What Wal-Mart wants, Wal-Mart gets

Article Excerpt

WAL-MART STORES INC. $49 (New York symbol WMT; Conservative Growth Portfolio; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 3.9 billion; Market cap: $191.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; WSSF Rating: Above Average) uses its clout as the world’s largest retailer to pry big price discounts from its suppliers. The company is also putting pressure on its suppliers to help it pursue several “green” initiatives aimed at improving its image and sales. For example, Wal-Mart now wants its suppliers to put an “eco-rating”on all groceries it sells. These would make it easier for consumers to compare the environmental impact of various products. Like nutritional labels, Wal-Mart hopes these ratings will become an industry standard. The plan will add to suppliers’ costs, which means they will likely resist, at least at first. But most will probably comply rather than risk losing Wal-Mart as a customer. Wal-Mart is a buy. buy…