They’re b-a-c-k-k-k-k-k-k! After several years at the top of the Fortune 500, Wal-Mart was bumped into the second slot by Exxon Mobil in 2006. This surprised very few people based on rising oil prices the past few years. What did surprise many was the fact that Wal-Mart regained the coveted number one position this year despite rising oil prices. Wal-Mart revenues surpassed those of Exxon Mobil by four billion dollars. Listed below are this year’s Top Ten as chosen by Fortune Magazine.

1. Wal-Mart Stores - 351,139.0
2. Exxon Mobil - 347,254.0
3. General Motors - 207,349.0
4. Chevron - 200,567.0
5. ConocoPhillips - 172,451.0
6. General Electric – 168,307.0
7. Ford Motor - 160,126.0
8. Citigroup – 146,777.0
9. Bank of America Corp. - 117,017.0
10. American Intl. Group - 113,194.0

In their own category of general merchandisers,Wal-Mart’s revenues were greater than the next ten competitors combined!

1. Wal-Mart Stores – 351,139.0
2. Target - 59,490.0
3. Sears Holdings (K-Mart) - 53,012.0
4. Federated Dept. Stores - 28,711.0
5. J.C. Penney - 19,903.0
6. Kohl’s - 15,544.0
7. Dollar General - 9,170.0
8. Nordstrom – 8,561.0
9. Dillard’s - 7,849.0
10. Family Dollar Stores - 6,395.0
11. Saks - 3,564.0

Wal-Mart has, for some time, had their detractors for a variety of reasons. They’ve made some bad decisions and had their share of bad publicity, but they must be doing something right to maintain their phenomenal success. They’re currently America’s largest employer with 1.9 million employees, nearly equal to the population of the city of Houston.
 
Here’s an interesting sidenote. In 1962, Sears was our leading retailer followed by
K-Mart. Also, 1962 was the year we saw our first Target store appear on the scene, and the Wal-mart Corporation consisted of two small stores in Arkansas operating under the name of Walton’s 5 & 10. Re-read this paragraph and then check the listing above to see what happened in the retail business in this country. Makes you wonder what the next decade holds for us.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.