3. Wal-Mart Stores
 Get Quote: WMT
Financials: Latest Results
Rank: 3 (Previous rank: 1)
CEO: Michael T. Duke Employees: 2,100,000 Address: 702 S.W. Eighth St. Bentonville, Arkansas 72716 Country: U.S. Website: www.walmartstores.com Wal-Mart was the hottest stock in the Dow Jones industrial average in 2008 as cash-strapped consumers around the world flocked to its stores for bargain groceries and toys. The Bentonville-based retailer lost the title of world's biggest company in 2008. But think of its growth as former CEO Lee Scott does: In 2008, Wal-Mart racked up $30 billion in additional sales -- the equivalent of adding the annual sales of a Fortune 75 company. That growth was fueled by double-digit sales increases at international stores (U.S. sales only grew 6%.) Wal-Mart China alone added 28 stores over the year. Wal-Mart's 2009 prospects remain promising as shoppers battered by the recession shop for value. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industry: General Merchandisers
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| Company | 2008 Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Wal-Mart Stores | 2,100,000 |
| China National Petroleum | 1,618,393 |
| State Grid | 1,537,000 |
| Company | 2008 Profits ($ millions) |
|---|---|
| Exxon Mobil | $45,220 |
| Gazprom | $29,864 |
| Royal Dutch Shell | $26,277 |
FAQ and methodology
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