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VivaOke-GOING PUBLIC: Wal-Mart began selling shares as a publicly traded company in 1970, offering 300,000 shares at $16.50 apiece. WAL-MART SHARES: Wal-Mart has more than 3.5 billion publicly-traded shares. HEADQUARTERS: Bentonville, Ark.
REVENUE AND PROFITS: For its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2010, Wal-Mart generated $408.2 billion in revenue, including membership revenue at its Sam's Club. GLOBAL FOOTPRINT: As of the end of October, Wal-Mart operated 4,400 U.S. stores including Wal-Mart supercenters, discount stores, Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club warehouses. Abroad, the company operated 4,292 stores in 14 international markets including Argentina, Brazil, China and India.

Dollar stores beckon, their small size ideal for quick shopping. Target offers 5% off if you pay with its store-branded card. Costco tempts with high-end, brand-name food and designer clothes at competitive prices.
Bernadette Clark used to visit Wal-Mart twice a week. Three years ago, Wal-Mart ruled for convenience, selection and price. Wal-Mart is not in danger of ceding its place atop the retail world. Wal-Mart expects to halt the decline in revenue when it reports results from its fourth quarter this month.
Unlike most stores, Wal-Mart thrived when the recession struck in late 2007. Affluent shoppers became price conscious and discovered Wal-Mart's prices were hard to beat.
Shoppers spent 13% more on basics at Wal-Mart that year.