WAL MART 10-K SEC Paper
Shakita Rollins
October 15, 2015
Cleopatra White
ACCT 220
Background
Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of discount
department stores and warehouse stores. Its headquarters located in Bentonville, Arkansas, the
company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 and incorporated on October 31, 1969. Today, it
has over 11,000 stores in 28 countries, under a total 72 banners and e-commerce websites in 11
countries. The company operates under the Walmart name in the U.S and Canada but operates
under different names in other countries.
In 1945 Sam Walton the founder of Walmart, a businessman and former J.C. Penney
employee who purchase a branch of Ben Franklin Stores from the Butler Brothers. Walton’s
primary focus was to sell products at a lower prices to get higher volume sales at lower profit
margin. In his first year of ownership sales increased 45 percent to $105,000 (equivalent to $1.38
million in 2015) the year after that sales increased to $140,000 (equivalent to $1.69 million in
2015). Within the fifth year the stores was generating about $250,000 (equivalent to $2.48
million in 2015) in revenue. Today according to Forbes 500, Walmart earned $313 billion in
revenue sales which places them at # 1 spot in revenue for retail stores. Walmart ranks #20 for
World’s most valuable brand in overall in all industries.
Their strategy is to lead on price, invest to differentiate on access, be competitive on
assortment and deliver a great experience. By leading on price we earn the trust of our customers
every day by providing a broad assortment of quality merchandise and services at everyday low
