Welcome to the 80th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is under fire for alleged major human rights violations in some of its Bangladesh factories. Although global manufacturers have often come under fire for slave labor conditions in PacRim-area factories, could this really apply to a retailer? After all, a retailer is a distributor, not a manufacturer.

In most cases, this is true -- but not when it comes to Wal-Mart. According to a SweatFree Communities report, Wal-Mart workers in Bangladesh were made to work 19-hour days while being paid $20/month. Sounds like a raw deal, so let's take a look.

"'Easy hold' stocks have strong finances, consistent sales and earnings and moderate volatility; one such stock is Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT)," says Chuck Carlson in The DRIP Investor.

"Easy hold stocks are 'easy holds' for good reason -- their price action generally does not force you to make too many decisions about selling. And one that has held up quite well of late is Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer.

"The firm's discount focus has been especially popular with consumers in recent months in light of the sluggish economy and job markets. The firm has beaten earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters. Record profits of $3.50 per share are expected for the current fiscal year ending January 2009.

"Long term, I expect Wal-Mart to provide the sort of steady sales and profit growth that will keep its stock trending higher.

"While I would not expect Wal-Mart to keep pace during the next big upward move in the market, I think the consistency of returns the stock will show over the next several years should be rewarding for investors looking for acceptable returns at moderate risk levels.

"Wal-Mart also offers a direct-purchase plan whereby any investor may buy shares directly, the first share and every share. Minimum initial investment is $250. However, Wal-Mart will waive the minimum if an investor agrees to automatic monthly investment via electronic debit of a bank account of at least $25."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

In a sign that Americans are bracing themselves for hard times, or at least taking a break and holding their breath while they see what direction things go in, apparel chains reported September sales, which usually rise at this time of year, were not at all where stores expect them to be.

In a sign that customers are looking toward frugality, WalMart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) saw a small gain in sales, though not as much as analysts would have liked.

Look for this effect to hit other retail environments, not just apparel, if the market continues to be the top headline and spook customers.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has not followed the trend of blue chip stocks that have seen 20% losses in the last few months along with the broad market. Indeed, WMT shares are up from just over $46 per share in January to over $56 per share today. WMT shares hit $63 just under a month ago, so yes -- they are down since September.

So, what's going on? Why were Wal-Mart shares downgraded this week? Sentiment from the downgrade states that Wal-Mart is most likely not immune from the continuing economic situation in the U.S. (and worldwide, of course).

Prices will continue to rise, unemployment may get worse and growth may stall (of wait -- those are all already happening). When this happens, what do consumers do? Why, they flock to Wal-Mart, of course. The haven of low prices becomes a hideout in turbulent economic times, and the stock market must agree after looking at WMT share price trajectory in 2008.

Will Wal-Mart weather the storm? To a point, it already is. Sure, all retailers are expected to have a dismal holiday season this winter, but Wal-Mart will do better than the competition. It has more stores, more pricing leverage and more wherewithal to hold customers hostage with lower prices and inventory turns at a time when it's needed most. Perhaps we'll see WMT return to the $60/share level by Thanksgiving -- if not sooner.

Costco (NASDAQ: COST), the shopping club that competes with BJ's (NYSE: BJ) and Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), reported earnings for the fourth quarter on Wednesday. Sales did well, rising 13% to $22.6 billion. On an adjusted basis, excluding a litigation charge, the bottom line came in at $0.92 per share, and according to this source, that is one penny below expectations. Excluding the effect of gasoline inflation, comparable sales increased 6%.

For the most part, I think Costco held up well during the quarter. Yes, the warehouse club didn't wow the Wall Street analysts this time around. But comps were pretty decent for the quarter, and the top-line performance was acceptable, all things considered. Membership-fee revenue went up by 22%, which was cool.

This doesn't mean that Costco won't have a tough time going forward. As the economy worsens (and it will), Costco is going to face intense competition for the attention of the consumer's cash and credit cards. Keep in mind, though, that Costco has some good brand equity when it comes to discount shopping. The company's image is of a place where people can buy in bulk and get great deals. In a bad market environment, consumers may flock to Costco to save money. So the company might do okay (on a very relative basis) during the crisis.

Welcome to the 79th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, let's take a look at how Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) may be trying to re-invent itself in some markets with a newer, smaller store format. Wal-Mart has dabbled in smaller stores before (like the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market), but in general, they've been limited in product selection.

These newer launches, though, may be a competitive response more than Wal-Mart testing the small store format yet again. These new locations are marketed with the name "Marketside." They have no marketing connection to the Wal-Mart brand at all. This is indeed a difference, as Wal-Mart looks to be leveraging its immense retail power with a completely new brand. Can it work?

NYSE: WMT) announced this morning that it will be recalling over 210,000 standard kitchen toasters distributed by General Electric Corp. (NYSE: GE).

Of course, GE doesn't make many consumer products itself (it contracts out), so this is another reminder that brands must have some say in quality control of their outsourcing partners. Oh wait -- that costs too much, and I doubt Jeff Immelt wants to explain to shareholders that profits were down due to safety recalls.

Moving right along, this recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) last night. Apparently, the heating element inside the toaster can cause a short circuit, with sparks emanating from the toaster itself. Circuit breaker trips in consumer's homes were mentioned in the recall notice as well. Wal-Mart heard from 140 consumers about this particular toaster, which carries the GE logo on the front of the box and toaster itself, with model numbers 169115 and 169116.

As usual, the offending products were made in China. They were sold at Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. from September 2007 until July 2008. Although no injuries have been reported, consumers can return these toaster models to Wal-Mart for a full refund or an exchange for another brand of toaster.

Welcome to the 78th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, let's take a look at a major initiative by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) to cut down on the amount of plastic shopping bags it provides. Wal-Mart has made itself part of the "green" movement in recent years, from being the leader in sales of CFL-type lighting to natural-gas powered fleet vehicles to the sale of items made from recycled materials.

But still, it doles out tens of millions (that's a conservative estimate) of plastic bags every single month, most of which probably end up in landfills. In my area, plastic bags are not accepted as recycled even though there is the recycling mark on them. In some counties, only specific kinds of plastic are accepted for recycling. Thus, just making something recyclable does not mean it will be or can be. How should Wal-Mart assist in this effort? Read on.

Ever read an earnings report and say to yourself, "man, there's just nothing going on here?" I did exactly that Wednesday with Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) and its second-quarter report.

To be fair, something is going on with the retailer. Earnings per diluted share decreased 16% to 46 cents. And net cash from operating activities took a big 40% dive, coming in at $168 million. So, yes, something is going on, it just isn't anything good.

And if you think those stats are bad, consider that same-store sales for the quarter went down by 0.1%. Okay, is it really fair to point out that comps declined by 0.1%? Shouldn't I have just said "flat" instead? I mean, it's almost like rubbing the depressing results in the face of management by literally writing the exact percentage that comps declined at when said percentage is so unequivocally small. Hey, maybe management needs a reminder that, in the year-ago quarter, comps were actually up to the tune of 2.2%. What happened?

Well, I will cut some slack here since we are in the grips of an economic mess and I certainly would assume that all the problems in the housing industry are taking their noxious toll on the retailer. I'm not sure consumers are in the mood to buy a lot of bathroom accessories while Congress is trying to figure out how to keep the financial matrix from imploding.

Welcome to the 77th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be taking a look at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (NYSE: WMT) policy on recalling products known to be dangerous to the public. Case in point: Blitz brand plastic gas cans with extendable spouts that can explode in the face of customers. I'm not kidding, folks. This week's topic is personal, since I own one of the offending products myself. And yes, I can see how this product could explode if not used carefully.

But what this is really about is Wal-Mart's refusal to pull this product from its shelves, even after hard evidence that the offending product caused severe burns on a small boy who, admittedly, was using the gas can outside its intended use. Is that any excuse for being disfigured as a result of an explosion from a gas container? You be the judge.

With the hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. Government bailouts and the largest mess in decades within the U.S. financial system, will consumers draw back their wallets and purses this holiday season and hurt the U.S. economy even more? Although retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has seen same-store sames growth from the late Spring to now, not all retailers have been as lucky. Sentiment says consumers are leaving non-discount stores and flocking to Wal-Mart and its low prices. No big surprise, really.

This means retailers will have to 1) get aggressive on marketing and promotion that differentiates their brand and positioning, or 2) compete on price and make that known to the shopping public. How about making sure customers know where to find goods (hint: don't change store layouts to accommodate holiday promotions) as well as the old-fashioned value proposition?

Art Hammer from consulting firm QualPro told Reuters that "What we have seen is that fire sales are not working ... the people who still have money seem to be spending the same total, but are getting a little bit better merchandise or a little bit better service. Wow -- heavy discounts not working in a down economy? Sounds odd, right? But that's the theory. So, as the holiday season gears up for what could be the lousiest season in a decade or more here in a month, we'll see if expert sentiment is correct.

In case you haven't noticed lately, times are tough for the American economy, and this volatility is more than likely going to carry over into the upcoming holiday shopping season, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

In an article today, the WSJ discusses the probability of a grim shopping season, reporting that economists are predicting that retailers are likely to see their lowest sales volumes for the past 17 years. These dark forecasts come from both research and consulting firms Deloitte LLP and TNS Retail Forward Inc., but the scary part is that these predictions were made before the most recent economic troubles, and the harsh reality of what lies ahead for retailers could prove to be even worse than these current predictions.

Let's take a second look at the major factors that are going to contribute to a weak holiday shopping season (granted the list could be made much longer, but let's just highlight the main factors for now):

• High fuel prices, which have fallen over the past month but are still running at historically high levels
• Higher unemployment
• Rising food prices
• Tough housing market
• The credit crunch

I'll be honest. I'm not necessarily into the supermarket sector, so I've never strongly considered a company like Kroger (NYSE: KR) for my portfolio. Plus, we live in a Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) world, and with that retail giant trying its best to take aim at food shoppers with its own brand, I just was never into owning a Kroger. I do have to say, though, that I am wondering if Kroger might end up being a defensive stock in the current market environment. Although it has been down the last month or so, the stock has done well over longer timeframes, according to the AOL Finance snapshot taken at the time of this writing. It's been up over 5% year-to-date, and over 16% during the six-month period. And it is up over 6% today, as of 1:30 pm, on the company's Q2 numbers.

Net sales revenues increased almost 12%. The bottom line saw net income of $0.42 per diluted share. That was a solid 10% increase, and according to Earnings.com, Kroger beat estimates by one penny. Same-store sales increased a decent 4.7% excluding the effect of fuel sales. It's pretty important to exclude fuel sales, especially with the price of oil declining rapidly. With fuel, comps were up nearly 10%. Operational cash flow was flat at $2.1 billion, but it more than covered capital expenditures, dividend obligations, and share repurchases.

Kroger seems to be a healthy company at the moment. And, again, the stock seems to be working, too. Could this business be a defensive play? It sure looks like it. I wouldn't chase it today, however. I'd wait for a pullback and consider pulling the trigger after further due diligence.

Disclosure: I don't own any company mentioned; positions can change at any time.

Welcome to the 76th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be taking a look at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (NYSE: WMT) apparent unwillingness to lower gasoline prices along with the thousands of other price rollbacks on its store shelves. In fact, a possible price hike was on tap for the retailer's Murphy USA gas stations just last week in Texas as thousands of residents were urged to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Ike roared towards the U.S. shoreline in the Gulf of Mexico.

As oil barrel prices dropped last week and hurricane situation became worse and worse for South Texas, Wal-Mart gas stations saw a $0.12 per gallon price increase in less than 12 hours. On the day the official call was made for South Texas residents to flee their homes, gas was raised another $0.10 per gallon. While Murphy USA is the actual gas provider (not Wal-Mart itself), how could such a drastic increase in such a precarious position come to pass? The evacuating folks sure were not given a break on this one. In fact, the word "gouging" comes to mind. Was it really that severe?

All retailers want their workers to operate in an efficient manner. Question is, how should companies like Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Target (NYSE: TGT), and Gap (NYSE: GPS) accomplish the goal of eliminating inefficiencies?

One way is to use productivity software to coerce employees into making sure they are putting forth their best effort. An excellent article at The Wall Street Journal shows how AnnTaylor (NYSE: ANN) is using computer monitoring to ensure that workers are aware of their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to selling. According to the article, employees are made aware of their average sales per hour and the yield per transaction. If you don't pull your weight, you won't get scheduled as much. In fact, the article implies that it isn't unheard of for an employee to go from 30 hours one week to 8 the next. Again, it's all based on your stats. If you sell more, you work more.

It's that simple, and as one might imagine, the adjective "Darwinian" came up in the discussion. That's because this philosophy of linking hours to performance has upped the competitive ante among a store's team. I think this is one of the problems that such a system creates. If employees are at each other's throats trying to score a sale, then the team dynamic disintegrates. That is never a good thing. Indeed, team unity rules in any organization, and it is paramount when it comes to good customer service.