Walmart is the retail corporation founded by Sam Walton in 1962 that has repeatedly ranked among the world’s largest companies by market capitalization.
Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, on July 2, 1962. The company expanded by emphasizing low prices, large stores, efficient distribution, and locations in smaller communities. Those methods helped it grow from a regional chain into a global retail business.
Walmart operates supermarkets, department stores, warehouse clubs, e-commerce platforms, and financial services in multiple countries. Its scale makes it one of the most closely watched retail companies in market-capitalization rankings.
Walmart is often confused with Sam’s Club, which is its membership-warehouse division rather than a separate publicly traded parent company. Market capitalization also differs from annual revenue: Walmart has frequently led global revenue rankings, while stock-market rankings depend on share price and shares outstanding.