With Wal-Mart Stores' (NYSE: WMT) annual shareholder meeting coming up on June 1st, wouldn't we all like to be there? From the showmanship and grandstanding that Wal-Mart likes to put on to dissing shareholder requests without a modicum of thought (or so it seems), this time more pressing matters should be in focus: where have Wal-Mart sales gone and why is Lee Scott taking home millions while WMT investors have seen little movement in the stock price in half a decade?
The black helicopters will most certainly be in play (watch out for dark sunglasses) inside the shareholder meeting, and tactics straight out of Mission Impossible will be used to make sure any unrest is quelled and the crowd remains passive. Wal-Mart's security apparatus is headed by Kenneth Senser, a onetime senior FBI and CIA official, so expect state-of-the-art surveillance techniques -- at a public company's shareholder meeting. Could there be a clearer picture of "we trust nobody?"
With all the security (Bruce Gabbard), executive (Tom Coughlin) and PR (Julie Roehm) scandals and black eyes, Wal-Mart's growth rate stumbled in 2006 even as revenues rose to a new record (though profits just inched up). The company's international plans are in flux right now and the company's common stock has not beaten the S&P 500 since 2003. Only if you've been long on WMT for more than 10 years have you done well. Do you think there will be quite a few happenings come June 1st? I think so.
Wal-Mart's shareholder meeting coming up
Posted May 9th 2007 12:14PM by Brian White
Filed under: Rumors, Management, Wal-Mart (WMT), Employees
Retailers can't wait for Black Friday, open Thursday
Tiffany's serves up solid quarterly earnings
Cramer on BloggingStocks: This bullish retail story looks like a good fit 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-09-2007 @ 12:44PM
Tony DeWan said...
I have one question for the board-
For over 10yrs., WMT has been part of the employee 401K matrix. As of June 1st this year, it will be removed. If you transfer or sell your shares, you can't buy any more. They will remain in your 401K as long as you don't unload them. I wonder if Merrill Lynch feels WMT might be stinking up the pool? -T
5-09-2007 @ 1:14PM
William Martin said...
I hope some shareholder will speak up at the meeting for the rest of us unable to attend.I don't know how all that works but surely someone at our level can voice our concerns at that time. I would be glad to if I could attend. Billy Martin
5-09-2007 @ 4:42PM
Mike said...
I attended last year and, to be honest, if I were a shareholder with something negative to say I would be AFRAID to say it there!!
Imagine a stadium filled with tens of thousands of whopping, hollaring, Wal-Mart Cheering, Wal-Mart associates!
These folks are EXCITED to be there. They are PROUD of their company. I get the definite impression that if you say something negative you might get a somewhat negative response.
I dont know what security is like there -- at least last year it was transparent. But I'll tell you this much, they put on one HECK of a show for the shareholders meeting. It's one exciting pep-rally with big-name stars and plenty of loud music (there's even a rock group called, "Guido and the Wal-Mart band" that plays pop and rock songs dedicated to the retailer).
If you dont know the Wal-Mart cheer when you show up, you'll know it when you leave. You just can't help to be excited in that environment. They make it easy to be a proud Wal-Mart shareholder (at least until you get home and read the news)
5-10-2007 @ 12:43PM
William Martin said...
Thanks to #3 Mike for the answer to my question in#2 comment.Billy Martin
5-16-2007 @ 4:36PM
B Kargman said...
Do any shareholders (who have attended or plan to attend) have any predictions on what the mood/tone of the meeting could be like considering W-M isn't performing as well right now?
(Excluding all of the fun entertainment...think shareholders will act/respond differently this year?)