Wal-Mart Plays Possum

Forbes Article by BetterTrades

01-09-09, 02:15 PM EST

The king of discounters gets smacked down after reporting surprisingly bad sales in December. It's a second chance for bulls.

Consumers have been forced to become budget-cognizant as unemployment rises and economic uncertainty reigns supreme. Discount retailers like Wal-Mart are capitalizing on a clear shift to low-priced stores.

We highlight Wal-Mart's leadership in the retail space and the fundamentals supporting its continued dominance over their competitors. Comparable sales, quarterly results, and technical pricing trends are reported and analyzed.

Additionally, we put the spotlight on other retailers like Sears, Target, Costco, Nordstrom, and J.C. Penney.

Is the shift to low-cost stores a new shift in consumer behavior or is the discount retailer simply benefiting from the recession? Find out if we believe Wal-Mart is a diamond in the rough or if discount retailers will give back market share once the economy rebounds.