Walmart is the world’s largest retailer and has ranked among the highest-market-cap corporations since its 1972 public listing.
Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. The company built its retail model around low prices, high sales volume, efficient distribution, and stores located beyond major urban centers. Walmart went public in 1970 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.
The company operates supercenters, discount stores, neighborhood markets, and a large e-commerce business. It also owns Sam’s Club, a membership warehouse chain. Its scale makes it a major employer and a significant purchaser of consumer goods.
Walmart’s market capitalization reflects investor expectations about its future earnings, not its annual retail sales. It is therefore possible for a company to have higher revenue but a lower market value than Walmart.