% |
| Target | 2.1% |
| The Home Depot | 2.1% |
| Best Buy | 1.6% |
| Costco | 1.6% |
| Carvana | 1.5% |
| Kroger | 1.4% |
| Wayfair | 1.1% |
| Chewy | 1% |
| Macy’s | 0.9% |
Source: Statista
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Walmart Q3 2023 Earnings
Walmart reported its 2023 third-quarter earnings on Thursday, November 16, with EPS of $1.53, $0.02 better than the analyst estimate of $1.51. Revenue for the quarter came in at $160.8B versus the consensus estimate of $159.3B.
Walmart sees FY 2024 EPS of $6.40-$6.48 versus the analyst consensus of $6.48. Walmart’s stock price closed at $169.78, up 7.50% in the last 3 months and up 14.72% in the last 12 months.
Walmart Q2 2023 Earnings
Walmart reported its 2023 second-quarter earnings on Thursday, August 17, with EPS of $1.84, $0.15 better than the analyst estimate of $1.69. Revenue for the quarter came in at $161.6B versus the consensus estimate of $159.76B.
Walmart sees Q3 2024 EPS of $1.45-$1.50 versus the analyst consensus of $1.50, while it also sees FY 2024 EPS of $6.36-$6.46 versus the analyst consensus of $6.28. The retail giant’s stock price closed at $159.26, up 6.24% in the last 3 months and up 14.52% in the last 12 months.
Walmart Q1 2023 Earnings
Walmart reported its 2023 first-quarter earnings on Thursday, May 18, with EPS of $1.47, $0.17 better than the analyst estimate of $1.30. Revenue for the quarter came in at $152.3B versus the consensus estimate of $148.5B.
Walmart Q4 2022 Earnings
Walmart reported its 2022 fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday, February 21, with EPS of $1.71, $0.19 better than the analyst estimate of $1.52. Revenue for the quarter came in at $164B versus the consensus estimate of $159.77B.
Walmart Q3 2022 Earnings
Walmart reported its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, November 15, with sales rising by nearly 9%, as Americans across income levels bought the company’s low-priced groceries. Walmart reported an EPS of $1.50 on revenue of $152.8 billion, easily beating the analyst consensus of $1.32 on sales of $147.55B.
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Walmart’s 2022 Annual Revenue
Even though Walmart gave way to Amazon, its annual revenue has consistently grown over the years. For the quarter ending July 31, 2022, Walmart’s revenue was $152.859 billion, which signifies a year-over-year increase of 8.37%. In 2022, each quarter has proved to be more profitable than the previous one. For the quarter ending on November 16, 2022, Walmart’s revenue was $152.8 billion, up 8.7%, or 9.8% in constant currency.
The company’s annual 2022 revenue reached $572.75 billion, marking a 2.43% increase from 2021. Last year, Walmart’s annual revenue was $559.151 billion. This constituted a 6.7% increase from 2020. In the first year of the pandemic, the company’s annual revenue was $523.964 billion, an increase of 1.86% from 2019.
In the fourth quarter that ended January 31, 2023, Walmart topped analysts’ forecasts. As the world is skirting close to recession and prices are inexorably rising, people turn to Walmart in search of food, household items, and gifts at a lower cost. Hunting for cheaper goods, customers helped push Walmart’s Q4 revenue to $164.05 billion and beat analysts’ expectations of $159.72 billion. Revenue of $164.05 billion marked a 7.3% growth compared to Q4 2021.
Walmart’s revenue for the twelve months ending January 31, 2023, was $611.289 billion, a 6.73% increase year-over-year. Walmart’s earnings per share in the fourth quarter also ended up higher than predicted: $1.71 versus the anticipated $1.51. The company’s net income in Q4 2022 reached $6.28 billion, which is a significant advance from the $3.56 billion reported a year earlier.
The table below shows the upward trajectory of Walmart’s revenue since 2009:
Walmart’s Annual Revenue since 2009 (in $US Billion)
| Year | Annual Revenue (in $US Billion) |
| 2009 | $404.254 |
| 2010 | $408.085 |
| 2011 | $421.849 |
| 2012 | $446.509 |
| 2013 | $468.651 |
| 2014 | $476.294 |
| 2015 | $485.651 |
| 2016 | $482.130 |
| 2017 | $485.873 |
| 2018 | $500.343 |
| 2019 | $514.405 |
| 2020 | $523.964 |
| 2021 | $559.151 |
| 2022 | $572.754 |
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Walmart’s Operating Income
Operating income is defined as income after operating expenses have been deducted and before interest payments and taxes have been deducted. Walmart’s operating income for the quarter ending July 31, 2022, was $6.854 billion, constituting a 6.8% year-over-year decline. Walmart’s operating income for 2022 has so far been $18.059 billion, a 15.05% growth from 2021. In Q3, Walmart’s adjusted operating income was $6.0 billion, an increase of 3.9%.
For the quarter ending January 31, 2023, its operating income reached $5.561 billion, marking a 5.54% retreat year-over-year. Walmart’s operating income for the twelve months ending January 31, 2023, was $20.428 billion. This is a 21.26% decline year-over-year.
Walmart’s annual operating income for 2021 was $22.548 billion, a 9.63 increase from 2020. The company’s annual operating income for 2020 was $20.568 billion. This was a 6.33% decline from 2019.
The zigzag path of Walmart’s annual operating income is reflected in the table below:
Walmart’s Operating Income since 2009 (in $US Billion)
| Year | Operating Income (in $US Billion) |
| 2009 | $22.769 |
| 2010 | $24.002 |
| 2011 | $25.542 |
| 2012 | $26.491 |
| 2013 | $27.725 |
| 2014 | $26.872 |
| 2015 | $27.147 |
| 2016 | $24.105 |
| 2017 | $22.764 |
| 2018 | $20.437 |
| 2019 | $21.957 |
| 2020 | $20.568 |
| 2021 | $22.548 |
| 2022 | $520.428 |
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Walmart’s Net Sales Worldwide by Division
Walmart International’s net sales were about $101 billion in the fiscal year ending on January 31, 2022. Because Walmart stopped operating in the UK and Japan, this was a decrease of $21 billion from 2021. Sam’s Club had net sales of about $74 billion. The table below contains statistical data about the net sales of Walmart in America, Walmart International, and Sam’s Club:
Walmart’s Net Sales Worldwide by Division from 2010 (in $US Billion)
| Year | Walmart US | Walmart International | Sam’s Club |
| 2010 | $259.92 | $97.41 | $47.81 |
| 2011 | $260.26 | $109.23 | $49.46 |
| 2012 | $264.19 | $125.44 | $53.8 |
| 2013 | $274.43 | $134.75 | $56.42 |
| 2014 | $279.41 | $136.51 | $57.16 |
| 2015 | $288.05 | $136.16 | $58.02 |
| 2016 | $298.38 | $123.41 | $56.83 |
| 2017 | $307.83 | $116.12 | $57.37 |
| 2018 | $318.48 | $118.07 | $59.22 |
| 2019 | $331.67 | $120.82 | $57.84 |
| 2020 | $341.00 | $120.13 | $58.79 |
| 2021 | $369.96 | $121.36 | $63.91 |
| 2022 | $393.25 | $100.96 | $73.56 |
Source: Statista
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Number of Walmart’s Employees Globally
According to Walmart’s website, it operates about 10,500 retail units under 46 banners in 24 countries. Walmart also runs an e-commerce business. As of the end of the fiscal year 2022, Walmart employs approximately 1.7 million associates in the United States and about 2.3 million associates worldwide. Having 2,300,000 employees indicates that there is a 0% change in their number compared to the previous year. In 2021, Walmart employed 2,300,000 people, a 4.55% increase in their number from 2020. In the first year of the pandemic, 2,200,000 employees worked for the company and the same number of people were hired in 2019. Compared to 2018, there was a 4.35% decline in Walmart’s employees in the year prior to the outburst of the coronavirus. See how many people have worked for Walmart worldwide since 2009 in the table below:
Walmart’s Annual Number of Employees Globally
| Year | Number of Employees |
| 2009 | 2,100,00 |
| 2010 | 2,100,000 |
| 2011 | 2,100,000 |
| 2012 | 2,100,000 |
| 2013 | 2,200,000 |
| 2014 | 2,200,000 |
| 2015 | 2,200,000 |
| 2016 | 2,300,000 |
| 2017 | 2,300,000 |
| 2018 | 2,3000,000 |
| 2019 | 2,200,000 |
| 2020 | 2,200,000 |
| 2021 | 2,300,000 |
| 2022 | 2,300,000 |
Source: Macrotrends.net
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Walmart’s Achievements in 2022
In 2022, the retail giant rolled out numerous changes and announcements. It permanently closed some locations, opened new fulfillment centers, and removed several products from its shelves. It also changed store layouts to be more attractive in the eyes of consumers and cleared space for new products soon expected to appear in its stores and online. Walmart further updated its produce section and began to offer online service bookings to customers. It made online orders a key area of focus, considering that many customers had found shopping online to their liking during the pandemic and continue ordering Walmart’s goods over the internet even now when the doors of its physical stores have long been open. Throughout 2022, Walmart made significant changes to its business model, introducing tech-savvy capabilities and streamlined delivery services.
Yet despite trying to create a more efficient customer experience, Walmart lowered sales expectations for the US in the year ahead. The company expects same-store sales in America to climb between 2% and 2.5%, excluding fuel. These numbers sound disappointing to analysts who predicted a 3% growth and looked forward to earnings per share from $5.90 to $6.05, excluding fuel, in 2023. Walmart adjusted the figures because it is planning for a downturn in the market, aware of a slowdown in consumer spending, liable to lead to a deeper recession. It is also mindful of such obstacles as supply chain issues, Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, layoffs in the tech industry, and people’s general low confidence in the economy. Yet Walmart also knows that, compared to other retailers, it is better off during these uncertain geopolitical and economic times because its goods are cheaper than theirs. For consumers mindful of their spending budgets all roads lead to Walmart where they can save money as prices soar.
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Conclusion
Walmart’s famous business model – Everyday Low Price – had once pushed it to the top in the retailer industry, the position it retained for decades and lost only with the emergence of Amazon. In contrast to other companies operating on high margins, Walmart proposed lower margins and had a high sales volume and cost-cutting. Walmart’s consistently low prices also mean that there are no discounts, and customers are more loyal. Such a model brings stable cash flows, higher revenues, and larger margins to the business. As Walmart’s business strategies have proved effective, analysts at Walletinvestor.com are convinced that the company will continue growing, despite competition from Amazon. At the time of writing, WMT shares are trading at $131.310. Based on analysts’ forecasts, long-term growth can be expected. Analysts foresee that in 2024, the price of Walmart stock will rise to $185.222. There is every reason to believe that Walmart will retain its strong position in the industry for years to come.
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As an enthusiast with demonstrable knowledge in the retail industry, particularly with a focus on Walmart, I can provide a comprehensive breakdown of the concepts used in the article:
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Walmart's Market Position:
- Walmart is the largest retailer globally, with a market share of 6.3% in the US, equivalent to $572 billion in sales as of June 2022.
- Despite facing criticism for its business practices, Walmart holds a significant position in the market, second only to Amazon.
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Historical Background and Growth:
- Walmart was founded in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas, and its early growth focused on rural areas to avoid competition with major retailers.
- The company rapidly expanded, opening grocery and merchandise supercenters within a decade and trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.
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Key Strategies for Dominance:
- Walmart's key focus since its inception has been on keeping prices low, reflected in its motto: "We save people money so they can live better."
- Adoption of barcode technology in the early '80s and pioneering the cross-docking supply chain strategy provided Walmart with a competitive edge.
- Recent ventures into e-commerce and digital marketing have allowed Walmart to compete with online giants like Amazon.
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Strategic Acquisitions:
- Walmart's acquisitions, such as Jet.com and Hayneedle.com in 2016 and several apparel brands in 2017 and 2018, highlight its efforts to diversify and compete in the digital age.
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Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility:
- Walmart has engaged in philanthropic activities, donating over $20 million to Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005 and making annual donations totaling $1 billion.
- The company also focuses on environmental sustainability, as seen in initiatives like using oil for heating stores and acquiring Texas Retail Energy for lower-cost electricity.
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Market Share and Financials:
- In 2022, Walmart's brand value is $111.9 billion, with a worldwide revenue of $573 billion.
- Walmart's gross profit margin has remained consistent at about 25%.
- The company operates over 11,000 stores worldwide, with a significant presence in the US and Mexico.
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Comparison with Competitors:
- Walmart's market share is compared with other leading retailers like Amazon, Apple, Costco, Kroger, and Walgreens.
- Despite facing challenges from Amazon, Walmart's market share remains substantial, surpassing even tech giant Apple.
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Leadership and Founder's Legacy:
- Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, is highlighted for his role in founding both Walmart and Sam's Club.
- Sam Walton's influence is recognized through achievements such as receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom and being ranked as the wealthiest person in the USA from 1982 to 1988.
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Financial Performance in 2022:
- Walmart's 2022 statistics, including brand value, revenue, and market share, showcase its continued significance in the retail industry.
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Earnings and Stock Performance:
- Walmart's quarterly and annual earnings, as well as its stock performance, are detailed, providing insights into the company's financial health and stock market trends.
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Operating Income and Net Sales:
- Operating income and net sales figures demonstrate Walmart's financial performance, with a focus on both domestic and international operations.
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Employee Statistics:
- The number of employees worldwide, approximately 2.3 million, reflects Walmart's status as a major employer.
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2022 Achievements and Strategic Changes:
- Walmart's initiatives and changes in 2022, including store closures, new fulfillment centers, and updates to its business model, highlight its adaptability and focus on efficiency.
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Market Expectations and Long-Term Growth:
- Analysts' forecasts for Walmart's stock price and long-term growth suggest confidence in the company's ability to maintain a strong position in the industry.
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Investing Insights:
- The article concludes with an invitation to explore additional Walmart data through InvestingPro, emphasizing the importance of informed investment decisions.
In summary, the provided article covers a wide range of topics related to Walmart, encompassing its history, strategies, financial performance, philanthropy, leadership, and market dynamics.
