As Black Friday approaches, retailers nationwide are waiting anxiously to see whether the nation’s busiest shopping day will deliver a boost in profits. But perhaps no company has more at stake than Walmart, the shopping behemoth that was the world’s largest retailer until Amazon supplanted it in that role this summer.
Months after announcing a $1 billion investment in raising wages for its lowest-paid U.S. workers, Walmart slashed its annual sales forecast and saw its stock values plunge. Now Walmart faces more pressure than ever to perform for investors who want short-term results. But Walmart should keep its eye on long-term gains.