St. Target vs. Pariah Wal-Mart: Why the Double Standard?

By Dana Blankenhorn: If you put $1,000 into both Target (TGT) and Wal-Mart (WMT) 10 years ago, which do you think would be ahead?Turns out to be Target, and by a wide margin. While your WMT would be up to $1,452, your TGT shares would be worth almost $2,192.

By Stock Gamer:Shares of Target Corporation (TGT) have returned 18.0% over the past 12 months. At $61.71, the stock is trading near its 52-week high of $65.80 attained in September 2012 and offers a 2.2% dividend yield. In this article, I will elaborate on the stock valuation analysis which supports my bullish view on this solid investment.

By Nelson Smith:Emerson Radio (MSN) is in the small appliance and electronic business. The company sources, designs, markets, and eventually sells these products to large retailers such as Target (TGT) and Wal-Mart (WMT), among others.

By Dividendinvestr:Stocks of companies that boost dividends at high rates of growth tend to outperform stocks of companies that raise dividends at low rates of growth. Dividend increases usually represent favorable earnings and cash flow dynamics that enable companies to boost payouts. They also represent a greater commitment to increasing shareholder value through higher dividend payouts.

By Dividendinvestr:Dividend aristocrats are dividend-paying companies that comprise the S&P500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. These companies are known for their policy of consistent dividend increases for more than 25 years in a row. Since 1989, dividend aristocrats as a group have produced higher average risk-adjusted returns than the broader S&P500 index. The group is a combination of blue chip companies operating in diverse industries.

By Jim Pyke:I previously wrote an article using Dupont Analysis to compare Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) to both Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) and Target Corporation (TGT). One of the key components in the Dupont Analysis is the asset turnover ratio, which compares revenues to average assets.

By Takeover Analyst:With employment figures improving, investors are naturally looking to Walmart (WMT) as a way to benefit from increased consumer expenditures. What investors fail to note, however, is that Walmart will struggle to be an outperforming beneficiary of a macro recovery due to its low beta of 0.4.

By Ingrid Hendershot: Seeking income in a low-yield world, investors may find high quality, dividend-paying stocks a desirable option. Relative to Treasuries, dividend yields are more attractive than they have been in 50 years. The table below spotlights a dozen Dividend Divas which during the past year have increased their dividends at double-digit rates, demonstrating management’s confidence in their financial strength and long-term growth opportunities.