An Evaluation on Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores

An in-depth comparison of two corporations: Target and Wal-Mart. This paper examines the large store discount general merchandise market through the comparison of Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores. The paper is packed with facts and statistic on the corporations investments, bank loans and markets. The papers author asks the question of which company is best to invest in and who is the better employer. This paper is written in outline format with a clear and direct method of presenting information. Table of Contents The Large-Store Discount General Merchandise Market Investment Decisions Lending Decisions Employer Overview Of Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc Investment Decisions Employment Appendix Bibliography Outline 1. The companies being analyzed are Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. They are general merchandise retailers. They compete in the large-store general merchandise market, especially in the discount store segment and the US geographic market. 1.1. Target Corporations Store Brands in multiple formats are Target, Super Target, Mervyns, Marshall Fields, Target Direct and Target Visa. Target operates 1409 stores in 47 states in the United States and is currently the No.3 discount retailer in the US market. 1.2. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc has several Store Brands: Wal-Mart currently operates 2295 Wal-Mart Discount Stores; 1521 Supercenters; 564 Sams Clubs and 34 Neighbourhood Markets in 9 countries outside the US Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; Germany; South Korea; Mexico; Puerto Rico; United Kingdom. Wal-Mart is today the worlds largest retailer (and company measured by revenue) and occupies the No.1 position in the US General Merchandise Retail Market.