Wal-Mart Aims For a Greener Image

Article Excerpt

WAL-MART STORES INC. $53 (New York symbol WMT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 4.0 billion; Market cap: $212.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) plans to improve its image with consumers by using its size to pressure suppliers into cutting down on wasteful packaging. It’s also installing LED lights and solar panels in its stores. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart plans to acquire the remaining 4% of its Japanese subsidiary. This operation is losing money, mainly because Japanese shoppers equate Wal-Mart’s focus on low prices with low quality. Owning 100% of this subsidiary will make it easier to adjust the format to local tastes, and improve its performance. Wal-Mart is a buy. buy…