"From a growth perspective, Walmart (WMT) could potentially be the winner, but from a dollars perspective we still think Amazon (AMZN) will trump it," says Jefferies analyst Youssef Squali, who estimates that Amazon will report about 30 percent sales growth in its holiday fourth quarter.

interest

Into Black Friday, I’d take a balanced barbell approach, says JP Morgan analyst Charles Grom. What I mean by that is own a Walmart (WMT) and a Dollar Tree (DLTR). But on the other side of that I’d also own Kohl’s (KSS) and Macy’s (M). The department stores have come out of favor and I think the smart trade is to go long those stocks into Black Friday.

Strong insider buying and a retail environment that's perfectly aligned with Wal Mart's business position could mean phenomenal results in the coming months.

Warren Buffett bought a new stake in Republic Services (RSG), increased a stake in Walmart (WMT) and Nestle (NSRGY) and decreased a stake in ConocoPhillips (COP) and disclosed a stake in ExxonMobil (XOM).

Finally, there is Amazon (AMZN). So many people shorted this thing off the "price war" with Wal-Mart (WMT) without understanding the changing nature of Amazon, especially now that it has bought Zappos. The consumer was hit last year by high oil prices and came over to Amazon during that period, only to discover the value and the price. People see real bargains in going to Amazon, especially people who would not shop at Wal-Mart. AMZN is a terrible short, just terrible.

I do not believe it is a total cannibalization play, but I have to remind people that a week ago this was supposed to be Amazon vs. Wal-Mart (WMT), with the latter supposed to be taking it to Amazon. The truth is that Amazon is a fulfillment play and a cultural play that Wal-Mart can't challenge on price.

Stock buybacks, another type of investor reward, also are at an all-time low since S&P started keeping tabs on them in 1998's first quarter. For the second quarter this year (the most recent data available), S&P 500 companies spent only $24.2 billion to repurchase their shares, down 72% from $87.9 billion in April-June 2008, and an 86% drop from the record $172 billion spent on buybacks during 2007's third quarter. "At the height of the buyback bonanza," said Silverblatt, "companies spent 180% more on stock repurchases than they did on dividends. Now buyback spending is just half that of dividends." On the bright side, several big companies continued repurchasing their shares. ExxonMobil (XOM) spent the most, $5.2 billion. Wal-Mart (WMT) was second, dishing out $1.9 billion. Other notables were Family Dollar Stores (FDO), Staples (SPLS) and Medco Health Solutions (MHS).

Proven Earner

One myth is that older Americans are much more interested in shedding furniture and housewares than in buying them because most are empty-nesters. The reality: Older consumers account for more than 40% of the money spent on new household furnishings and equipment in the U.S. In part, this is because two-thirds of the owners of second homes are at least 50 years old, and need couches, tables and cutlery for those getaway places. In addition, one in six families headed by a person over 50 has a member under 18, as more people have children at later ages. At the same time, the recession undoubtedly is forcing more 25-year-olds and 40-year-old single parents to rethink the charms of their parents' homestead. Bottom line: Older consumers will keep trudging off to Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Target (TGT), Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) and Ikea for years.

they suck..with ther rudeness

stores are dirty and smell funky

don't like store

not for coming recovery

no growth

just sold because they are really not doing much

Treats workers like crap. It's pverseas China connection will caught up to it.

Although this stock tends to stay in its zone, it never really goes higher and you cannot make money on a stock like this in this market, at this time in the recovery. Longterm yes, shorterm no.

JUST HANGING OVER ITS 52WK PRICE RANGE

Stagnant price, no room for growth