The History of Walmart Ownership

Walmart is one of the largest retail chains in the world, with over 11,000 stores in 27 countries. The company was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. Since then, Walmart has grown to become a household name, offering a wide range of products at affordable prices. However, the history of Walmart ownership is a complex and fascinating story that spans over six decades.

At its core, Walmart is a publicly traded company, meaning that its shares are available for purchase on the stock market. As of 2022, Walmart is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and has a market capitalization of over $400 billion. However, the ownership structure of Walmart is more complicated than a simple public company. The Walton family, who are descendants of Walmart founder Sam Walton, own a significant portion of the company’s shares, making them one of the wealthiest families in the world.

Over the years, the Walton family has played a significant role in the direction of Walmart. They have used their ownership stake to influence the company’s decisions, from its expansion into new markets to its philanthropic efforts. The history of Walmart ownership is a testament to the power of family ownership and the impact it can have on a company’s success. Checkout: When Does Walmart Restock?

Walmart Ownership Founding and Early Years

Sam Walton’s Vision

Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, had a vision of creating a retail store that offered a wide range of products at affordable prices. He believed that by keeping prices low and providing excellent customer service, he could attract more customers and build a loyal customer base. Walton’s vision was to create a store that would be a one-stop-shop for customers, where they could find everything they needed at a low price.

First Store Opening

In 1962, Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. The store was a small discount store that offered a wide range of products at low prices. The store was an instant success, and within a year, Walton had opened two more stores in Arkansas. By 1968, Walmart had expanded outside Arkansas, and by the 1980s, it was operating stores throughout the rest of the Southern United States.

Walton’s strategy of keeping prices low and providing excellent customer service helped Walmart to become one of the most successful retailers in the world. Today, Walmart operates over 11,500 stores in 28 countries, with over 4,700 stores in the United States alone. The company is still owned by the Walton family, and it continues to be a major player in the retail industry.

Expansion Era

Walmart continued to grow and expand throughout the 1970s, opening stores in more states and acquiring other chains. In 1972, Walmart’s stock was traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and the company split its stock 100% again, selling at $47.50. The store also continued expanding, staying in the south, with stores in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Nationwide Growth

Walmart continued to expand across the United States throughout the 1980s and 1990s, opening stores in new states and introducing new formats. In 1983, the company introduced its warehouse club chain, Sam’s Club, which offered bulk discounts to members. The first Supercenter stores, which combined a traditional Walmart store with a grocery store, were opened in 1998. By the end of the decade, Walmart had become the largest retailer in the world.

International Expansion

Walmart embarked on a strategy of international expansion in the 1990s, opening stores in Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company achieved extraordinary success and growth in its home country before expanding internationally. While most of Walmart’s international expansion efforts were successful, the retailer experienced some challenges in Germany and South Korea, exiting both less than ten years after initial entry.

By the early 2000s, Walmart had become a global megacorp, with stores in 15 countries and over 1.3 million employees worldwide. The company continued to expand into new markets, including China and India, and introduced new formats, such as the Walmart Express stores, which were designed for smaller communities. Despite facing criticism and controversy over labor practices, Walmart remained one of the largest and most powerful retailers in the world.

Ownership Changes

Transition to Walton Family

Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, and he owned the majority of the company’s shares. However, in 1982, he began the process of transferring ownership to his four children: Rob, John, Alice, and Jim Walton. This transition was completed in 1992, with the four siblings owning approximately 38% of the company’s shares.

After Sam Walton’s death in 1992, the Walton family continued to increase their ownership in Walmart. By 2015, the family owned more than 50% of the company’s shares and had a net worth of over $140 billion.

Public Offering

Although Walmart was initially a privately held company, it became a publicly traded company in 1970. At that time, the company had 51 stores and sales of $78 million. The initial public offering (IPO) raised $5 million, and the company’s shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol WMT.

Over the years, Walmart has issued additional shares of stock to raise capital for expansion and other business purposes. As of 2021, Walmart has approximately 2.8 billion outstanding shares of common stock, with a market capitalization of over $400 billion.

In conclusion, Walmart has undergone significant ownership changes throughout its history. From its founding by Sam Walton to the transition to his children and the company’s public offering, Walmart’s ownership structure has evolved to become one of the largest and most successful companies in the world.

Present Ownership Structure

Walmart is a publicly traded company, and as of October 2023, the company’s largest shareholder is the Walton family, which founded Walmart in 1962. The Walton family’s ownership stake in Walmart is through Walton Enterprises LLC, a holding company that manages the family’s assets.

Walton Family’s Role

The Walton family owns approximately 50% of Walmart’s outstanding shares, giving them significant control over the company’s operations and strategic direction. The family’s involvement in Walmart goes beyond their ownership stake. Members of the Walton family have served on Walmart’s board of directors, and several family members have held executive positions within the company.

Institutional and Individual Investors

In addition to the Walton family, Walmart has a diverse group of institutional and individual investors. According to Simply Wall St, the top institutional shareholders of Walmart as of October 2021 were:

• The Vanguard Group, Inc.
• BlackRock, Inc.
• State Street Corporation
• Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
• Capital Research & Management Co.

These institutional investors own significant portions of Walmart’s outstanding shares and have a say in the company’s operations and strategic direction.

Individual investors also own shares in Walmart, and their ownership stakes vary widely. Some individual investors hold only a few shares, while others own significant portions of the company.

Overall, Walmart’s ownership structure is diverse, with the Walton family holding a significant stake in the company and a wide range of institutional and individual investors owning the remaining shares.

Controversies and Challenges

Labor Issues

Walmart has been criticized for its labor practices, including low wages, inadequate benefits, and anti-union policies. In 2005, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Walmart alleging that the company discriminated against female employees in pay and promotion opportunities. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2011, but it brought attention to Walmart’s labor practices.

Walmart has also faced criticism for its treatment of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers have reported inadequate safety measures and lack of paid sick leave, which has led to outbreaks in some Walmart stores.

Environmental Impact

Walmart has been criticized for its environmental impact, including its carbon footprint, waste management practices, and use of toxic chemicals. In 2005, Walmart launched a sustainability initiative with the goal of becoming a more environmentally friendly company. The initiative included goals such as reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing the use of renewable energy.

While Walmart has made progress in some areas, such as increasing the use of renewable energy, it has also faced criticism for its continued reliance on fossil fuels and its contribution to deforestation. Walmart has also been criticized for its waste management practices, including the disposal of hazardous materials.

In 2019, Walmart was sued by the Environmental Defense Fund for allegedly violating California’s hazardous waste laws. The lawsuit alleged that Walmart was improperly disposing of hazardous waste, such as pesticides and batteries, in California landfills.

Overall, Walmart has faced significant controversies and challenges related to its labor practices and environmental impact. While the company has made some efforts to address these issues, it continues to face criticism and scrutiny from activists and consumers.