The Numbers Don't Lie: Wal-Mart May Be in Trouble

Walmart's annual revenue has shrunk for the first time in 45 years, with profits expected to decline due to slowing retail traffic in the US. Despite a stock comeback in 2016, Walmart trails the S&P 500 and retail ETF over five years, primarily due to stagnant revenue growth. Analysts predict flat sales this year, with a slight recovery next year. Factors like increased spending on web operations, rising labor costs, and a strong US dollar are impacting net income, expected to fall by 13%. Internationally, Walmart faces challenges due to the strong dollar, affecting sales by $12 billion. As the largest US grocer, Walmart is expanding online grocery services and opening smaller stores to boost sales, with these smaller stores outperforming the chainwide average.

What has been the trend in Walmart's annual revenue over the past 45 years?

How is Walmart's stock performance compared to the S&P 500 and retail ETF over a five-year period?

What factors are contributing to the expected decline in Walmart's profit this year?

What challenges is Walmart facing in overseas markets?

What strategies is Walmart implementing to support its overall sales?