Walmart versus Target

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Abstract Our analysis of Target Stores, Inc. and Walmart Corporation has attempted to solve the common problems facing corporate and common investors when analyzing the past performance of a company, assessing market changes, how to invest capital, and what returns can be expected. We analyzed the companies’ weighted average cost of capital, dividend policy, degree of leverage, and cash flows through the aspect of the optimal capital structure. During this exercise we found that the companies follow the market in similar patterns, however utilize different investment policies which result in different capital investment patterns. The analysis broke down the two complex corporate frameworks and provided a side by side comparison of two companies. The results are detailed and relevant financial and operational descriptions of the two retail competitors. Introduction Both Wal-Mart Stores, Incorporated (Walmart) and Target Corporation (Target) compete in a worldwide market, although Target clearly has smaller stores and a different selection, both companies are retailers of general variety consumer goods. Walmart and Target both have stores in every major city in the United States (Target Official Website, 2008; Walmart Official Website, 2008). One is surely the microcosm of the other, yet they are competitors. The following analyses will look at 10 fiscal years of company operations. Raising Capital Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) For the fiscal years 1997 through 2007, Walmart carried an average WACC of 6.01% with total average equity of $61.6 billion and total average debt of $38.8 billion. Target WACC was 9.22% with total average equity of $15.6 billion and total average debt of $10 billion. See the two parts of Figure 1 for debt to equity ratios and the WACC for the two companies. The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) discrepancy of 3.21%

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