ANNUAL REPORT COMPARISON: WAL-MART and KROGER

ANNUAL REPORT COMPARISON: WAL-MART and KROGER
Name of Retailer
Components

2009 Annual Report (US $/in millions)
2010 Annual Report (US $/ in millions)
Increase (by Net Sales/in US $ millions)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Net Sales
404,374.0
408,214.0
3, 840.0
Cost of Good Sold
304, 056.0
304, 657.0
Gross Margin
97, 031.0
100, 389.0
Operating Expenses
77, 520.0
79,607.0
 Gross Profit/ Loss
13,400.0
14, 335.0

(52 weeks)
(52 weeks)

Kroger Co.

Net  Sales
76, 148.0
76, 733.0
585.0
Cost of Good Sold
58, 544.0
58, 958.0
Gross Margin
17, 604.0
17, 775.0
Operating Expenses
13, 709.0
14, 046.0
Gross Profit/ Loss (0)
1,249.0
70.0

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., one of the Top 100 Retailers in 2009 and the world’s largest retailer, outlined the company’s progress with respect to social responsibility measures, labor conditions, emissions reductions, and energy efficiency. Relatively comparing the company’s performance from 2009 to 2010, net sales and gross profit/net income in 2009 (404,374.0 and 77, 520.0 respectively) showed a considerable increase as maximum control of Operating Expenses (Selling/Administrative) was continuously monitored. It respectively increased to 408,214.0 and 14, 335.0 the following year (Wal-Mart Stores Inc: Financial Statement). In 2010, Wal-Mart’s sustainability efforts were focused on its sustainability goals overseas. This includes addressing problems encountered by every major particular geographic area, ensuring fleet efficiency, and maintaining energy-efficient superstores. This allowed the company to save 30 percent of the company’s total energy consumption which minimized operating expenses. Sustainability efforts by the company started in 2005 (continuously adding real value to the current business). This includes the company’s transition to renewable energy sources (Global Sustainability Report”; Wal-Mart Corporate).
New products and packaging methods have become available as the company continuously sends its waste to recycling facilities. The increase in gross profit is obviously attributed to the company’s intense regulation of its operating expenses. The lesser operating expense there is, the higher gross profit one may expect; however, this is still subject to subsequent deductions such as minority interest, extraordinary items, U.S. GAAP Adjustment, equity in affiliates, etc.) Kroger Co.’s net sales also increased between 2009 and 2010 under a 52-week period length; however, its minority interest appeared higher in 2010 relative to 2009. This explains why the company’s net income in 2010 (70.0) is way lower than in 2009 (1,249.0).
Reference

“Wal-Mart Stores Inc: Financial Statement”. MSN: Money.  Publication: Income Statement.
“Kroger Co: Financial Statement”; MSN; Publication: Income Statement
BC Upham; (2010). “Wal-Mart Releases 2010 Sustainability Report”; Article.
“Global Sustainability Report”; Wal-Mart Corporate